How to look after YOUR Mental Health

women in bath - how to help mental health The discussion around mental health isn’t such a taboo these days. However, too often it can be something we neglect.

In this blog, we are going to give you some ways to look after your mental health.

We’re going to explore:

How to look after your mental health at Christmas
How to look after your mental health in winter
How to look after your mental health at work

How to look after your mental health at Christmas

Christmas can be a fantastic time of year. But it can also be overwhelming and triggering. Not to mention lots of different family dynamics mixed in with prosecco…

Here are some practical tips to look after your mental health at Christmas

Take some time out

Christmas can be intense and busy. If you are feeling like your calendar is too jam packed, cancel some events. Take time to watch a nice film, have a warm bath and pamper yourself.

Be realistic about family gatherings

It is so easy to think that your family gathering is going to be like the end scene in Scrooge. In reality, there are families coming together who don’t often spend long periods of time with each other. Already strained relationships can feel more tense in these environments, particularly when alcohol is involved.

Be realistic about how things might go at Christmas and try not to romantisie what it might be like. It could leave you disappointed.

Get involved in a project

Sometimes Christmas can be an isolating time. Getting stuck into a project can help to keep you busy. You might get involved in the local community – like delivering dinners for the elderly, or collecting gifts to give to people on their own (someone in my village did this last year. It really brought the community together as people donated gifts to those on their own.) Or, you could try making your own Christmas decorations or get really fancy with your wrapping!

How to look after your mental health in winter

In the winter you might find your mood slides. Some people really suffer from SAD, seasonal affective disorder. This is a type of depression that usually gets worse in the winter months.

Thankfully there are ways to look after your mental health during the winter. Here are 3 tips.

Eat well

During the winter months it is important to try and maintain a healthy and balanced diet. Okay, so certain times in the winter there are a few more mince pies and tubs of celebrations, but try to get some healthy stuff in too. Think winter vegetable soups, stews, hearty roasts with plenty of veg, curries loaded with lentils and beans.

Exercise

If you are turned off from your usual power walk or run because it is cold and icy outside, it might be time to join a local gym or try an exercise class. Exercise is known to increase endorphins and make you feel better.

If you haven’t got the money for a gym membership or just don’t fancy it, try an indoor Youtube workout or yoga class. You could even wrap up really warm and go outside!

Make plans

Just because it is cold and the days are shorter, it doesn’t mean you can’t make plans. You just need to focus on making plans with the season and weather in mind. Rooftop bars in the summer are great, but you aren’t going to enjoy them in the winter months. Same goes for going out where you are going to have to walk from place to place in the cold.

Think up fun and unique plans you can do with your family and friends. Bonfire night and jacket potatoes. Christmas markets and mulled wine. Hot chocolate in cosy cafes.

You don’t need to go into hibernation, try to embrace the change in seasons and make the most of what you can do in the winter months.

How to look after your mental health at work

Mental health in the workplace is something more companies are prioritising. It is now recommended that all managers take part in mental health training – which is great.

There are some things you can do to look after your mental health at work. Here are 3 things we do.

Step away from the desk

We always take a lunch break. 30 minutes or an hour to get away from the desk. Sometimes we might go for a walk, meet a friend, get a haircut, or do some shopping. It is so important to take some time away so you feel refreshed and ready to get back to it.

Wind down from work

If you commute home from work then use that time to unwind. Don’t open your laptop as soon as you get on the train. Instead, listen to music, read a book, look out the window. If you work from home then make sure you don’t open your emails or laptop back up after a certain time. Enjoy the evenings to really unwind before bed. You might even find you sleep better too!

Learn something new

Learning helps to enhance self esteem and encourages social interaction. There is even some anecdotal evidence that suggests educational activities help to lift people from depression, particularly the older generation.

You might ask to go on a course to upskill or maybe do something in your own time that is going to help you at work.

We are always up for learning more when it comes to what we do here at Our Remedy. Personally, I listen to podcasts on SEO and how to get the most from social media channels. I also tune in to LinkedIn lives and keep an eye on ScreenSkills and other free courses I can take part in.