Self-care tips to help your mental health

With Blue Monday just two days ago, here are some self-care tips to help your mental health as 2026 gets underway.

January is often classed as a depressing month. It's cold, dark, and it's the time when everyone returns to work or school after having time off over Christmas.

For a lot of people, the first month of a new year can be a struggle. There are lots of things to think about ahead of returning to work, and also lots of things to sort out from Christmas and for the new year.

Which is why the third Monday of January is named 'Blue Monday'.

Whilst 'Blue Monday' was made up by a travel company a couple of decades ago with no real scientific backing, that doesn't mean it isn't important. The day serves as a reminder to care for your own mental health, but also to check in on those around you.

So, with that being said, here are some self-care tips to help your mental health.

Prioritising your body

One of the most important things in our lives is our bodies. Without our bodies, we would not be here and it should be a priority to look after them and try to give ourselves the best quality of life possible.

Prioritising our bodies is a method of self-care because it will ultimately improve our health, both physically and mentally. There are various ways of looking after our bodies, but let's talk about exercise, sleep and nutrition.

Exercise is, of course, an important aspect that needs to be included in our daily routine. Not only does it release endorphins, which make us feel happier after a workout, but it also gets our blood pumping, reduces stress, increases confidence and can be a source of connection with others.

Sleep should also be a priority — something I'm probably guilty of not doing. There is no point in having a long to-do list, making time to see friends or stressing about not doing well enough at your job if you're not getting enough sleep. Sleep lets our bodies rest and heal, and puts us in the best position for a good day, but only if we get enough of it and aren't doom-scrolling just before lights out.

The final tip about prioritising your body is all about nutrition. There's the saying 'You are what you eat', and in a sense, that is true. If you're fuelling your body with lots of unhealthy and sugary foods, you're not going to feel refreshed and ready for the day ahead. Instead, you need to be eating a balanced diet, getting enough nutrition, and taking time to enjoy meals, not just scoffing them down as fast as you can if you're short on time.

Connections with others

I mentioned above that exercise can be a source of connecting with others, and that is important to remember. Sure, sometimes we all need space and time to be alone and have time to ourselves.

But there is power in the connection we have with others, whether that's family or friends. You can bond with them and share memories, whilst opening up to them if you need to and getting support from trusted loved ones.

So, it's important to remember to make time for friends and family, whether that's a simple coffee date, or having them pop in for an afternoon, or even spending time together grocery shopping.

Manage stress and demands

I often write about stress on this blog because it is something I suffer from and have seen those around me suffer from, too. Especially in the modern world, there are lots of things that cause stress, whether it's something on a national level, such as the cost of living, or on a more personal and individual level.

But there are ways you can combat stress to help your mental health.

Firstly, finding a hobby is a great tool for managing stress. Having a hobby that you can indulge in and take time for yourself to do can give you the time and space to relax and be present in the moment. It can be whatever you find enjoyable, whether it's reading, doing jigsaw puzzles, or even gardening.

The next way to manage stress is through meditation. There are a lot of apps, like Headspace or Calm, that can help you with meditation if you're someone who hasn't done much of it before, but it can be just as simple as deep breathing or sitting there with your eyes closed and calming yourself down.

The final tip of managing stress as a way of self-care is to embrace nature. Now, I'm not necessarily a huge fan of all things nature when it comes to insects and bugs; however, there is something powerful about being in nature and enjoying what it has to offer.

So, go for a walk in nature and just have a stroll through greenery, or find an area of green space and just sit there for a while.

Reflection

My final tip about how to utilise self-care to help your mental health is all about reflection. This can take many forms, but a popular type of reflection is journaling.

It doesn't have to be every day, especially if you're someone who is time-aware and knows you won't necessarily have time for it. You can reflect every few days, each week, whatever suits you.

But take time to look back on things you've done recently, how you've felt and what has made you happy. This can help you understand your thoughts and understand how to improve your mentality and feel happier going forward.

Another way of reflection that I saw recently in The Good Trade is to write a 'ta-da' list instead of a to-do list. Essentially, this is a list of all the good things you've accomplished (again, in whatever time frame suits you) and something you can look back on and feel proud about.

With 2026 well underway, this year should be one of self-care for everybody. Of course, some tasks and jobs need doing, but life is too short to just complete housework and not take the time out for self-care.

What self-care tips do you have?

Until next time...