Mental health affects how we think, feel and act and ripples into everything we do and say. Living in an environment with many stressors and distractions makes it even more important to take a step back and put you first. Rather than scrolling on your phone for hours, switch to healthier habits that can positively impact your quality of life. Here are some suggestions on how to prioritize your mental health and improve your mood, reduce anxiety as well as create an enhanced sense of inner peace.

1. Pick Up a Hobby

It’s time to start a new hobby, pick up an old one, or work on developing your skills of a current hobby. Instead of spening times on our phones, switch to a more productive passtime such as knitting, painting, sewing, gardening, writing, playing guitar, or any other activity that piques your interest.


2. Start Organizing

You might have procrastinated this one for a while, but there is no better time than the present to get it done. Spend a day cleaning up your house as you normally would, and then start deep-diving into the problematic areas of a house like the closets or the laundry room. Even reorganizing your kitchen cabinets can be super rewarding by discovering plenty of new space in your cupboards.

It might seem like an overwhelming task, but take it room by room and you’ll be relieved and thrilled when you’ve made your way through the house. While cleaning up, remember to reuse, repair, and donate instead of throwing things out.

3. Perfect Your Cooking

During the weekdays, we often feel rushed to feed everyone. Now, it can become a more relaxed activity - either solo or with the whole family. You can experiment with new recipes or you can start teaching your kids to cook.

4. Spend Time Together 

Spending time with your roommate, partner, friends or family and trying out some group activities like indoor gardening, multi-player video games or baking desserts is a great way to spend time! You can even start a book club and have online meetups, or start a skillshare exchange amongst your friends, where you all learn something new from each other.