Mental Health Week

We all know what we ought to do to stay well and healthy both mentally and physically,  however somehow the busyness of life can easily take over and all of our well laid out plans can vanish into a vague distant and seemingly unrealistic idealised dream.

This is where Mindfulness kicks in.  Awareness being step 1.  The key is to have a plan but being flexible with it. (Mindfulness teaches you to be  more flexible and at ease when things don't go as planned).  

Mental health organisations say that the following are required to nurture our wellbeing:

Connection - Positive relationships support and enrich our lives. Humans thrive on healthy friendships, family and community involvement. Loneliness is an epidemic and can lead to deterioration of health.

Active - Scheduling an activity you enjoy a few times a week releases feel-good hormones and maintains a healthy body.

Mindful - Being mindful and living in the moment reduces stress and anxiety. It increases resilience and brings more joy into our lives. If we are mindful of our mental/emotional/physical/social needs we can support them to avoid imbalance.

Learning - Trying/Learning something new makes us feel alive. Challenging ourselves to an achievable goal keeps the mind positively focused and gives us an opportunity to grow.

Common Humanity -  Recognising that you are not alone. Everyone encounters difficulties, challenges, loss, pain, suffering at times.  You don't have to struggle alone.  There is so much support for you.  Remember it is the strong person who asks for help.  

Giving - Acts of kindness big and small release feel-good chemicals in the recipient's brain and that of the giver...win...win! It also shifts the focus from ourselves to others easing many anxieties in the process.

For me, scheduling silent mindful moments throughout my day, being active (even a little goes a long way), putting my phone on silent after hours, being aware of screen time, having a goal to achieve, social connection, being mindful of how my mind and body feel, being aware of my limits, setting healthy boundaries and learning to say no when I need, all contribute significantly to maintaining my mental health.  Routine seems to be the key to making and maintaining small healthy habits that have a large impact on your wellbeing.

We all falter, but each day brings a new opportunity to pick ourselves up and start again.  Be compassionate and kind to yourself. We are all human and doing our best in an increasingly challenging world.  

The World Health Organisation defines mental health as a “state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”