Boost Your Mental Health with These At-Home Activities

July 29, 2022 by nextstep4adhd Anxiety, Depression, Mental Health, Mental Health Struggles in Children and Adolescents 0 comments

Whether you’re stuck at home quarantining after a COVID exposure or you’re simply settling in for a weekend at home, it’s always good to have a list of at-home activities that boost your mental health.

In this blog, we’ve curated a list of at-home activities that support your mental wellness.

Reading

Reading provides many benefits.

“Reading can even relax your body by lowering your heart rate and easing the tension in your muscles. A 2009 study at the University of Sussex found that reading can reduce stress by up to 68%.” (NAMI California)

Reading also provides a healthy escape from life’s daily stress. Unwind after a busy day with your favorite story or favorite characters. Reading also boosts empathy and understanding.

Need inspiration: Explore GoodRead’s list of relaxing books

Reading can be particularly helpful for individuals struggling with hard or sensitive issues. According to NAMI California, reading about similar situations can help teens work through tough challenges, including issues with bullying.

While reading your favorite fictional story can help you relax, there is also merit in reading non-fiction books, including those about particular mental health conditions.

Need inspiration: Read the top 13 mental health books of 2022

Gardening

Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean you can’t go outside! Spending time outside boosts your mood (and serves up a nice dose of vitamin D), but you can further support mental wellness by gardening. Gardening:

Boosts your mood
Boosts your self-esteem
Improves your attention span
Provides a good workout (and exercise helps alleviate symptoms of many different mental health conditions)
Encourages social interaction

Get more gardening tips here.

Music & Family Time

Both listening to music and spending time with friends and family can support mental wellness. So why not combine both of these elements? You can:

Watch a concert on TV
Play your favorite music
Set up an at-home karaoke session
Play musical chairs (if you have little children at home who would like to play)
Play music while you make dinner or while you eat
Write a song to express yourself

Music can reduce your stress and lift your mood.

Movies

Granted, not all movies support mental wellness. That being said, watching certain movies can have a positive effect on your mental health.

Watching a funny movie can make you laugh and laughing releases feel-good endorphins.

But what about sad movies?

“Similar to laughter, crying could activate the release of endorphins, according to a 2016 study. Dramatic movies could increase feelings of gratitude and reduce feelings of isolation. They could also act as a reminder that everyone experiences struggles of their own and invite viewers to reflect on their own problems.” (PsychCentral)

Use your best judgment when choosing movies. Avoid any movie that could trigger sensitive viewers or trigger any PTSD. If you’re unsure, you can read reviews about the movie prior to viewing. Sites like Common Sense Media and Does the Dog Die can help you avoid any potential triggers when choosing a movie.

Read a full list of sites that help you avoid triggers in movies here.

Games

Games, especially strategy games, can boost your mood, improve working memory, and support emotional regulation. Playing board games can be a good opportunity to talk and bond with children and teens — especially if they have a hard time opening up.

Getting the Help You Need

Reading, listening to music, reading, spending time with family, and playing games are all good wholesome activities that support your mental wellness, but sometimes you just need more support. Here at NextStep2MentalHealth, our multidisciplinary team provides comprehensive care for anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, OCD, PTSD, and more. Whether you need therapy, coaching, or medication management, we can help you get the comprehensive treatment you need.

To get started, schedule an appointment today.