Caring for your mental health is essential because it affects every aspect of your daily life and your ability to function. It affects your overall wellbeing and ability to cope with the everyday stresses of life. Consistently devote time to improving your mental health, and you'll reap the benefits in the same way that daily physical exercise makes you stronger. 

Here are a few healthy practices that can be easily integrated into daily life.  

• Be in the present. Whether you're driving to work, spending time with friends or doing the laundry, take a moment to pause and recognize your surroundings. Consider noticing and naming things using your five senses. What can you see? What can you smell? This can help you appreciate the world around you. 

• Enjoy hobbies. Hobbies can provide a great distraction from stressors and can boost your mood. Try painting, reading or editing pictures in Photoshop–anything you enjoy and don't feel pressured to complete. 

• Laugh. Even when life is challenging, try to find time to smile and laugh. It's healing and will help you forget your worries for a few moments. Watch a movie that makes you laugh or spend time with a friend with a good sense of humor.  

• Check on your emotions. Take a few moments for yourself and check in with your feelings. Whether you feel stressed, excited, anxious or sad, it's important to slow down, be aware of your emotions and practice self-care.   

• Move your body. Taking a walk, running, stretching or even completing a few yoga poses can help reduce stress hormones. Exercise also stimulates brain chemicals that are mood elevators. 

Source: U.S. Department of State