Much like sleep or sunlight, good mental health may come down to the little things we do every day — like chatting with a friend or taking a moment to step outside.

In a new study from researchers at Curtin University, a team looked at the habits of 600 adults in Western Australia and found that simple, everyday behaviors were strongly tied to better mental health.

In one instance, daily conversations with others stood out. Folks who talked to someone every day scored a whopping 10 points higher on a standard mental health scale than those who only did so once a week or less.

Nature helped, too. Spending time outdoors daily gave people a five-point mental health boost. Other feel-good habits included regular catchups with friends, physical activity, spiritual practices and mentally engaging tasks like reading or learning something new.

The takeaway? These aren’t expensive interventions or therapy sessions. They’re small things most of us can do that consistently make a difference. Even during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when social contact was limited, most participants showed no signs of psychological distress. Their mental well-being scores were on par with global prepandemic levels.

Although these ideas aren’t exactly groundbreaking, they demonstrate something even more important than sheer novelty or excitement: Daily habits and routines matter quite a bit.

A walk in the park, a quick chat, a crossword — they might seem small, but they add up. Each day is a building block that makes up what your life looks like, ultimately making the little things a big deal.

And hey … maybe that catch-up coffee really does count as self-care.