Mental health activities include practices, exercises, worksheets, interventions, and tools that can be used for psychoeducational purposes to improve mental health awareness, manage stress, and enhance resilience.

They can vary widely depending on individual preferences and needs and include the following:

Physical exercise like running, walking, swimming, dancing, and stretching helps ease tension in the body, generate endorphins and other happy hormones, and promote a calm mind (Mikkelsen et al., 2017).

Expressive arts include drawing, painting, sculpting, crafting, writing, playing music, and singing, among others. Expressing feelings creatively can help unblock emotions and clarify what’s important (Vaartio-Rajalin, 2021).

Mindfulness and relaxation, such as meditation, breathwork, progressive muscle relaxation, yoga, and grounding techniques, can all enhance emotional regulation (Galante et al., 2021).

Seeking social support, such as talking to a trusted friend, joining support groups that focus on mental health challenges, or volunteering to help others, can enhance a sense of belonging and fulfillment (Wickramaratne et al., 2022).

Connecting with nature, including gardening, nature walks, and outdoor swimming, helps boost mood and reduce stress (Coventry et al., 2021).

Self-care activities like taking a warm bath, using aromatherapy, practicing sleep hygiene, and eating healthily nourish the body and brain, which improves mental health (Gartner & Riessman, 1982; Posluns & Gall, 2020).

In short, regularly engaging in mental health activities as shared above can enhance emotional regulation, boost mood, and build resilience to life’s challenges.

In simple language, it is about how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors influence bodily functions and vice versa. Far from being merely theoretical, the mind–body connection is a proven and observable phenomenon that plays a critical role in our overall wellbeing (Hanley et al., 2017).

In studying this connection, researchers have found that physical conditions can shape our mental state, contributing to mood disorders or cognitive challenges (Merikangas et al., 2015).

More recently, studies have found that conditions such as chronic illnesses, hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, and even gut health disruptions influence mood, exacerbate anxiety and depression, and impact cognitive function (Herselman & Bobrovskaya, 2023; Sonali et al., 2022).

These effects also work in the other direction. States such as stress, joy, and anxiety can trigger biochemical responses that affect immune function, heart rate, digestion, and even pain perception (Nahid & Alipoor, 2022; Ishikawa & Furuyashiki, 2021).

For more about the mind–body connection in psychology, have a look at Therapy in a Nutshell’s great explanatory video.

The understanding of the mind–body connection dates back to ancient civilizations (Găiseanu, 2021). In ancient Greece, Hippocrates highlighted the importance of treating the mind and body as a whole (Kleisiaris et al., 2014).

Eastern traditions, such as traditional Chinese medicine and ayurveda, have a long history of practicing holistic approaches to health (Johnson et al., 2024). They recognize the intricate interplay between mental and physical states (Fogaça et al., 2021).

In the West, dualistic perspectives dominated for centuries (Gendle, 2016). We can, in large part, thank Descartes’s theory of mind–body dualism for this misguided approach to health care (Ventriglio & Bhugra, 2015).

This perspective shifted during the 20th century as emerging scientific research began to validate the interconnectedness between mental and physical health (Hernandez et al., 2018). Let’s take a look at what the research is telling us now and how that is shaping theories in health care.

Rather than focusing on symptom reduction, ACT helps individuals embrace discomfort as part of life and move forward with purpose. Grounded in relational frame theory (RFT) (Hayes et al., 1996), ACT has been widely applied to anxiety, depression, trauma, and chronic pain.

Origins and history

Acceptance and commitment therapy was developed in the 1980s by psychologist Steven C. Hayes, who sought a new approach to psychological suffering beyond symptom reduction (Hayes et al., 1996).

Influenced by behaviorism, cognitive psychology, and mindfulness traditions, ACT integrates these elements to enhance psychological flexibility (Hayes et al., 2012).

Hayes (2005) developed ACT theory as part of the third wave of behavioral therapies, distinguishing it from earlier cognitive-behavioral models by emphasizing acceptance over avoidance and values-driven action.

It is now widely used for treating anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and trauma, among other concerns (McLean & Follette, 2016).

Relational frame theory

A key foundation of ACT is relational frame theory, which explains how language and cognition shape human behavior (Hayes et al., 2001). Unlike traditional behavioral models that focus on direct conditioning, RFT suggests that humans derive meaning by relating words and concepts in complex ways.

For example, if a child is taught that spiders are dangerous, they may later fear all small, crawling insects, even without direct experience. This ability to form associative relationships allows humans to develop sophisticated reasoning skills but also contributes to psychological distress when unhelpful thoughts become rigid and limiting (Blackledge, 2007).

The ACT approach applies RFT principles by helping individuals detach from unhelpful thought patterns (cognitive defusion) and shift their focus toward valued actions rather than struggling against internal experiences (Hayes et al., 2012).