i keep seeing posts on tumblr that are like "go outside! exercise! read a book!" but it's often framed in a condescending way by jackasses talking to you like you're a child. i think the advice can be useful though so here's a hopefully non-dickish attempt:
~ exercise is important for mental health and has benefits for anxiety and depression over the long and short term (source). though it's not the end all be all or as effective as therapy and medication, it is true that exercise has physical and psychological benefits.
"but what if exercise is difficult for me?" that's OK! i'm a chronic pain sufferer with back and leg problems, and i use a walker and am in a physical therapy program. it's perfectly fine to exercise for only small periods, and to take as much rest as you need to. exercise when you feel capable of it and don't push yourself. also remember that walking around your house, playing fitness games like ring fit for a few minutes, stretching, and other physical activities are all forms of exercise.
speaking of chronic pain, if you have abnormal pain or discomfort moving or exercising, consider a physical therapist. "abnormal" here does include "i'm 30 years old and i'm in pain all the time" - you shouldn't be, and if you haven't already, that's a concern that you should bring up with a doctor if possible.
~ reading is a valuable form of artistic expression, and it's valuable to expose yourself to as much diverse forms of culture as you can. as well as connecting us to our common humanity, reading helps us to learn about our past, our present, and other cultures and beliefs. "reading" is incredibly broad, since there's so much out there to read, both fiction and nonfiction, but that brings me to my next point...
ALL forms of reading are valuable. there is no "junk" reading, or "trashy" reading, or anything of the sort. forcing yourself to read classic literature with the idea that it is the only valuable form of reading DISCONNECTS you from it, turning it into an intellectual exercise rather than a form of study and connection. this isn't to say "classical literature is bad," because it's important to recognize that taste is subjective and not to paint anything in broad strokes. it's just to say to say that classical literature is merely another form of literature.
"doesn't that mean that fanfiction is literature" yes it is! all of fanfiction is a form of artistic expression, if not artistic expression in its purest form - transformative works made without the expectation of profit. there's a joke blog on tumblr going around about adding critical thinking questions to posts - i'd apply the same logic behind it to fanfiction. asking yourself questions about what you read can be as important as much if you're reading hannibal PWP as it does if you're reading goncharov character studies.
further, the purpose of writing can be and often is entertainment. this goes back to what i said earlier about not making reading a pure intellectual exercise. reading writing with the context that it is often meant to be fun or titillating is important for understanding it. one of history's so called "great authors," edgar allen poe, was a satirist and a businessman who wrote his works for entertainment purposes - this doesn't make his works any lesser.
~ sex and masturbation are, for many people, effective forms of stress release, social activity (in the case of sex), and releasing hormones, with benefits to anxiety and depression (source). however, many people are asexual in some form or another... sex repulsion, interest in sex only with romantic partners, uninterest in sex and/or masturbation at all, etc.
which is why i say without a doubt sex and masturbation are not necessary for mental health. sex and masturbation are TOOLS, like any other tool. you will not shrivel up and die without sex. you will not be depressed if you don' t masturbate. you are not broken without sex.
however, if you are in an intimate, sexually active relationship, are sexually active in general, or masturbate, then sexual activity can be beneficial to you. sex and masturbation are perfectly normal, neutral activities - don't be ashamed to make use of them, and don't be ashamed of your kinks, paraphilias, or fetishes. shame about sex is unhealthy and counterproductive, as is shame in general.
~ going outside and being around nature reduces stress and has health benefits in comparison to being indoors (source). in other words, it's important to take walks, go to parks or other public spaces with nature, or otherwise leave your home for extended periods.
"i have severe depression and getting out of my bed is difficult, "i have chronic pain," and "i have agoraphobia" are all valid responses to this. in all of these cases, i'd turn again to remembering that these suggestions are tools, not rules.
find what works for you - if you have depression, going on a short or occasional shopping trip with a partner can be a way to get you outside for at least a few minutes. if you can't be outside for long periods, a chair on your porch or sitting on your balcony (for example) can be beneficial. if you can't go outside at all, look for opportunities to get the same benefits - a window can give you sunlight, and there are many tools to give you similar benefits (Vitamin D supplements, artifical UV light sources).
~ "get off the internet" is an often condescending piece of advice, almost entirely equivalent to "get off your phones." however, i do believe it's important to socialize outside of the internet AS WELL AS through the internet (source). i can speak to this anecdotally - the internet has provided me the greatest friendships and relationships of my life, but it also allowed me to severely socially isolate during a period of immense depression. my mental health has greatly increased since i began meeting online friends in person and talking to them over the phone or a webcam, rather than just through text.
for a lot of people though, this isn't an option - particularly queer people or neurodivergent people, where being in the closet can make offline social interactions rarer and more difficult, or being autistic or having alters, sociopathy, disassociation, or psychopathy (among many other things) can make social interaction more stressful or challenging.
much like "there is no junk reading," there is no junk social interaction. if the internet is the key place where you socialize, or the only place, don't be ashamed of that - shame is one of the most unhealthy emotions there is. friendship and social interaction online is still beneficial. it's a tool.
That's all! I hope this post helps someone to make positive changes in their life and feel better about their personal capabilities and needs.
