How to improve your mindset

Life, with its unpredictable twists and turns, can feel like a roller coaster ride. One day it feels like smooth sailing, and then the next, it seems like the world has turned upside down. While we can wish for a future where everything falls into place effortlessly, the reality is that tough times are inevitable. We don’t have control over everything that happens to us, but we have control over how we approach a situation and how we respond to it – our mindset. In this article, we’ll give you some tips on how to improve your mindset, so you can be more positive, boost your willpower, and become more resilient.

Setting the foundation for positivity

Although it doesn’t solve all your problems, setting a strong foundation for a positive mindset is the first step in helping yourself feel better. In neuroscientist Andrew Huberman’s toolkit for mental health, he mentions six pillars that can help you take the first steps toward better mental health. In short, the six pillars are: 

Healthy nutrition: Fuel your body with wholesome food, stay hydrated, and ensure you’re getting all your vitamins. 

Light and dark exposure: Try to get enough (sun)light during the day, and full darkness during the night. 

Stress management: Limit stress and tackle its impact by incorporating coping strategies. 

Social interaction: Connect and interact with peers, and minimize hanging out with people who drain your energy. 

Good sleep: Get 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night consistently. 

Movement: Keep your body active with daily exercise. 

Create an environment that makes staying positive easier 

Being in an environment where people are positive makes staying positive a lot easier. Especially when you’re just starting out with your new, positive habits, it can be easy to succumb to negativity when it’s all around you.  

Surround yourself with people who spark positivity and, when possible, steer away from negative people, or people who drain your energy. Also, take a good look at the things you’re consuming. Starting the day by scrolling through the news or social media can shape your attitude and can contribute to stress and anxiety. Additionally, there’s an important relationship between your gut health and your mental health. So, if you’re eating unhealthy stuff, no wonder you feel like that, too.  

Trust that you can grow 

There are two mindsets that distinguish how people approach their ability to develop their skills and intelligence. Those with a fixed mindset believe that their skills and intelligence are fixed and static. People with a growth mindset believe that these can be enhanced through learning and effort. It’s actually scientifically proven that people with a growth mindset often get better results in school, have improved mental health, and have decreased stress symptoms.  

If you start believing in your potential to grow, you’ll realize that a lot of things you deem impossible are actually possible! Adopting a growth mindset means you understand that every mistake or failure is part of the process, and every one of them is a new lesson learned. :) 

Seek professional help 

Of course, if your history plays a part in your mindset, your situation is complex, or you feel like after applying all these tips, you don’t feel better, it’s a good idea to seek professional help.  

Resources for improving your mindset 

Podcasts 

- Huberman Lab w/ Andrew Huberman 
- On Purpose w/ Jay Shetty 
- How to Fail w/ Elizabeth Day 

Books 

- James Clear - Atomic Habits 
-Brianna Wiest - The Mountain Is You 
- Daniel Kahneman - Thinking, Fast and Slow 

Tips from the community 

- “Gaslight yourself into thinking you can do anything!” 
- “Be grateful for what you have and excited for what is yet to come.” 
- “Kill the ants (the negative thoughts in your head)” 

To overview