It’s been a tough year and for many of us the impact will cause changes to our mental health.
October marked World Mental Health Day – being aware of our own state of mind has not always been at the forefront of our minds (please excuse the pun!) until recent times. For some, it is a welcome highlight on the challenges we face day to day.
At GlowingCo, we think ones mental health is really important.
So, here are our 8 tips for looking after your mental health:
- Make time for yourself
Do something just for you.
Commit to doing something that you really enjoy.
It could be a bit of sewing, painting, reading, listening to a podcast, cooking, writing… the list is endless!
- Keep a gratitude journal
Remember when you were a child, it was likely that a diary was something you liked to keep. But as we get older and have less time, it is something we often leave out of our routine. But the benefits of jotting down your thoughts are immeasurable.
If you’re new to this practise, start by simply writing down 5 things you’re grateful for.
Do this everyday and you’ll see your mindset shift!
A good tip is to do this at the end of the day, just before you go to bed, as your mind reflects on the day and you can drift off to sleep thinking about positive things.
- Acknowledge your feelings
Accept the changes in your emotions and allow them to pass through you.
No feeling is permanent. Feelings are only “stuck” for as long you resist them, deny them, focus too heavily on them, or pretend to feel otherwise… the moment you can say “yes, I’m sad!” or acknowledge any other so called “negative” feeling, it flows through you quickly and is released within seconds.
Keep away from focussing on how to change these emotions and feelings. Sometimes sitting with your feelings / emotions, acknowledging them and knowing that “this too, shall pass” is all you need to defuse their power.
- Connect with those close to us
Give them a call, meet up for coffee, drop them a text, write them a letter or send a post card, it’s important to stay connected!
- Have a digital detox
We love this one here at GlowingCo – we practice it often, as we know how important it is to just switch OFF.
Leave your social media for a while, set yourself some screen time limits – you will be amazed at how much calmer you feel when not mindlessly scrolling through ‘stuff’.
It’s also worth looking at your connections online and de-cluttering those which simply do not make you feel good.
- Prioritize your sleep
Sleep is SO important and has tons of benefits. Make it a priority!
Experts say you need around 8 hours of good sleep per night in order to perform at your best.
Get yourself to bed earlier than normal, set an alarm for the morning and stick to a regular and respected routine to ensure you are getting the right amount of sleep for you.
We get that a perfect nights sleep isn’t always possible (kids etc!!), so you might benefit from a power nap in the afternoon. If you are able to do so, give it a try – just 10-20 minutes can restore alertness, performance and your learning ability.
A nap may also reverse the hormonal impact of a night of poor sleep or reverse the damage of sleep deprivation.
- Fuel your body
Eat the things that make you feel good and enjoy a healthy balanced diet.
Moderation is key – you really are what you eat!
- Move
Whether that’s a walk, run, gym session or yoga – get active every day.
Getting out and about for exercise might be a challenge for some of us right now, due to guidelines, shielding or quarantining, so try an online workout instead.
There are plenty out there which allow you to exercise in a very small space, so throw open the windows, get the air flowing and your blood pumping!
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Remember to look after your mental health and that of others.
Check in with yourself and those around you.
Never be afraid to ask for help.
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How do you look after your mental health?