It seems so trivial, but it’s so crucial. As they say, we grow old when we stop playing, and your mind cops it when we no longer have fun. Creating a sense of play is about losing yourself to find yourself. Think back to when you were a child, lost in fun. Do that again, and lots of it!

Don’t underestimate the power of this one. At its core, creating is an expression of you, and it’s easy to ditch this one when life gets messy. Creating can be about making things just for the sake of making things. Period. Cooking, art, music, mechanics, building, robotics, coding, craft it doesn’t matter, just get lost in your own world.

We are social creatures at heart. The challenge with mental health is it can be isolating, and connecting with people can be anxiety breeding. And there the cycle begins, isolation breeds further mental health challenges. Start small, with a close friend, and build on it. Where possible, talk to friends about challenges, that’s one of the best ways to connect.

In a busy, stress inducing, over-distracting world, sleep can easily suffer, as will your mental health. Find what works for you, and don’t make it a battle, it’s about getting out of your head and trying things until they work. Rhythm and routine can help a lot, and you guessed it, stay off screens before bedtime!

There’s a saying, ‘Tell me what you eat and I’ll tell you who you are”. It’s easy to get lost in the world of diets, but one thing they all agree on is that what you consume impacts how you feel, think and behave. A great place to start is Mediterranean - it’s reputable, not overly confusing, healthy for the mind and best of all, super tasty!

The benefits are undeniable. Pumping your body with neuro chemicals like dopamine and enrorphins are an incredible mood booster. Create routine, and make it achievable- 2 minutes of movement is better than nothing. You may rarely feel like moving, sometimes enjoy it, but you will always benefit from doing it.

Yep, probably the last thing you feel like doing, and that’s why you need to go and find it again. The bottom line? Laughter produces endorphins, used as a natural way to relieve pain, reduce stress and boost mood. Watch comedians, banter, laugh with friends or even laugh at your ridiculous situation you’ve found yourself in. Do what it takes to find laughter.

There are loads of reasons why getting out amongst nature is good for the mind. Whether it be looking out at the horizon, finding a lookout with a sunrise or sunset or walking in nature, exploring gives you a good hit of serotonin, an excellent mood regulator. Sit, lie, walk, run, garden… it doesn’t really matter, just let blue and green be seen!

When hypervigilent, it’s difficult to slow down. And for others, they can’t stand the thought of sitting still. For some reason, it’s just hard to switch gears and and activate the rest and digest system (limbic system). There are loads of practical ways to do this - hugs, sauna treatment, breath work, lazing in a hammock or sitting around a fire are a few to get you started.

It’s a hot topic, but for so many it’s hard to put aside time to do it - or focus on it while doing it! Whether it be guided apps, going through your 5 senses, or immersing yourself into something completely, give your mind a break. Like everything, the more you do it, the easier it becomes. So get yourself grounded and draw into the present.

Meditation can mean a lot of different things to different people, but it’s excellent for the darting mind that struggles to slow down and focus. By training the mind to focus on a particular object, thought, or activity, you build attention, awareness, and a mentally clear and emotionally calm state. It’s about slowing everything down and focussing attention.

Don’t underestimate the power of fully throwing your energy into something. Immersing yourself into an activity that excites you is about finding motivation and activating important neuro-chemicals (like dopamine) which give us a sense of reward and fulfilment. It’s crucial for a healthy mind and we often underestimate its importance in life.