This month, January, is #NationalWellnessMonth. It is an important time to take care of oneself, remember our self-worth and centre what is important. January can be a tough time for many. It can be stressful due to returning to work or school after a break or due to budgets having been stretched over the Christmas period. It can also be tough as we are coming down from the high that is the holiday season. That makes it all the more important to practice mental wellness.
So what can we do to improve our own #MentalWellness? The most important thing is to be in the present. Focus on where you are now and what you can control. The future is unknown for everyone and the past cannot be changed. Therefore, we should hold on to what we have, which is the present!
Secondly is self-care. The most important part of self-care being sleeping and eating well. Sleep is time for a reset each day and so important to both our mental and physical health. Food is fuel and is so important to keeping a healthy mind and body. So eat regularly and healthily!
Furthermore, it’s so important to stay connected to the world around you. Remember to reach out to and appreciate the company of your family and friends. We are all a lot less lonely then we realise when we focus on our loved ones. Try seeing if they themselves need help with anything as helping others can give us an important sense of purpose.
Finally, remember to live a healthy life and remember your own self-worth. Whether that is through exercising, making sure to get some fresh air each day or not engaging in habits that can be self-destructive. Take this month to think about how you can improve your habits. Dry January is always a good thing to think about. Maybe cut down on the caffeine if you think that makes you anxious.
But remember self-improvement is not the same thing as self-criticism. Whatever you do remember how well you are doing and how proud you should be of yourself. Mental wellness is incompatible with being too harsh on oneself. Taking things in stages and at the right individual pace for you is so important. Baby steps are still steps! Small movements forward are still movements in the right direction!
If you struggle with mental health issues, it can be helpful to reach out for support. Talk to a trusted friend or family member, seeking support from a mental health professional or joining a support group. Power to live Foundation is a charity that offers low-cost behavioural therapy that focuses on helping you take back control of your life.
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