What are the best self-care practices to improve mental health?

Okay, real talk - I used to think mental health was just about positive vibes and bubble baths. Boy, was I wrong! It wasn't until I had a total breakdown in the middle of Target (yep, right there in the home decor aisle) that I realized I needed to get serious about taking care of myself.

Sleep is huge, you guys. Like, game-changing huge. I was that person who'd scroll TikTok until 3 AM and then wonder why I felt like a zombie the next day. Now I'm all about my nighttime chill routine - cozy socks, my favorite trashy reality TV show, and these [PRODUCT_HERE] that my sister kept raving about. Not kidding, I wake up feeling like a whole new person.

Here's something that blew my mind: putting my phone away for just one hour a day made such a massive difference. At first, I was like, "What am I supposed to do, stare at the wall?" But turns out, my brain actually needed that break from the constant notifications and drama.

Observations from Day 5 of OTAs - Cleveland Browns

Listen, I've tried pretty much everything out there - some stuff worked like magic, other things were total flops. Here's what actually helped me get my life together:

And guys, can we talk about learning to say no? Like, just straight-up "no" without making up some crazy story about why you can't go to that thing you don't want to go to? It feels SO good.

Look, some days I'm all about morning meditation and green juice. Other days, I'm eating mac and cheese straight from the pot while watching cat videos. And you know what? Both are totally fine! Mental health isn't about being perfect - it's about finding what works for you and just rolling with it.

Hello, I have a question about astral projection. I started to get interested in this a little while after my mum passed in april. I thought I may be able to see her and speak with her if I managed to achieve astral projection. Since this interest, every time i sleep on my back I go into sleep paralysis. However, I cant progress into astral projection because it is very scary for me as I feel like I'm suffocating when this happens. I panic and force myself to wake up. This only ever happened about once a year before this. It sometimes lasts a long time. This has happened about 3 times per week since my mum died, as mentioned on a previous post. I no longer try to go into it anymore(due to the suffocating feeling), but it still happens. I read that sleep paralysis is the pathway to astral projection. Why has this started to happen so frequently since simply taking an interest in it? Is this connected to the afterlife? I am concerned about it as I now cannot seem to stop this happening. Could it be my mum trying to communicate? Im asking due to more knowledge around this in this group.

The biggest change though? Finally getting off my butt and joining a local running group. I know, I know - past me would've laughed too. But hanging out with actual humans instead of just liking their Instagram posts? Total mood boost.

Just remember: baby steps count. You don't have to transform your life overnight. Start small, keep it real, and be nice to yourself along the way. Trust me, you've got this!