Hey Owlets,
Christmas is done and you’ve celebrated the new year, now what? That’s the thing that a lot of us struggle with in the first part of the year. When you’re going to work in the dark, coming home in the dark and you’ve overspent at Christmas so you’re worrying about money while you have to wait an extra week to get paid it’s understandable that you might feel more stress than normal. So, with all of that on your plate how do you look after your mental health? Here’s a few tips that have personally helped me, and I’m hoping that they’ll help you too.
Focus on Things that Make You Happy -
January is usually a dead month because no one can afford to go out or do anything fun, so use this time to focus on your hobbies or find a new one! There are lots of hobbies that don’t cost any more - get out and explore your local area by going on walks and maybe learn about the area’s history while you’re doing it, work on your family tree or a crafting project you’ve had sat in the cupboard for ages. A lot of the time you’ll find yourself feeling down, anxious or overthinking because you haven’t got anything else occupying your attention.
Get Enough Exercise -
I’ve found that this is always a really important one for me - if I don’t get enough exercise I always find myself feeling fed up and anxious but it’s actually because I have too much energy that I’m not burning. I also find that I feel better while I’m exercising as well as after because it clears my mind. If I’m focused on where I’m going on my walk or keeping my balance while skating then I’m not thinking about all of the things I’m stressed about, and then when I get home I’m tired and just want to curl up and watch TV. If you don't enjoy exercising, then try doing something simple like heading to a place you'd like to explore - you won't realise how much walking you're doing because you're busy enjoying being somewhere new.
Talk to Someone -
There are so many graphics going around social media about the importance of talking, but it’s easy to ignore them and carry on with your day. Talking genuinely helps, whether that’s talking to a family member, talking to a friend or partner, or seeking professional help if you need it. If you look online there are a lot of places offering online counselling and phone therapy, so if you do find that it’s something more complex or you don’t feel like you’re able to talk to a family member or friend then looking at online therapy is a great option.
Mental health issues can feel particularly challenging to deal with in the Winter because there’s nothing going on, the days are shorter and the weather usually isn’t great, but there are steps that you can take to help yourself feel better. One of the most important things to remember is simply to be kind to yourself. There will be days that you feel better and some where you just want to stay in bed. Be kind to yourself, push yourself when you feel able and give yourself chance to rest when you need it. Self care is all about balance and self-reflection, so it’s okay to need some time to focus on yourself.
Such an important post! These cold months can really take their toll mentally.
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