Everyone needs some go-to activities, or inactivities, to preserve mental health. Only recently did I intentionally name and develop them in my own life. I’m not talking about being with friends or family, seeing a psychologist or taking your meds. All these can be good and helpful, but I’m talking about something you do alone, on purpose, so that when no one is there to rescue you, when the meds aren’t kicking in yet, you can still pull yourself out of, or at least through, a mental slump.

I have a few intentional alone mental health cues. One is making myself laugh. Yes. Alone. On purpose. The body does not know if you are alone or in a crowd, seeing or hearing something funny, or just forcing a laugh. The result is the same. God was right. “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” Proverbs 17:22.

My favorite laugh triggers are epic fail videos and scary snowman. You’ll have to youtube those if you don’t know what I’m talking about. It goes like this: I feel myself slipping into a down state. I’m alone, by choice, or, by circumstance. I open my laptop and run some funny videos. I laugh until I cry and the world becomes a better place. Just like that.

My second intentional alone mental health trick is music. I grew up playing the piano which has long served as a stress reliever. I’ve used it often to work out anger, sadness, and joy. But lately I am intentionally learning new instruments simply for my own joy. I’m not great, but I get alone with my guitar or my drums and play like I’m Joan Jett and Sheila E. It requires all of my focus while I play like a rock star in my solitude, forcing me to forget the mental muck trying to drag me down. And, yes. I am a rock star. A legend in my own mind. That doesn’t make me crazy to say. It keeps me sane.

What’s your intentional alone mental health cue? If you can’t think of any, you should develop at least one. Something that lifts you and turns your focus toward creative positivity. You need this because one day you may fall with no one there to help you up but a scary snow man and a screamin’ electric guitar.