Even the most healthiest minds can sometimes get caught in a fog. It's okay, it happens to all of us.
With cases of mental health on the rise, it's a good time to turn our focus on the maintenance side of things, rather than what could be a trigger for us.
Winter being one of them. Winter can be a very scary season for those struggling with low mood. Having only a few hours of daylight a day makes it almost impossible to go out, have fun and distract ourselves.
What can I do to keep my mood up? Okay! Let's talk about it.
Firstly, avoid pressure of any sort! It's okay to not be able sometimes and simply need space for yourself. Communicating that you are in need of mental health support is a great way to deal with home, work and relationships. Being open and honest has proven to go a long way. It is often that we come across people who advise us to just fake a smile and carry on but the truth is, that is just another way to bottle things up and interrupt our mental fitness.
As humans, we cannot always expect to be happy. Emotions are there to be felt and experienced so don't be sad just because you're feeling sad. Enjoy your journey, don't take life so seriously, redirect your focal point and remember the things you are grateful for.
5 ideas to help positive thinking:
- Start a blog or a podcast.
- Eat healthier foods.
- Plan things to look forward to.
- Listen to relaxing meditation music before bed.
- Workouts, go for a walk or a swim.
Moreover… As much as we love technology, nature still plays a big part in our day-to-day lives. It's important for the mind, body and soul to have a healthy relationship with nature. A walk in the woods, sitting under a tree, listening to the rain or growing a plant can often give us a sense of hope and freedom. After all, we are beings of the world, nature completes us and never fails us.
Let’s talk quick escapes!
it’s so easy to fall into bad habits and routines when you're feeling low or vulnerable. Recognising our behavioural patterns helps us keep a close eye on how we feel when we fall off the track. This means being open with ourselves and others we seek support from.
For example, if turning to alcohol feels comforting, then that's your queue to stay away from alcohol when you feel low. Comfort and addiction can go hand-in-hand. You may develop an addiction or a poor relationship with alcohol as you may convince yourself this is a quick and effective escape from low mood.
The aftermath of these types of comfort are much, much harder than we think. By the time we notice how much damage we've done, its going to take a lot of work to repair or reverse. That alone can demotivate us to improve, then you're stuck in a bad cycle for much longer than you can escape. Keep that in mind before you go looking for quick escapes.
