Another handy way to improve mental self-care is to regularly review a list of maintenance tasks, such as the 10 items below. Pondering each of the tasks every few weeks can help you refocus on the behaviors evident when good mental health self-care is occurring. Mentors might ask learners to privately answer each of the items, then expand on how they can put the suggestions in parentheses to use.

1. Do I remind myself to be nice? (Display something, possibly a trinket, that helps you remember to be kind and fair.)

2. Do I worry less by trusting niceness more? (Remind yourself kindness and fairness make you good enough.)

3. Do I keep in mind hurt fuels sadness and anger? (When you find yourself sad or angry, be open to owning and healing a hurtful loss.)
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4. Do I rise above the temptation to pretend it’s OK not to be nice? (Don’t forget you almost always know whether you’re nice or not nice.)

5. Do I explore times I overreact? (When upset, consider the possibility that you’re overvaluing a way to feel able and/or close.)

6. Do I try hard to understand others? (Remember, helpful empathy requires sincere humility.)

7. Do I work at appreciating the importance of lessening my stored hurt? (Keep in mind stashed hurt can result in lingering sadness, called regret, and lingering anger, called resentment.)

8. Do I find ways to explore niceness? (Spend time exploring nonfiction and fiction that features kindness and fairness.)

9. Do I take time to relax and refocus? (Put aside time to ponder mind-mellowing self-care statements, such as the one that follows: Despite what the world says, only seeing myself be nice will give the peacefulness I desire.)

10. Do I appreciate niceness? (When given the chance, thank others for their kindness and fairness.)