What’s a small thing you started doing that made your mental health noticeably better?

focus on the breathe. I know it's everywhere , I know everyone says it, but it totally fulfill the criteria of your question. It is a small thing. You can do it anywhere at any moment.
The idea is shifting your whole attention from whichever place , center it, bring it back. observe how the air feels when it enters your nostrils. observe how your belly raises. how the whole body moves. Just plain AIR lol

I heard on a podcast how viewing social media consumption the same way you’d look at diets could be a good use.

For me I’ve had to limit the intakes of places like IG and here just to get some sense of calmness back. I was getting a bit too down tbh. Plus IG was a time suck.

Not saying that’s how everyone should like at this as I know this is an outlet for many. But that’s one thing I’m trying to help with my mental health.

I started taking up crochet to distract my brain.

I also took life coaching classes that included emotional intelligence, meditation and grounding methods. So I can use them myself and help others. :)

Plus, i also worked to gain understanding what sets off my anxiety and how to mitigate my exposure to those.

Talking to myself the way I’d talk to someone I love. hope things feel a bit easier for you too. 🫂❤

Making any random stranger smile and laugh with a little witty comment or compliment that relates to whatever may be happening at that moment.
For example...
If a check-out lady asks me if "Would you like a bag?" when I purchase something, I may say
"No thank you, I already have one waiting at home for me"
Or, if I see a really tall black man, I may walk up to him and say "You are lucky there is no basketball hoop in here right now because this old white boy can jump and would dunk on you?
Who else would say something so random?
Always a positive response!
Surprising strangers with a simple remark to induce a smile or laugh makes me feel good about spreading happiness
Good for the soul!

Taking everything in moderation. I sometimes need time off from SW. Other days, I find I have become ultra competitive in online games, like Sherlock Hidden Object, and I have to calm down and step away and LET myself lose.

Exercise, the more regularily I do it, the better my mental health. It doesn't have to be crazy, just something.

Creative projects, travel (esp seaside), good fun discussions, get outside as much as can, etc.

This one thing I wrote about on my last profile has helped me more than anything else..

https://similarworlds.com/friends/online/5402162-What-if-we-tried-kindness-I-have-been-noticing-something

Taking a morning walk every day by myself to clear my head

I got the right meds for it.

Taking my meds

I started working out every day. Even just doing push-ups and squats makes me feel so much better.

better diet

If you haven't tried this before, I'd recommend it

[media=https://youtu.be/KHIbgSN2qAU?si=XOENEitO48oY9rt-]

Going out and take a walk every day no matter the weather.

Medications

Talk to neighbors pets

Exercise

Look far into the distance at something

Driving somewhere nice with little to no traffic

Journaling

Eating better.

Cannabis.

But besides that, mindfulness helped a lot.

Aum Dhyanam (a form of Meditation)

&

Saying no.
Stopping coffee before 2pm

Exercise .. eating better .. losing weight

Running, doing things i loved and weirdly enough becoming spiritual. Accepting that I'm a flawed individual

Listening to music when I lay down to go to sleep. It soothes me to sleep without me thinking about how fucked up my life really is.

Quit watching the news.