# Little things you do that improve your mental health **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 14, 2022, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-do-that-improve-your-mental-health/962834 "2022-04-14T18:42:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2022, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-do-that-improve-your-mental-health/962834/21 "2022-04-15T08:06:14Z")
Quiet and darkness are easy to maintain because I live alone. I find it very restful. I don’t have the TV on unless I am watching something. I no longer listen to the radio, if I want to listen to music or a podcast I do. Otherwise silence. I have my windows open with the blinds partly drawn nearly all the time. Generally the only lights I put on are a reading lamp in the lounge and the range hood light in the kitchen. I have a few little power point, night lights about the place. And that’s all the light I need most of the time. I may put on an overhead light to prepare food or do something else that requires a bright light. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2022, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-do-that-improve-your-mental-health/962834/22 "2022-04-15T15:31:50Z")
On weekdays before beginning work, I go into a room alone, shut the door, and read. This time varies; it has been as much as an hour, but has lately dwindled to only fifteen or twenty minutes. My mental health has dwindled correspondingly. I also have a lot of animals to pet, however I’m now at the point of decreasing returns, as these creatures are driving me crazy! And yeah, drink. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2022, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-do-that-improve-your-mental-health/962834/23 "2022-04-15T17:30:15Z")
There are several that I’ve picked up over the past couple of years: 1. Always take lunch hour out of the office. Preferably alone. 2. Work phone automatically goes to do not disturb outside of normal office hours. The only person allowed through is my boss. 3. Getting enough sleep. 4. Exercise. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2022, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-do-that-improve-your-mental-health/962834/24 "2022-04-15T21:21:24Z")
Just got back from 4 days at the lake. I like to spend several days camping by myself and enjoying the quiet. Most times I follow a self-imposed media blackout, but this time I kept up with events (just a little). Several days of trees and water seems to do the trick for me. It’s something I’ve practiced for 40 years now. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2022, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-do-that-improve-your-mental-health/962834/25 "2022-04-16T14:50:32Z")
Yesterday my coworker asked if I wanted to take a hike with her at a local park. So we hiked for a while. It’s been a long time since I’ve done that, and it was pleasant. I heard my phone buzz a few times due to someone texting me, and I ignored it. Am glad I did it, though felt a little depressed afterwards for other reasons. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-do-that-improve-your-mental-health/962834.md?page=1)