What do you do for mental hygiene?

For dental hygiene, you brush your teeth.

For physical hygiene, you shower.

For your home hygiene, you have a cleaning routine.

But what do you do for your mental hygiene?

It’s unfortunate that mental hygiene doesn’t get taught in school or isn’t emphasized as important until adulthood, and even then, most people don’t engage in regular practice.

Mental hygiene should be prioritized as highly, if not more so, than physical health. Because what’s the point of being in excellent physical health if your mental state is in shambles.

Mental hygiene is about creating practices that help you maintain a healthy emotional balance and wellbeing. It’s not about avoiding or escaping emotions but improving your ability to navigate and better understand your emotional landscape.

So, how do you address your mental hygiene and clean up all the debris that builds up over time?

I’m glad you asked.

The first step is to bring awareness to your actions. I understand that this isn’t always possible, but periodically throughout your day, pay attention to how you’re feeling. Find moments during which you disengage from all inputs and mentally check in with yourself. Practicing regular check-ins with yourself allows you to learn and regulate your emotions.

Next is to learn to let things go. This applies to both tasks and people. When it comes to tasks, you only have a finite amount of time, so learning to prioritize between important and urgent will serve you well. And when it comes to people, carrying grudges or anger affects you as much as, if not more than, the people you’ve targeted with your emotions.

Lastly, and as hokey as it might seem, practice gratitude. Take note that I said practice, meaning, don’t wait for events to be grateful for; practice gratitude for what you already have.

While this is not an exhaustive list, it’s a great starting point for you to begin your mental hygiene journey. And yes, it’s a journey that requires consistent practice.

So, the next time you’re working on your dental or physical hygiene, perform a quick mental check-in and spend a few moments cleaning the part of you that matters the most.

P.S. Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed it, please share it with one person you love.