17 Effective Ways to Maintain a Healthy Mindset
In this article, you will learn 17 effective ways to develop and maintain a healthy mindset to help you live your best life with passion, positivity, and purpose!
What is a Healthy Mindset?
Your mindset is a set of beliefs that shape how you think and feel about yourself and the world around you.
Your mindset impacts how you interact with people; how you perceive and react to all situations; whether you have a tendency to feel positive or negative about things; whether you achieve success or not, how you cope with challenges, and so much more.
Therefore, if you have a healthy mindset, your actions will reflect healthy, positive behaviors that support a happy and productive life.
You will clearly understand the importance of personal growth and development with a mindset that allows you to grow, and confidently redefine your direction in life even when faced with new challenges.
A healthy mindset will also help you live a well-balanced life of love, friendship, career, family, community, health and self-care, and happiness.
Related Article: 36 Life Hacks for Your “I Just Want to Live a Peaceful Life” Thoughts!
17 Effective Ways to Maintain a Healthy Mindset
Let’s jump right into all the effective ways to develop and maintain a healthy mindset! Make healthy mindset habits a priority in your life!
Just in case you struggle with a healthy mindset, it’s NEVER too late to work on it!
1. Love and Accept Yourself — Flaws and All
How do you love and accept yourself? The first step is to take responsibility for who you are. Be your authentic self without fear of judgement or criticism. Love yourself for all the things you do — including your faults, flaws, mistakes, and imperfections.
Accept your body, even if it’s not exactly how you want it to be. Once you start accepting who you are, talk to yourself (and about yourself) in a compassionate way instead of being critical or judgmental.
In order to love yourself, you need to accept all things about yourself. This means understanding who you are without any judgement, with an open mind and a willingness to grow in areas where you feel less confident.
2. Be Grateful — Find the Positive
It’s so easy to get caught up in negativity. But this can be detrimental to our overall wellness and mood, not to mention relationships.
Author Johann Hari says that gratitude is “a kind of thinking that starts by noticing what’s right with the world.” Whether it’s something as simple as having a roof over your head or looking at someone you love, there are countless things to be grateful for.
So next time you’re feeling frustrated, try the practice of counting your blessings and noticing the positive things in your life. There are many — smiles, music, a cool breeze, flowers, food in your tummy, and a roof over your head.
There are many ways you can find contentment and happiness in your daily life but gratitude is an important first step. Make it a habit to take time to appreciate the small things, such as a sunny day, a new discovery, or an uplifting quote.
You will find that by taking the time to be grateful for all that is good in your life, and by finding the positive in each situation that you go through, your outlook on life will change.
You will suddenly realize that happiness is closer than ever — every single day.
Related Article: 21 Easy-Peasy Ways to Make Today a Great Day
3. Accept that You Can’t Control Everything — Be Flexible
It can be easy to get caught up in a whirlwind of anxiety when you feel that you have no control over what is going on. If you can’t change a situation, it does little good to worry about it. It is a waste of your emotional energy.
Accepting that you cannot control everything will help you gain a sense of peace and be able to make the most of what you do have control over. You can use your emotional energy to focus on those things.
I know it’s sometimes hard to come to terms with the idea that you cannot control everything. This can lead to a sense of loss and frustration. But a key part of accepting that you cannot control everything is being flexible.
Just because you had your heart set on a particular outcome, doesn’t mean that it will happen. If things don’t go your way, be ready to pivot and move forward with your life. That’s the art of flexibility.
Recognizing and understanding that you cannot be in control of everything allows you to be more flexible and less stressed about situations that you can’t control. And helps you maintain a healthy mindset!
4. Take Time to Reflect — How is Your Life Going?
Taking time to reflect on your personal wellbeing, attitudes, and behaviors will allow you to assess whether you want to make changes, or whether you are indeed happy with the direction you are taking in your journey of life.
Pay attention to your thoughts and feelings. Do they tend to have a positive or negative feel? Do your behaviors generally demonstrate a sense of positivity or negativity?
What do your words convey? Notice how others perceive your words and behaviors. Think about whether there are more positive actions you can take toward situations in your life.
One of my favorite websites, Lifehack, has an amazing article about how self-reflection gives you a happier and more successful life. Check it out!
Journaling is a great way to reflect. Write about how your life is going, what you’ve accomplished lately, how you want to improve your life, and what actions you can take to reach your goals. Check out these 30 self reflection journal prompts for more ideas! You may also like these 90 mindfulness journal prompts to improve your life!
It’s never too late to start reflecting on your life as part of your efforts to live a more positive and happy life! Make it a healthy habit. It will help you develop and maintain your healthy mindset!
5. Choose Friends Wisely — Positive People Are More Fun!
Surround yourself with friends who have a positive mindset and consistently lift your spirits. These kind of friends will support your efforts to have a healthy mindset. Whereas negative people will always bring you down.
Positive social interactions are an important part of your life. Friends can affect everything — your mood, self-esteem, daily functioning, attitude, behaviors, and happiness.
Friendships should be two-way relationships. You should always feel comfortable with the quality of your friendships.
You should enjoy spending time with your friends in happy, positive environments or settings. You should also feel comfortable sharing and confiding in each other, but be able to lift each other, as well. You and your friends should celebrate each others’ successes and really listen and support each other in all ways.
Friendships can make a big difference in the direction you take in life, in your behavior choices, and your happiness — are you choosing the right friends? The right friends will help you maintain a healthy mindset!
6. Practice Effective Communication — How Do We Communicate?
Many people have a hard time with honest verbal communication skills. This may include miscommunication, not listening, a fear of upsetting another person, or even a lack of understanding in a conversation.
The most important thing you can do to avoid these problems is practice clear communication. Studies show that better communicators are able to get their point across clearly with fewer words. And they are able to express themselves with positive words that do not offend others.
Practice observing what others say, and how they communicate with each other. You will probably notice the difference between good and poor communicators. Effective communication also supports good personal and social skills.
Communication includes verbal communication, active listening, two-way conversations, body language, facial expressions, and more. Be aware that you can speak volumes with no words — in good ways or bad ways. You can express your empathy with a hug, or you can offend someone with an eye roll.
Make effective communication a priority. Focus on how you communicate with others. Be a good listener. Be empathetic. Express yourself honestly. Practice positive communication skills. These habits will help you be an effective communicator.
7. Eat Healthy Foods — Don’t Forget the 5 Food Groups
Mindset and health are closely related. They say a healthy mindset supports a healthy body, and a healthy body supports a healthy mindset!
Eating healthy is the best way to live a long and healthy life. It can not only prevent disease, but it can also help you maintain a healthy weight.
The American Dietetic Association recommends 5 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables, 4 servings of dairy products, 3 servings of whole grains, 2-3 servings of protein foods (lean meat, poultry), 1-2 servings of plant oils (oils/fats), and limited amounts of sugar. Good nutrition is vitally important to a healthy mindset.
You should avoid high levels of sugar, trans fat, sodium, saturated fat, and too much junk food. In fact, these ingredients should be looked at on the nutrition label before purchase.
Make healthy food choices a habit to help support a healthy mindset.
8. Move Your Body — Do What You Enjoy
Positive, healthy thoughts about physical activity will help you move your body more. You do not need to over-exert yourself or put yourself into a negative experience. But you do need to MOVE YOUR BODY. Choose movement that you enjoy!
It’s been proven that exercise benefits your mind, body, and soul.
Exercise is a vital part of living a healthy lifestyle. But exercise doesn’t need to be intense to be effective. A more moderate level of exercise such as walking for 30 minutes per day or 150 minutes per week is also beneficial.
Exercise can lower your risk for weight-related health conditions like diabetes and heart disease, and it can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Find some form of movement or exercise that you enjoy — my favorite is swimming at the local indoor pool — and make it a habit to get your exercise in regularly for a healthy body and healthy mindset! Check out 10 Ways to improve Your Physical Health Now for additional inspiration.
9. Choose Calm — Chaos Doesn’t Work
Many people feel like living a hectic, busy lifestyle is the key to success and/or happiness. Eventually, the chaos just becomes a way of life and suddenly you are constantly on the move.
In reality, however, a lack of calmness can be detrimental to both your physical and mental health. It is possible that those who are driven by a chaotic way of life because of their desire for success or happiness will eventually burn themselves out.
The first step in creating a calmer life is identifying the root of the problem. Is it anxiety? Stress? Too many commitments? Do you have a problem saying no? Do you have a problem being still (or calm)? It’s important to reflect on these issues and work toward finding more calm and peace of mind. You can protect your peace of mind with a variety of simple life changes.
Many people get overwhelmed easily in the midst of a chaotic life. There are also habits you can develop and strategies you can implement to reduce your overwhelm and stress in these situations. Learning to calm your mind will help you develop and maintain a healthy mindset.
A person who is able to be calm in the midst of chaos, or make changes in their lives to reduce chaos, will have peace of mind, which will help them find more happiness in their lives.
10. Stop and Smell the Roses — Make It a Habit
Why is it that we get so caught up in life that we forget to stop and smell the roses?
Life can be hectic and busy, but it should never be too busy for a moment where you take a break from all the hustle and bustle. In order to keep yourself sane, make sure to stop every once in a while and smell the roses.
Life is too short to just go through the motions. There are amazing things to be seen and experienced all around us.
Every day, people walk by the most beautiful gardens without taking a moment to enjoy their beauty. They never stop to smell the roses. It’s not always easy to find time for these little pleasures, but they make life so much richer, more full of life and color.
Make it a habit to stop and smell the roses regularly in your life to help maintain a positive, healthy mindset.
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11. Get Involved — Give Back to the Community
You might be surprised to learn that a healthy mindset includes giving back to the community. But research shows that community is part of a happy, balanced life. Community engagement is important.
The best way to feel connected to your community is by getting involved. There are many ways you can get involved such as volunteering, donating, or becoming a leader in an organization.
Volunteering is one of the most common ways to participate in your community. You can find volunteer opportunities just about anywhere and they’re a great way to give back!
Be a sports coach, or a girl scout leader, or a PTA volunteer, or a youth group leader. Or volunteer in your local hospital, library, or animal shelter. There are so many opportunities.
Clean out closets and toy chests to make donations to homeless shelters, women’s shelters, or churches. It’s a great feeling!
12. Always Do Your Best — Even If It’s Hard
Having a healthy mindset gives you the motivation and desire to always do your best, even if something is hard. It also helps you achieve your goals in life.
Everyone has goals that they hope to achieve. From big goals like getting into a good college, to little goals like not forgetting anything from the grocery store.
But you have to always do your best in order to achieve your big and little goals. And without a healthy mindset, it becomes more challenging to put forth the energy to always do your best.
So… to know and understand that always doing your best is important in life will help you develop and maintain a healthy mindset. It’s kind of a two-way street — a healthy mindset supports doing your best and doing your best supports a healthy mindset.
Achieving your goals is an important part of life but always doing your best is even more important. Why? Because doing your best helps you have a positive, healthy mindset that allows you to make progress toward achieving your goals and improving yourself in life.
If you always do your best, even if something is hard, you are demonstrating personal growth and development toward becoming the happy and productive person you are meant to be.
13. Believe in Yourself — You Are Worthy
Many people in the world are successful because they have faith in themselves. They have confidence to tackle any challenge that comes their way, and they have the tenacity to never give up.
If you want to be successful, one of the best things you can do is believe in yourself. You need to believe that you too can be successful so that when challenges come your way, you will know that you are able to overcome them. This attitude comes with a healthy mindset because you know you are worthy and capable of success!
One of the most important skills for success in life is believing in oneself. It is important to understand that you can do anything you set your mind to, and that there should be no limit to what you can accomplish, as long as you believe in yourself.
14. Determine Your Passion and Purpose — What Makes You Feel Awesome?
Really stop and think about what makes you happy — hobbies, work, volunteer activities, people, places, things, silence, music, community.
What makes your heart happy? What makes you feel passionate and alive? What is super important to you?
Focus on those passions to develop goals and purpose for your life. Make changes where possible, if necessary. If you are able to identify (and live) your passion and purpose, your overall mental health will improve.
The ultimate goal of a healthy mindset is to live your life with passion and purpose!
15. Be Mindful — Live in the Present
One of the most important things you can do for yourself is to be mindful and present.
We live in a world where we spend so much time focusing on what we need to get done, or what happened yesterday or last week, that we can easily forget how to focus on the present moment.
Suddenly we’re caught up in our thoughts and begin to feel like we’re drowning in all the tasks that need to be completed, or all the worries from our past and future.
It is important that we take time to be mindful of the present moment so we can live a more fulfilling life. Focusing on what is happening at this very moment can help us recognize the small things we often overlook and how those things can bring us joy.
You can do this through a regular practice of meditation or journaling.
Read about the many benefits of mindfulness — mind, body, and soul — to learn more about being mindful. It is a beautiful way to improve your life!
16. Never Stop Learning — Learn to Explore and Be Adventurous
Always strive to learn something new every day. Some people believe when you stop learning, you stop living.
Learning helps you get more out of life. You never know when a particular bit of information could change the course of your life.
Intellectual wellness encourages new learning. It supports your desire to explore new ideas and develop new understandings in order to become a more balanced and mindful person.
It is said that the only way to stop learning is to be dead. That means there’s no way to stop learning; it’s an unstoppable process of continuing to learn, no matter the circumstances. A healthy mindset will guide you to keep using what you learn to improve your life and make better decisions.
17. Love Hard — Love People, Life, Opportunities, and Challenges
Love is a powerful emotion that affects everyone — it makes you feel, think, and behave in ways you would not act without it. Our actions are often guided by the emotion of LOVE. However, there is a common misconception that the only way love can exist is through a committed relationship.
This is simply not true — people can live fulfilling lives by loving hard from afar or from within relationships. We also need to acknowledge the power of platonic love, as well as the love between siblings and parents and children.
There is even love for pets and passions. Love for clothes and foods. Love comes in many forms and capacities.
Many of us have a loving heart that allows us to love hard — we love anything that we feel a strong emotional bond with. (I am one of those people.)
Loving hard is a great way to live your life. If someone offers you love, you should embrace it fully and appreciate it. If someone offers you an arm, hold on tightly and never let go. Learn to love hard and live passionately with a positive, healthy mindset.
BONUS: Develop and Maintain a Growth Mindset
In order to be the best version of yourself, you need to develop and maintain a growth mindset and positive outlook on life. All of the recommendations above go hand-in-hand with a growth mindset — they support a positive way of living and growing through life.
A growth mindset helps you turn negative thoughts into positive thoughts. It helps you significantly progress with your own personal development and be able to live life with a healthy frame of mind.
A fixed mindset does not allow you to grow and develop because you don’t believe in yourself. You have difficulty with mindset shifts, positive thinking, healthy relationships, and overall wellbeing. You often engage in negative self-talk and tend to have a negative mindset that limits your potential. This is not how you want to live your life, right?
A growth mindset will help you have a healthier state of mind and better quality of life. Learn to think “I can…” instead of “I can’t…” and you’ll discover your mental well-being — and your life — improves significantly!
Healthy Mindset Quotes
For added inspiration, check out these quotes about a healthy mindset! I find them helpful to keep posted around my home when I’m feeling blue. They help to lift my spirits during challenging times.
“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
~ Marcus Aurelius
“I truly believe in positive synergy, that your positive mindset gives you a more hopeful outlook, and belief that you can do something great means that you will do something great”
~ Russell Wilson
“You will never speak to anyone more than you speak to yourself in your head. Be kind to yourself.”
~ Unknown
“What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create.
~ Buddha
“Learn how to develop powerful thinking so you can cut the negativity and have a powerful life.”
~ Adrian J. Gordon
“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”
~ Gautama Buddha
“Values are related to our emotions. Just as we practice physical hygiene to preserve our physical health, we need to observe emotional hygiene to preserve a healthy mind and attitudes.”
~ Dalai Lama
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”
~ Gautama Buddha
Final Thoughts: How to Develop and Maintain a Healthy Mindset
In conclusion, it is important to have a healthy mindset in order to live your best life of passion, positivity, and purpose. You can develop and maintain a healthy mindset by practicing these 17 life-changing habits.
There are many powerful reasons why mindset is everything. The healthiest thing that you can do for yourself is to take care of yourself emotionally and monitor your mindset and attitudes. If you do this, you will find yourself growing and developing a healthy, positive lifestyle.
A healthy mindset includes a positive attitude, respect for self and others, and a balanced life of healthy behaviors that support your happiness.
For additional inspiration, you may enjoy these related articles:
Are you ready to develop and maintain a healthy mindset in order to live your BEST LIFE??
Love to All! ~ Susan
Building a healthy mindset needs time. I found for myself such practice as self-reflection. I use this method every day.
Yes, I agree… it sometimes takes time to build a healthy mindset. But practice makes perfect!