For this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, led by the Mental Health Foundation, the theme was “Take Action”.
At MindWell, we got together as a team to talk about what that really means – not in theory, but in real life, on a normal busy week.
And we pretty quickly agreed on one thing: most of us already know what’s probably good for our mental health.
Get more rest. Reach out to people. Spend less time on your phone. Ask for help. Slow down.
But actually doing those things, when life is busy and you’re already tired? That’s the hard part.
Why is it so hard to do the things we know help?
A big part of our conversation was about the gap between knowing something and actually doing it.
Sometimes it’s about not having enough time or energy. Sometimes it’s about feeling overwhelmed. Sometimes we wait until we feel “ready” – but that moment never quite comes.
A lot of people find it easier to help others than to ask for help themselves. That’s really common. But if you keep giving without getting anything back, it can leave you running on empty.
We also talked about how being constantly connected to our phones adds pressure. Messages, notifications, the feeling that you should always be available. Something that really stuck with us was the idea of a friend texting to say: “No rush to reply – I just wanted you to know I’m thinking of you.”
It’s such a small thing. But it takes pressure away instead of adding to it.
Rest isn’t always real rest
We talked a lot about rest – and what rest actually means.
Most of us know that rest is important. But when we stop working or doing things, we often just swap it for more screen time: scrolling, videos, news, podcasts. Our brains never really get a proper break.
Real rest – like being outside, doing something creative, or just sitting quietly – can actually feel a bit uncomfortable at first, especially if you’re used to being busy or having something on in the background.
But it’s worth knowing that switching off from screens, even for a short time, can genuinely help you feel better. And if you’ve drifted away from things you used to enjoy – reading, a hobby, spending time outdoors – it’s never too late to ease back into them.
Sometimes doing less is the healthy choice
One of the most interesting things we talked about was the idea that sometimes the best action is to not act – or at least, to wait before acting.
We talked about pausing before reacting when something feels difficult or upsetting. Just taking a breath. Not saying anything yet. Not making a decision in the heat of the moment. It sounds simple, but it takes real practice – and it can stop a small problem from becoming a bigger one.
We also talked about feeling responsible for keeping conversations going, filling silences, making sure everyone around you feels okay. That’s a kind thing to want to do. But it can be exhausting, and it’s worth remembering that it’s not always your job.
“The action is actually a non-action.”
Pausing. Staying quiet. Not reacting. These things might not look like much, but they take effort, and they count.
Different things work for different people
We talked about how mental health isn’t one-size-fits-all.
Some people feel better with a clear routine. Others find that harder to stick to. Some people get energy from spending time with others. Some need quiet time on their own to recharge. And most of us have days or weeks where we have more energy, and times when we have less – that’s completely normal.
Instead of trying to follow a set of rules about what “good” mental health looks like, it can help to pay attention to your own patterns. What genuinely helps you feel better? What tends to make things harder? What have you been putting off – and why?
You don’t need to change everything at once. Small changes, done kindly and without pressure, really can make a difference.
We’re all affected by the world around us
It’s easy to talk about mental health as if it’s all down to individual choices. But a lot of it is shaped by the world we live in.
We live in a world that pushes us to be busy, available and productive all the time. There isn’t much space built in for rest, or for just doing nothing for a bit. Being connected online is genuinely useful – but it can also make it hard to ever fully switch off.
It’s okay to push back against that in small ways. Choosing not to reply to a message straight away. Protecting a bit of time that’s just for you. Noticing when keeping up with everything starts to feel like too much.
These pressures are real. You’re not imagining them.
Small steps still count
Taking action for your mental health doesn’t have to mean making big changes.
It might be sending a message to someone instead of going quiet. Going for a short walk. Saying no to something. Taking a breath before you react. Letting yourself properly rest. Being honest with yourself about how you’re feeling.
Small, imperfect steps still count, and they’re usually easier to keep up than big changes that are hard to sustain.
And sometimes, just noticing that you’re not okay – putting words to it, even just in your own head – is a real first step.
If you’re looking for ideas to get started, our Take 10 resource has ten small, simple activities that are good for your wellbeing — any one of them could be a starting point.
Take action for your mental health today
If this post has got you thinking, that’s a good place to start. Taking action doesn’t have to mean doing something big straight away – it might just mean finding out what support is there if you need it.
MindWell has information and resources to help you look after your mental health, and find support in Leeds.
If you’re struggling right now and need to talk, the Samaritans are available 24 hours a day on 116 123 or contact NHS 111 and select the mental health (option 2) for advice.
Visit our Need urgent help? page for the full list of local and national support options.
Last updated: June 2026