Get Creative and Try These Unusual Mental Health Boosters
Write Bad Poetry (And Read It Out Loud to Yourself)
You don’t have to be the next Rupi Kaur to benefit from this one. In fact, the worse your poetry is, the better. There’s something strangely liberating about letting yourself write absolute nonsense—rhyming words for the sake of it, exaggerating emotions, or making metaphors that don’t quite land. The point isn’t to be good; it’s to be honest. When you read your ridiculous creation out loud, you might find yourself laughing, cringing, or even uncovering truths about how you really feel. Either way, it gets emotions out of your head and into the world, where they feel more manageable.
Rearrange Your Space in a Way That Feels "Wrong"
We’re creatures of habit, which means our surroundings can become invisible to us after a while. But shaking up your physical space—moving your bed to an unconventional spot, putting your books in color order instead of genre, or turning your kitchen table at an odd angle—can subtly rewire the way you interact with your environment. Small changes force your brain to wake up and engage differently, breaking up mental ruts. The best part? If you hate it, you can always put everything back. But more often than not, you’ll find that a new setup shifts your energy in ways you didn’t expect.
Make a Habit of Gratitude Journaling
Practicing gratitude isn’t just about acknowledging the big wins—it’s about appreciating the small joys that often go unnoticed. Keeping a gratitude journal can help you shift your focus from what’s missing to what’s already there, whether it’s a kind gesture from a stranger, a favorite song playing at the right moment, or the comfort of a quiet morning. Writing down even a few things each day trains your mind to stay open to life’s possibilities, making it easier to remain positive even when challenges arise.
Do Something Completely Pointless (Without Guilt)
We’re conditioned to be productive. Even our hobbies get turned into side hustles, and self-care often comes with an unspoken expectation of improvement. But what if you did something that had absolutely no purpose other than making you feel good in the moment? Try doodling on a napkin, watching squirrels outside your window, or lying on the floor staring at the ceiling while listening to old songs. Give yourself permission to do something that won’t lead to a better resume, a stronger body, or a more enlightened mind. Just be. That’s the real reset.
Make a Playlist That’s the Opposite of Your Mood
Music is an emotional amplifier, which means it’s easy to lean into sadness by playing melancholy tunes or hype yourself up with aggressive beats. But sometimes, the real magic happens when you go against your current mood. If you’re feeling anxious, throw on something slow and dreamy. If you’re down, blast bubblegum pop from the early 2000s. Let yourself be carried somewhere else, even if just for a few songs. The contrast can remind you that emotions are fluid, not fixed.
Send a Ridiculous Text to a Friend for No Reason
Connection is one of the biggest factors in mental well-being, but reaching out to people can feel heavy when you're struggling. Instead of waiting for the perfect moment, just send something ridiculous—a meme that made you laugh, an out-of-context thought, or a dramatic "I MISS YOU" message even if you just saw them last week. It doesn’t have to be deep. Just a small reminder that you exist in each other’s lives. The best friendships are the ones where you can be weird without explanation.
Taking care of your mental health doesn’t always mean overhauling your life. Sometimes, it’s about the small, unexpected shifts that remind you that your mind is flexible, that you’re still capable of surprise, joy, and curiosity. So go ahead—write bad poetry, move your furniture in a strange way, send a bizarre text. You never know what might make the difference.
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https://www.artstherapies.org/blog/health-boosters
