The six signs of good mental health, according to psychologists

It’s often tempting to dwell on the negative , especially when it comes to mental health. The signs of mental illness, like depression or anxiety , are often the focus when we talk about our psychological wellbeing. But what about the positives?

Psychologist Chris Cheers says the term mental health itself carries a negative connotation.

“Nobody takes a ‘mental health day’ because things are going brilliantly. That tells us something,” Cheers says.

A more helpful framework is thinking of our mental healthcare as an ongoing process of small daily habits .

So, we asked experts to tell us the signs and habits commonly associated with good mental health.

Cheers says you can’t control your day, but you can have some autonomy over its start and end.

“I don’t just mean waking up or going to bed at a specific time. I mean having little rituals that set you up for a good day, and a good sleep,” he says.

In the morning, Cheers explains, you might prioritise writing in a journal, listening to music while having your coffee or doing some stretching.

“For an evening routine, it’s anything that helps you wind down: tea, calling a friend, reading, deep breathing.

“These routines matter because the more predictability you bring into your day, the calmer your nervous system becomes,” Cheers says.

A 2025 study found that people consistent in bed and wake times had a 38 per cent lower risk of depression and 33 per cent lower risk of anxiety compared to irregular sleepers.

Doing a regular check-in with your body is an easy way to see if it is telling you something, particularly when life gets busy or if you have been taught to avoid giving certain emotions airtime.

“I teach almost every client – and use myself – what I call a ‘body check-in’ . You take a breath, bring your attention to your body, and ask three questions: How do I feel? Why does it make sense that I feel like that? What do I need?” Cheers says.

Listening to and trusting your body is a step towards good mental health, he says.