Mental Hygiene: A Fresh Perspective

If all went well this morning, you woke up, and if you’re anything like me, the first stop was coffee! The routine likely followed with a shower, brushing your teeth, drying your hair, and picking out an outfit. Now, if you reflect on your morning, did you have to convince yourself that you deserved to shower? Or maybe you promised yourself that you’d put on deodorant—only after completing those ten tasks you’ve been putting off. Perhaps brushing your teeth seemed optional, dependent on whether you ‘deserved’ it by day’s end. Does this sound a bit silly? I hope so—and here’s why: These are some of the very reasons I hear for why self-care either comes last or, more often, doesn’t make the list at all.

In my opinion, self-care is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves. Our daily to-do lists are packed, often leaving us physically and emotionally drained, and self-care becomes the last priority—if it’s prioritized at all.

Take hygiene as an example. According to Google, hygiene is defined as the “conditions or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease.” This includes simple routines like showering, brushing our teeth, and all the small morning tasks we do without hesitation to avoid discomfort and maintain physical health.

Now, let’s elevate that concept and talk about Mental Hygiene. Mental hygiene, as Google defines it, is the “science of maintaining mental health and preventing disorders to help people function at their full mental potential.” The link is clear: taking care of your mental health through self-care helps you perform at your best.

Mental Hygiene is Self-Care, and Self-Care is Mental Hygiene. Prioritizing yourself—without second-guessing it, just as you would when brushing your teeth—can enhance your mental well-being and uplift your mood. The key is making it a consistent habit, but like most habits, it takes time to develop. Be patient and compassionate with yourself as you work toward this goal. A helpful tip: treat your self-care routine like personal hygiene—if you miss a step, you don’t dwell on it, you just start fresh the next day.