Mental Health "Workouts" to Improve Your Happiness

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Most people know that to keep a healthy body, you have to maintain healthy habits like exercising, eating well, and sleeping enough. 

Often, these habits require that we carve out a little time from our busy lives. 

Maybe you try to fit in a walk most days, or get to the gym a few days a week. Maybe you grocery shop for healthy foods and spend some time meal prepping or cooking. 

Most people don't expect that they stay fit and strong without putting in a little bit of time. 

The same is true of mental health! 

Maintaining our emotional wellbeing requires that we dedicate a little time to practice being happy. 


Sure, our happiness is determined by many factors, including our circumstances and even our genetics! But about 25% of our happiness is under our direct control. This means that the choices we make can increase how happy we feel. 

Try out some of these "mental health workouts" and begin to regularly incorporate the ones that benefit you!

  • Gratitude 
    • Give thanks!
      Studies show that reflecting on your blessings increases your happiness. Even if you don't feel particularly thankful at the moment, listing a few things that you feel grateful for can turn around your mood. Try keeping a daily journal, or establish a habit to share with someone in your life 3 things each day.

  • Trick Your Brain
    • Okay, this one is admittedly a little creepy. According to a study done in 1993, 
      forcing yourself to smile for 20 seconds, especially tensing the muscles around your eyes, was found to stimulate positive emotions. If no one's around when you're reading this, try it out now! :) 

  • Curate Your Media Exposure
    • When you're deciding what movie or show to watch, how do you pick?
      Do you ever think about how what you watch will impact your mental wellbeing? If you're feeling emotionally fragile, choose something from an uplifting genre, like comedy, romance, adventure, and travel. Skip the psychological thrillers, crime shows, and apocalypse stories.
    • Moderate and limit your intake of news from TV, radio, news apps, and social media

  • Invest in Relationships and Connect to Community
    • Carving out quality time with your family or partner
    • Getting together with friends and family in person (don't let social media and texting be your only form of connecting to those you love!)
    • Volunteering in your community 
    • Joining a group of people with similar interests 

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