For one reason or another, mental health and well-being were not a topic of common discussions up until recently. In the not-so-distant past, people who were struggling mentally were most commonly shunned upon or, worse yet, considered crazy.

Luckily, things have changed significantly, and nowadays, mental health and well-being take the center stage, as it always should have been. Today, there are numerous resources, programs and organizations, such as https://www.altaloma.com/ that offer help, counseling and treatment plans to people who are struggling mentally. 

Aside from these, and thanks to constantly raising awareness, there’s also more knowledge regarding the topic of mental health and well-being, which is not only important but more than welcome. That said, let’s dive in and explore just some of the fun activities you can partake in that can help you to boost your mood and improve your mental well-being whenever you feel like you need a lift-me-up.

Shopping

Starting off strong, shopping can really help you improve your mood if you’re feeling down. Now, while it is true that not everyone enjoys this activity the same, it’s also true that everyone enjoys wearing nice and well-fitting clothes. So the next time you feel a bit under the weather, reach out to your best friend and see if they’re down for a little shopping spree.

Of course, remember to keep things tame and avoid overspending as this will probably get you down once the initial hype passes. Furthermore, make sure you don’t turn shopping into a coping mechanism, as this can take you down on a dangerous path towards debt, over-consumerism and even hoarding. So, remember to keep your shopping within reasonable boundaries.

Exercising

Exercising is another excellent way to boost your mood and chase away the blues, but it is also another activity that not everyone enjoys equally. But remember that exercising doesn’t only boil down to strenuous cardio or hitting the gym five times a week. Instead, it can be something as simple as blasting your favorite playlist and dancing like nobody’s watching. 

The best thing about this form of exercise is that you won’t ever feel like you’re doing something you don’t enjoy, and it won’t feel like a chore. Rather, it will feel more like a much-needed “me time” you can easily afford whenever you have some free time on your hands.

Additionally, keep in mind that doing chores, like vacuuming, dusting or even re-organizing your wardrobe can be considered exercise, and they also can be made more fun if done to your favorite tunes.

Cooking

Cooking can be really fun but, for some reason, some people feel unnecessarily intimidated by it. In this day and age, however, you can easily find a plethora of delicious recipes to try out.

Thanks to platforms like YouTube and TikTok, cooking has never been made more popular or more accessible. By being able to see how things are being made and follow the whole prep process through, anyone can become a skilled cook!

If, on the other hand, you still wish to stay away from boiling liquids and high temperatures, you can always focus on food prep that’s filled with fresh produce and ingredients that are best consumed chilled or frozen, rather than cooked. 

The best thing about this activity is that there are plenty of meals and dishes that have shown to have a positive effect of improving mental well-being and memory, thanks to the ingredients they contain.

So, simply put, when not feeling your best, why not try to step out of your comfort zone and attempt to prepare a delicious meal or snack that will instantly lift up your spirits?

Painting

Painting is often used as therapy in the world of mental health, and for a good reason. Not only does it help people focus their attention on creating something beautiful – thus preventing them from overthinking, or over fixating on certain things, but it also significantly helps improve hand-eye coordination. 

The great thing about painting is that it allows you to try out numerous different techniques and mediums until you finally find the one that suits you best. If you feel like watercolors or sketches are not really your thing, why not try acrylics or even bleach painting your clothes?

This way not only will you get to spend some time partaking in a fun activity, but you’ll also get a chance to create some custom clothing pieces that will allow you to fully personalize and express your unique style. 

As you can see, taking care of your mental health and well-being can be quite fun if you spend just a bit of time testing out some of the aforementioned activities. In the end, if none of these activities suit you, there are plenty of others you can try out until you finally find something that feels both interesting and therapeutic enough.

Adam Mulligan, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.