Life can be full of happiness, but sometimes anxiety, fear, and sadness can have negative effects on your mental health. Even though the hubbub of life can get overwhelming, there are certain everyday steps that you can take to help prioritize your mental health.

These basic acts can result in a better mood, better relationships, and better thinking, and you can get started right now with some effective apps and tips.

1. Practice Positivity and Smile | Daily Affirmations

According to a study in SAGE Journals, smiling can reduce stress even if you have to fake it! Put a smile on your face and practice positivity with the Daily Affirmations app. Affirmations are repeated positive phrases or statements and there is no shortage of them in the app. Daily Affirmations features 24 different affirmation categories, ranging from career and success to family and friendship.

Daily Affirmations is easy to use: simply select a category, tick your favorite affirmations, and the app displays each one along with gentle background music. Moreover, you can choose your own background music and even record your own voice for each affirmation.

Download: Daily Affirmations for Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

2. Make Time to Exercise | Nike Training Club

Staying physically active is great for your body and your mental well-being. Exercise can even reduce feelings of depression as stated in an article in the National Library of Medicine. The Nike Training Club app is a completely free app that you can use at home when you only have time for a quick 5-minute workout. Even better, you can use it at the gym when you have access to the necessary equipment.

Use the app to browse workouts by muscle group, workout focus, and equipment, or you can join one of their new workout programs. Record your workout history to keep your training on track. Plus, you can even earn a variety of trophies and awards.

Download: Nike Training Club for iOS | Android (Free)

3. Connect With Good People | Bumble BFF

Surrounding yourself with good people can enrich your life and boost your mental health. You may not know this, but you can use the popular dating app, Bumble, to find besties, too. To meet new friends, set the Bumble mode to BFF, create your profile, and start swiping. Be sure to add a couple of photos to your profile as well as a friendly bio and your basic information.

Swiping to the left means you're not interested and swiping to the right means you potentially want to be friends. Then you can engage in conversation with the person you like if they like you back. Bumble BFF allows you to boost your social life by easily meeting new people, especially if you find it difficult to make new friends.

Download: Bumble BFF for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)

4. Learn Something New | Skillshare

Learning something new is always helpful, but it can also positively affect your mental well-being and happiness. Why not learn something new using an online learning platform, like the Skillshare website? Skillshare boasts thousands of classes on a range of topics, whether you're fascinated by animation or photography.

Even if you don't have a lot of time, Skillshare's classes are short and sweet, and you can watch them whenever and wherever you want. Furthermore, you can download the Skillshare app and try out the free one-month trial to see if it's for you.

Download: Skillshare for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)

5. Breathe Deeply and Slowly | Breathwrk

According to an article in Harvard Health Publishing, breathing exercises can slow your heart rate and encourage positive emotions. Based on your goals, bedtime, and waking time, the Breathwrk app creates a personalized breathing program for you.

On the Home page, you can view your recommended daily breathing exercises, new classes, pick-me-ups, and breathing challenges. Share a challenge with a friend for a little motivation and encouragement. Or try breathing tests to determine how well your lungs function and how long you can hold your breath.

Download: Breathwrk for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)

6. Mindfully Eat a Well-Balanced Meal | Shutterbite

In simple terms, mindful eating means slowing down and paying full attention to everything you are eating and drinking. Shutterbite is a comprehensive mindful eating app that can help you track your meals and goals. Tap the plus button to add details about every aspect of your eating experience, from photos to the time you took to eat.

The app gives you the option to edit your food journal and change what you track, such as cravings, mood, food groups, and so on. Shutterbite also promotes daily eating goals. Consider setting a daily goal to eat slowly over the course of 10 minutes, for example.

Download: Shutterbite for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)

7. Be Grateful for Something | Gratitude

Showing gratitude can have plenty of mental health benefits, including improved mood and a more positive outlook on life. Gratitude is the ultimate self-care tool that can make you feel happier, think positively, and be more grateful.

The app's daily reminder encourages you to consistently journal what you're grateful for, and you can take part in guided gratitude challenges if you prefer the added stakes. When adding an entry you can customize the color of your journal entry to match your mood. Furthermore, you can add related personal photos or inspirational images. Not sure what to write about in your journal? Tap Ideas and the Gratitude app randomly generates idea prompts to help you fill out your journal entry.

Download: Gratitude for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)

8. Seek Help if You Need It | 7 Cups

It's okay to ask for help if you need it, and you should never feel scared to do so. Unfortunately, a lot of people are afraid to speak out. This is where the 7 Cups website can help. 7 Cups is one of the best online therapy platforms where you can vent in a safe space and find listeners that really care.

7 Cups is simple and easy to understand. Simply complete different steps on your growth path to fill your cup up and keep your cup full. In addition, you can collect various growth points, compassion hearts, and badges. You can download the 7 Cups app for use on the go, but to take full advantage of the online therapy platform it's best to use a web browser.

Download: 7 Cups for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)

Try These Easy Actions to Rebalance Your Mental Health

Life is busy and full of challenges, so staying on top of your mental health often comes last. However, making time to do a few simple things can help you feel, think, and behave better.

From mindful eating and breathwork to regular physical activity, these practices can help you enjoy life a little more. Whether you add one or all of these steps to your daily life, always remember to focus on your mental health because it matters–a lot!