10 Things to never do for your mental health: Therapist approved 

What should you not do for mental health?

1. Disregarding your emotions: Bottling up feelings can escalate stress, anxiety, or depression.  Acknowledge and convey your emotions constructively. 
2. Withdrawing from others: Refrain from isolating yourself from friends and family. Emotional support is crucial for your well-being. 
3. Excessively stressing yourself: Taking on more work or responsibilities than you can handle can result in burnout. It’s important to establish boundaries and prioritise self-care. 
4. Leaning on harmful coping strategies: Avoid heavy drinking, drug use, or emotional eating as a way to handle stress. Such actions can exacerbate mental health issues. 
5. Neglecting sleep and physical fitness: Insufficient sleep, lack of exercise, and poor nutrition can adversely affect mood and mental strength. 
6. Avoiding professional assistance: If facing challenges, don’t hesitate to seek therapy or support. Overlooking mental health concerns can lead to them worsening over time. 
7. Continuously comparing yourself to others: Assessing your value based on the achievements of others can diminish self-esteem. Focus on your growth instead. 
8. Clinging to unhealthy relationships: Remaining in toxic relationships can sap your emotional energy. Surround yourself with positive and supportive individuals. 
9. Failing to take breaks: Overexerting yourself without pauses can lead to fatigue. Taking time for relaxation and personal interests is vital for mental health. 
10. Using social media excessively: Spending too much time online and being exposed to negative content can heighten anxiety and stress. Limit your usage and participate in offline pursuits. 

What NOT to do on weekends?

1. Snoozing all day: Oversleeping can disrupt your sleep routine and leave you feeling sluggish instead of revitalised. 
2. Engaging in excessive work: Bringing office work home or worrying about tasks can lead to burnout. Weekends should involve rest and enjoyment. 
3. Neglecting self-care: Lack of exercise, eating poorly, or disregarding relaxation can leave you unprepared for the upcoming week. 
4. Wasting time on social media: Excessive scrolling can deplete your energy and detract from meaningful activities or real-life interactions. 
5. Staying indoors too much: Avoid staying indoors all weekend. Instead, step outside, enjoy the fresh air, and participate in physical activities. 
6. Taking on too many commitments: Filling up your schedule with numerous social events can leave you drained rather than rejuvenated. 
7. Completely avoiding household chores: Postponing all responsibilities can create chaos during the week. To maintain organisation, tackle manageable tasks. 
8. Neglecting family or personal time: Focus on nurturing relationships with loved ones instead of letting the weekend go by in distractions. 
9. Giving in to unhealthy habits: Overindulging, drinking too much, or binge-watching TV can result in feelings of sluggishness. 
10. Disregarding preparations for the upcoming week: A bit of planning—like meal prepping or arranging your schedule can set you up for a stress-free start to the new week. 

When and where to get help?