By Jude 
Today, we are more stressed than ever. The reasons for this are not unfounded, as we live in a world that is also more chaotic than ever.
Disorder seems to be the new order, and finding ways to have clarity and a sense of stability seems like an uphill battle. The news is constantly filled with sensation and divisiveness, while social media is filled with excessive drama. We are continually being inundated with information, which can impact our productivity and creativity.
Yet, even if we are amidst a lack of direction, it is still possible to create our own safe place to have a degree of peace, regardless of what is happening around us. If you’re interested in learning how to support these mental well-being strategies more deeply, pursuing an online masters clinical mental health counseling can not only assist you, but also turn these insights on how the mind works into tangible skills to support others, too.
Pay Attention to Your Mental Health
Practicing mindfulness is an essential step to start paying attention to your mental health. It may seem like a buzzword that’s constantly being thrown around, but being mindful enables a positive state of mental well-being, allowing you to cope with the vagaries of life. Having a conscious recognition of this is a fundamental first step to thrive and stay productive amidst disorder.
Begin by checking in with yourself a few times a day, perhaps through a 5-minute meditation of closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths. Consider asking yourself questions such as ‘How am I feeling right now?’ or ‘What does my body need at this moment?’
Prioritize Your Physical Health
The next thing is your physical health. Acknowledging the mind-body connection is a crucial step towards taking effective self-care.
To pay attention to physical health is not just about avoiding junk food, alcohol, and eating healthily; it also incorporates feeling good, strong, and being able to do everything to your capacity. Sleep, nutrition, and exercise are foundational to the harmony between both physical health and mental resilience.
A 2023 review summarized that physical activity is an extremely beneficial practice to reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety, which is further indicative of this precise mind-body balance. In a world like ours, as such, it becomes even more important to get decent sleep, eat real food, and move your body around.
With the current healthcare crisis in the U.S., supporting, building, and taking responsibility for your physical health is a crucial yet not so easy step to stay grounded in an age of uncertainty. The art of noticing yourself and your state is a great way to know whether you need to take action quickly. Committing to this form of self-care can greatly help your focus, improve relationships with others, lower stress, and mitigate the burnout you may be experiencing.
Limiting Exposure
Sometimes, it may just be because of the smartphone.
We’ve all heard of the term ‘doomscrolling’: the habit of obsessively consuming media or social media feeds. While we joke about it, it is actually extremely harmful for your personal well-being, productivity, and long-term growth. It might be important to stay informed, but having that constant exposure to negative news or information can rapidly erode our sense of well-being.
A 2022 review confirmed that doomscrolling is associated with higher levels of psychological distress and pernicious effects on mental health and well-being, while another clinical trial in 2025 found that people who limited their screen time duration to less than 2 hours per day for three weeks found lower stress, fewer depressive symptoms, better sleep quality, and improved well-being compared to the opposite control group.
Of course, limiting our exposure is easier said than done, given the sheer level of the proliferation of media and technological devices. But setting boundaries for your consumption of media and social media has become ever more important, and a major indication of this is how many mobile and technological devices have incorporated screentime apps and productivity platforms.
The first step to practice? Limiting the time spent scrolling through news feeds and social media. Try also to seek out uplifting content that inspires and motivates you to be creative and productive. It’s only then that you can gradually move on the path towards clearing up the negative fog constantly clouding your brain.
Redirecting Attention
Finally, while we’ve talked about paying attention to your mind and body, there are also things you should redirect your attention from as well.
The everyday experiences you have are defined by what you give your attention to. When you’re always thinking about something that is creating a negative emotion, be conscious of the fact that you can redirect your attention to something more positive and productive. A degree of intentionality is important here. When you’re intentionally choosing to move your attention to a healthier alternative, you are building a habit of proactively regulating your emotions.
This practice should not be confused with distracting yourself to suppress or numb how you’re feeling, or trying to avoid confronting the issue. Instead, this is an active attempt to be at peace with the reality of things while navigating and ultimately superseding their negative offsetting effects.