We can all help. Jay Shetty encourages each and every person to practice his 7 Habits of Happiness that promote mental health and wellbeing. These habits are essential for creating healthier people and more positive members of society.
- Sleep. Most people take sleep for granted, but it is vital. Studies show that 35% of adults don’t get the recommended seven hours a night. The human body and brain needs sleep to restore, to grow, and to maintain our immune systems.
A person who prioritizes rest is going to be healthier and happier, and Jay Shetty encourages everyone to start small by going to bed earlier or creating pre-bedtime routines. Restorative rest helps set the tone for mental health.
- Self Talk and Self Confidence. Jay Shetty believes people are far too hard on themselves. He encourages his listeners to be kind, be proactive and intentional with themselves. A society of people who are more self-assured and well-spoken are kinder to others.
- Spot, Stop, Swap. Jay Shetty teaches a 3-step strategy to changing negative elements in our lives. Here’s how it works:
- Spot – Identify the people, places or things associated with the negatives or unhealthy things in your life.
- Stop – If it’s unhealthy, it needs to go.
- Swap – Choose a healthy choice take the place of the unhealthy one.
Consciously making these switches grows healthy thinking and positive energy.
- Grounding and Aligning. Consciously working on being present can help transform situations and improve lifelong mental health. Two exercises Jay Shetty uses to help are grounding and aligning.
- Grounding – When stress or anxiety hits, practice 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Identify …
5 things you can see
4 things you can touch
3 things you can hear
2 things you can smell
1 thing you can taste
Focusing on these tangible things helps calm the mind and ground the body.
- Aligning – Breathe in and out for an equal number of seconds each. This encourages the mind and body to work together. When one part of your being gets ahead of the other, it throws the whole system out of sync and can trigger anxiety.
- Gratitude. Expressing gratitude produces a double benefit. It shows appreciation to the person who was kind and boosts the self esteem of the person showing gratitude. Shetty encourages his listeners to practice gratitude daily by sending someone a thank you note or giving them a call.
- Go Outside. On the worst days, nature can bring healing. When life feels heavy, go outside and walk barefoot on the grass. Appreciate the flowers and smell the fresh air. Happiness thrives when life is lived outside.
- Grow With Someone You Love. Spending time with positive people seems like an obvious suggestion, but true growth requires a step further. Jay Shetty urges his listeners to find someone to connect with weekly and pursue growth together. Growth is healthy. Growth through connection is life changing.
