How are you feeling of late?
Do you recognise any signs that things are off kilter?
How much noise is going on in your head?
How are things at work? At home?
How connected are you feeling to others?
Are you feeling that you are telling people you are fine, however the reality is maybe you’re not!
Taking care of your Mental Health. Has there been some subtle signs that your greatest asset is being affected?
Perhaps this blog is a reminder to take check and take the time to get things back on track.
Remember - Self-care is not selfish!
It is well-known that when your mental health suffers, it also has impact to your physical health. Recognising the signs early and taking steps to make change, even simple change can make an enormous difference.
Let’s talk about things that impact and what changes you can make to improve your mental health:-
Connection with others
When you begin to feel low, one of the first things to be affected is your social connections. You may find that it becomes an increasing effort to see or connect with friends, that you find yourself cancelling outings last minute and start to avoid contact with others. It is important to recognise this sign.
We are social beings, and it provides us with a sense of purpose, security and builds happiness. It makes sense if the connection to others begins to dissolve, then essentially so does your happiness.
Couch lounging
We’ve all been here haven’t we? Spending time binge watching Netflix until the wee hours. That might be fine for a short period of time (or maybe not!), however if this is your daily routine, it’s time to get up and get moving.
Physical activity boosts your feel-good neurotransmitters – known as endorphins. Exercise also increases oxygen supply to your brain. So take a walk! A walk in nature, walk the dog, walk to the shops or park further from work and walk to work. Any kind of walk! Maybe take it one step further and join the gym, pilates or a local sporting club. This will give even more opportunity for social connection too.
Dance like nobody is watching
Isn’t that how the saying goes? Okay so maybe you aren’t going to dance like nobody is watching, however music lifts the soul. Put on your favourite track, sing loudly, and get lost in the music. If you feel like busting out a boogie – then go ahead, do it!
Find a furry friend
As a dog owner, I know first-hand the benefits of having a furry friend. They bestow unconditional love, lower your stress levels, and have the uncanny ability to change your mood (no matter how crappy your day was). Having a pet helps you both emotionally and physically.
There is some science behind the very real health benefits reducing blood pressure and lowered risk of heart disease! (Source: Harvard Health) Of course, it is not limited to just dogs. You may want a cat, a guinea pig, bird or rabbit. Having a pet helps to change your mood, so this is a boost for your mental health. Watch how your mood changes when your pet greets you at the end of the day. If you have a dog, then it may be just the excuse to get you out walking too!
Catch some rays
If you have ever lived in the UK, you may have heard of S.A.D. – Seasonal Affective Disorder. Largely it is brought on from a lack of sunlight. Yes, really! Essentially the person does not get enough sun exposure – not enough Vitamin D. It usually occurs in response to climate changes and seasonal weather changes. You may hear that doctors often prescribe a sunny holiday to Spain or Ibiza! That’s a prescription we all need – sign me up!
The point here is, don’t underestimate the time you do need to spend outdoors, at the beach, camping and in nature. We all need some exposure to the sun for health, both for mental and physical health.
Globally we are spending way too much time indoors, largely due to the luxury items within our homes. This is having an impact to our physical and mental health. I know what you are thinking, we live in Australia! – however just be sensible about it - catch some rays :)
Earthing
Have you heard of this before? It is otherwise known as ‘grounding’. Go barefoot, feel the grass, the sand, the water, the pebbles beneath your feet. It is known to influence your well-being, reducing inflammation, pain, stress and has a knock-on effect to improve both sleep and blood flow. Kick off your shoes and connect with Mother Earth.
Go Green
Go green in every way, more plants, more greenery in and around your home. Tending garden can be very therapeutic and has the added benefit of oxygenating your space. Good for the planet, good for you.
Take a digital detox
Am I serious? Yes! Attention spans are becoming less and less. Technology is moving at a crazy fast pace. Devices can be addictive. Research is emerging about the impact that it is having on our youth’s mental health.
Social Media algorithms are set to reel you in, to keep you coming back, some even designed to play on your vulnerabilities. Take a day off, take longer even. Connect instead in person with someone. Head out to lunch, meet up with a friend or family member. Watch the hours slip by, when you engage in meaningful conversation and take note of how good it makes you feel afterwards.
Call someone
How easy is it to text! How long has it been since you’ve picked up the phone and had a long chat? Go old school and reach out to connect.
Take a good look at your Workplace – how mentally healthy is it?
Do you think your workplace is a mentally healthy one? What is the culture like within? What is the communication like between leaders and workers?
Reports are consistently emerging about unhealthy cultures that exist within some Australian businesses. In these businesses, some common themes occurring – bullying, harassment, discrimination, racism and a culture of working harder, longer and faster.
The result?
Physical and emotional health impact.
Where do you fit in here?:
are you a worker?
are you a leader?
Everyone needs to be striving for a mentally healthy workplace – it is not the sole responsibility of one. Being aware of the culture within, is the first step to working towards solutions to change it.
These are just some ideas, some simple things you can do to improve your mental health. Remember, it is your greatest asset and needs to be looked after.
Do you think you may need some extra help?
F.A.S.T. First Aid Training offer a wide range of mental health and well-being courses so you can learn easy strategies to improve your mental health.
Reach out to us today! We are here to help you :)
Looking for more ideas on activities for you?– check out the huge range of activities
on the Queensland Gov. website.
