Your mental health doesn’t improve by one meditation session, one therapy session, one self-care day and may be it doesn’t in two as well. Why? Because the current state you’re in is the result of years and years of layers after layer of everything that has happened to you, around you.

However, the only way to go is to do little things one day at a time.

Peeling off the layers as you move.

Some of these layers are wound in disguise.

That is something that is going to pull you back. Take longer to heal.

The path is not linear.

I do have a personal formula though.

Journal first. Unload your thoughts on paper.

Improve your diet and get some sun everyday.

Then track your water intake and improve it.

Then start small movements like walking or dancing or any movement really.

While you’re doing all this track your sleep. Try to go to bed early and get required amount of sleep. (This won’t be easy)

Then start meditation.

And while you do all this, be kind to yourself. Building a support system with friends or family also helps.

Why?

When you journal and unload your thoughts, they become less messy and now you are not entangled in those thoughts. It is freeing. It is liberating.

Then you eat better and get sun so you feel better. A lot of times all the irritation comes simply because you are hungry and deprived of Vitamin D.

Then you move a bit and that’s when the happy hormones flow.

Then you focus on hydration- another factor that has an impact on your mood and health.

Lastly you try meditating… and it won’t feel very difficult as you are well fed, your thoughts are a little less messy, you aren’t thirsty or sleepy.

Then, do all of this everyday. Day after day. That’s one way of living a happy life.

Do you have a formula?