10 Tips To Detox Your Mind
Updated: Jul 9, 2021
Do you declutter your home from all the things you don't need every now and then? But when do you take the time to cleanse your mind and soul? there's no better time than now to put the focus on your mental health and make sure you are feeling your absolute best.
Here are tips to give yourself a nice detox, from ridding your life of negative people to rethinking the way you spend your time.
1. Cut Out the Toxic People in Your Life
Even if it's a family member or a friend you've been close to since you were kids, there's no reason to keep a toxic person around if the relationship isn't benefiting you or making you happy. Whether they have no boundaries, add unnecessary stress or drama to your life, or affect your other relationships, cut them loose: They're cluttering up your mind and soul more than you even realize!
2. Spend Time with People Who Make You Feel Good
There's a major plus to cutting the negative people out of your life: You have more time for those who make you feel amazing. Make sure you're setting aside time to plan something fun with those you love—even if that's just a quick dinner, a coffee date or a phone call.
3. Excercise
Exercising starts a biological cascade of events that results in many health benefits, such as protecting against heart disease and diabetes, improving sleep, and lowering blood pressure. In fact, a 2015 study from Stanford found something as simple as taking a 90-minute walk or hike in a natural area made the participants feel happier and more relaxed overall, even reducing their risk of depression.
4. Reduce Time Scrolling Through Social Media
One of the biggest time-wasters of the day? Endlessly scrolling through social media. Not only does it take time away from other, more fulfilling things you could be doing—as well as the people around you—but it's also really great at cluttering your mind.
5. Take Art Classes
Instead of scrolling through social media, find something else to do with your hands. Any form of creativity is known as being an incredibly therapeutic activity, letting you get some stress relief while also creating something beautiful you can proudly display in your home as a reminder to keep striving for those relaxed, positive feelings.
6. Rethink Your Diet
You can't properly feed your mind and soul if you're not properly feeding your body. To boost your mental health, focus on eating plenty of fruits and vegetables along with foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon. Dark green leafy vegetables in particular are brain protective. Nuts, seeds and legumes, such as beans and lentils, are also excellent brain foods.
7. Start Being a Little More Selfish
For some reason, it can feel very selfish to do things for yourself—and it shouldn't. All day, every day, your focus is on those around you, making sure your boss, family, and friends are all happy and taken care of. But how much time do you actually devote to yourself? Give yourself the chance to detox and declutter your mind and soul simply by spending more time focusing on your wants and needs instead of everyone else's. Your emotional health should always come first, no matter how "selfish" that might feel.
8. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
In today's world, it's impossible not to compare yourself to others. It happens while reading magazines, watching TV, and even double-tapping pictures on Instagram. The problem is constantly looking at a super-edited version of the world doesn't do your mental health any good, so make it your mission to start focusing on what you love about yourself instead of what you wish you had from others
9. Delete Toxic Apps Off Your Phone
If there are apps on your phone that are toxic to your mental health, don't just set a time limit on them—completely delete them. Whether it's seeing all those fake-happy updates on Facebook or the photoshopped images on Instagram, if they don't make you feel good, ditch 'em. You can always add them back later if you want to.
10. Rethink Your Current Job
Sure, your job provides you with an income. But does it make you feel good mentally, too? Whether it's a toxic boss, awful co-workers, or a simple lack of fulfillment, don't be afraid to shake things up. Take a chance and go after your dream, whatever that may be, and you'll surely get rid of any negative feelings taking up space in your mind and soul.