Talk about your feelings
This doesn’t have to be to a family member or friend, this could just be a co-worker, a doctor or even an individual on the end of a helpline. But talking about your how you are feeling can help you process it. Speak when you are confident to do so, and if you’re not, try writing your feelings down, keeping a journal can help get those feelings and thoughts out of your head and give yourself room to breathe.
Take a Break
Seems like an obvious one right, I mean when we get physically tired or ill, we stop, whether to rest or get better, these are things that we recognise as signs to slow down or stop. So why do we not do the same when it comes to our mental health? It’s just as important to stop when you are feeling overwhelmed, when your having an off day but you can’t quiet put your finger on why. This doesn’t mean you have to take a week off work or spend an entire day in bed eating ice cream, but simple things such as cutting out screen time, taking a hot bath or just walking away from a situation for 5 minutes to just breathe can be immensely beneficial. Self-care is hugely important.
Keep Active
Did you know that a brisk 10-minute walk counts as exercise? It doesn’t always have be an hour down the gym to keep active. Getting up and tidying the house, exercise, walking into town instead of driving, exercise, taking the stairs instead of the lift, exercise! However, you choose to do it, keeping active is so important when it comes to your mental well being. Studies show that exercise relieves tension and stress, boosts physical and mental energy, and enhances well-being through the release of endorphins.
Do something your good at
Enjoying yourself helps beat stress. Doing an activity, you enjoy probably means you’re good at it and achieving something boosts your self-esteem. Concentrating on a hobby like gardening or the crossword can help you forget your worries for a while and change your mood.
Change the way you think
Not such an easy one, and this one may take time. Here’s an example – instead of saying “I’m feeling really low today” try saying “my mental health is making me feel low today”, separating the two things and changing the way you think is so important when it comes to your mental well being. Soon you will recognise that you are doing this without even thinking about it.
Set goals
These goals do not have to be buying a house or owning a Lamborghini, the trick is to start small. Take a post it note and stick it to your wall, somewhere where you’ll see it in passing throughout your day, on the post it note write one thing to achieve, this could be doing a load of washing, stepping away from screens for an hour, or in some cases, this could be, “I will get out of bed today”. Setting yourself small goals makes it easier to achieve them and you’ll feel amazing when you do. As time goes on you can strive for more goals or even that Lamborghini, but don’t rush yourself, and don’t beat yourself up if you don’t get it every time, each day is new day.
Accept who you are
The most important one. You must learn to love yourself; your mental health is a part of you and that’s ok! We are all human, we all struggle from time to time but that doesn’t mean that we don’t get back up, learn from our mistakes, and keep going. Our mental health may be a part of us, but it does not define us. Self-confidence is key, you may not like the way your legs look in those jeans or the way your hair sits, but at the end of the day there just legs, its just hair. Are we going to let these things define our days? Are we going to miss a picture with our family because we don’t like the way we look that day? Because they don’t mind, they love you for you, and who knows that picture may be one we treasure in years to come. Take care of yourself, your body, and your mind, recognise when you need to take a step back and most importantly love you for you.
