Psychologists share 13 ways to stay mentally healthy.

One scroll through Instagram’s barrage of #fitspo and healthy eating posts is enough to appreciate the fact that we place a whole lot more emphasis on looking after our physical health than our mental health.

Psychologists have shared their best tips to stay mentally healthy on a recent Reddit thread. They’re small tweaks that can have a big impact. We’re in.

1. Don’t let your job define you.

Your worth doesn’t begin and end with your LinkedIn profile.

“Sometimes people get hyperfocused on their jobs they begin to feel like their whole life is about sitting behind their desk. Remember you’re also a friend, member of the family, sports fan, etc.

There are so many different aspects that make up who we are. It’s important to remember this, especially when one aspect of our life begins to cause us distress. Therefore, it is also important to make time for these parts of who we are.”

2. Be kinder to yourself.

Another stressed the benefits of setting the same expectations for yourself as you do for other people.

“Too often we judge ourselves harsher than the rest of the world, and it ends up making us anxious and/or depressed because we never feel accomplished.”

WATCH: Let Paper Tiger lead you through a calming meditation. Post continues after video.

3. Ask for help.

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you think that you need it. You can have a disorder and still be mentally healthy; they only become unhealthy if not treated.”

4. Pat yourself on the back.

You earned it.

“If you do something, anything, that is hard for you, give yourself credit for having done it. Doesn’t matter if all you did was get out bed. If it was hard, be proud.” (Post continues after gallery.)

5. Find someone you can talk to.

It will make the world of difference.

“If there are people who seem genuinely concerned about you as a person, start sharing small details about your feelings and see if they show they are good listeners. If you don’t have people you think show concern, ask yourself whether you think you know where to find them.”

If you don’t know anyone or aren’t ready, a therapist can be this person until you do.

5. Don’t ignore your problems.

This will only let them build.

“Find a good way to process your problems rather than suppressing them. Think about it, try to understand what happened, how you reacted to it, and how you feel about it.

“Process it outside of your mind as well, write it down, talk about it. It can make all the difference compared to just keeping it inside your head.”

Image: iStock.

6. Try to understand your emotions.

"When you are feeling emotional, ask yourself what exactly happened that made you feel that way, ask yourself why it made you feel this way," wrote fala1.

"Understanding where your emotions came from, and maybe also what their functions are, can make it easier to deal with them."

7. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Don't make one single thing or person your sole source of happiness.

"For example, if you are married, make sure that everything does not revolve around your significant other. Make sure you have your own friends, hobbies, etc.

"It's just not healthy to have only one person in your life, and you never know what could happen with your significant other like divorce or death."

8. Practise mindfulness.

No, it doesn't have to be the spiritual "om" kind.

"Just take five minutes out of your day (regardless of how busy you are, that five minutes will not make or break you) and just relax with visual imagery or whatever works for you.  (Post continues after gallery.)

9. Remember that you're not alone.

"So many people with a mental health issue feel that they are alone, and that nobody could possibly feel the same as them or have experienced the things that they have. It's not true."

10. Stay physically healthy.

"It all works together - so drink water, exercise, eat healthy foods, drink alcohol in moderation and get enough sleep."

Image: iStock

11. Remove toxic people from your life.

They're just not worth it.

"You know the ones - the type of friends who are 'fair weather', who don't listen to you but rather are just waiting for their turn to talk, the ones who always have 'drama' but then dismiss your 'drama', the ones who don't validate your feelings, but constantly need you to validate theirs."

12. Do what you love.

"Take up a hobby for no other reason than you enjoy it. Take a class that interests you, just for fun. Volunteer. Read a book. Just spend a little time doing something for the joy of it," recommends one user.

"I promise, you will feel recharged and ready to handle all of those other roles gracefully when you make yourself a priority." (Post continues after gallery.)

13. It's okay not to be happy all the time.

"Remember being happy every second of your life is impossible."

If you're struggling with your mental health, be sure to see a mental health professional who can tailor a plan and treatment to suit your individual needs.

Image: iStock.

What are your tips for looking after your mental health?