Category: Mental Health & Mindfulness Tips

Mental Health Awareness Week

I hope you’re all still keeping safe and well.

I wanted to do another quick little blog post today, as this week is Mental Health Awareness Week, hosted by the Mental Health Foundation – this year, the theme of their campaign is, kindness.

We hear a lot about how important it is to open up to others about how we’re feeling, and you may of noticed that ITV have been running a campaign for a while, telling us to share with each other and “Britain Get Talking”.

Being open about how we’re feeling can be difficult, especially if we’re not used to it, or it isn’t something that comes naturally to us.

Sometimes, it can be easier to start a conversation about something entirely different, until we feel more comfortable to share our emotions – you don’t have to be an expert, or a professional to talk, or to listen to others, it just needs time, courage and kindness to take that first step, it may not feel like much to simply ask “How are you?” but it’s often the smallest of things, that make the biggest differences.

You can find out more information regarding the work of the Mental Health Foundation here: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/

 

Karen x

Keep Going, It’s All Temporary…

Hello!

It’s been a while, but as we enter the fourth week of Coronavirus lockdown, I think it’s time we had a positive mental health tip!

It’s definitely a very strange time, Spring is here and we should all be outside, enjoying the sunshine and looking at the beautiful scenery, as the Springtime colours burst into life…but sadly, at the moment, it’s essential that we all stay safe inside.

Spring is known as being a season of new life and growth and regardless of how old we are, or what we’ve been through, we are all growing, all of the time.

We may not be able to get outside to see a lot of it happening around us at the moment, and it may feel like life as sort-off, well, stopped, but while we are quarantined inside, it’s also a great opportunity to refocus on our goals, and make plans for what we’re going to do when the lockdown is lifted.

Personal growth is an important part of life, it gives us the chance to experience new things and learn about ourselves, about others, and the world around us.

We are always evolving as people, life is always changing, and we can choose to stay where we are, or we can continue to grow with it, keep learning, challenge ourselves and have new experiences.

Personal growth can be great for our overall well-being and mental health too, as it can make us more prepared and able to deal with the challenges that life will undoubtedly throw our way, and develop the skills needed to handle our emotions.

Sometimes, it can be difficult to keep fighting on and know which direction we should be heading, and that’s Okay, but if we want to make the most out of life, we need to learn to push through these obstacles and barriers.

Keep going and keep growing…it may be difficult at the moment, but remember it is all temporary, and we will come through the other side, together.

Karen x

 

Make Time For Me-Time!

Self-care is something we hear mentioned quite a lot, and it can sound somewhat self-indulgent, and ‘fluffy’ – but it certainly isn’t selfish, in fact, it’s essential!

Self-care is a very personal thing, and can be interpreted differently from person to person, basically, it’s the routine of doing something you enjoy, and essentially doing it, for you.

It could be down to simply being kinder to yourself. Our lives have become so busy and hectic, that most of us operate on auto-pilot. We are so consumed with work, household chores, and family…and now, technology and social media have been added to that list too, so we forget how important it is, for our own health and wellbeing, to, just, press pause.

Investing in some well-deserved self-care is important to help prevent burnout, and allows us to take time out to recharge our batteries.

The practice of self-care has lots of great benefits, both physical and mental, it can help boost our self-confidence too, by taking part in activities that we are good at, and enjoy doing.

One excuse for not making time for ourselves, is that we just don’t have the time. But, the best thing about self-care is that it can fit into our routine, and can begin with small little habits implemented each day.

Ideas may include going for a walk and unplugging from technology for an hour, or trying mindfulness, and just, being still. Taking time to laugh, whether socially, or while watching a funny sitcom, or maybe, if you enjoy physical exercise, spending an hour at the gym, listening to your favourite music, or going for a run.

It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it is good for you, and helps you to reconnect with yourself – the key to self-care, is little and often.

 

Karen x

 

Just One Thing…

Happy New Year…can I still say that on 13th January?! Well, as this is my first post of 2020 – I’m going to go with it anyway!

I hope you had a lovely New Year and that 2020 brings you health, happiness and of course, many reasons to smile!

It’s a brand new shiny year, and lots of people are discussing their new year’s resolutions, and the goals and targets they are setting themselves.

We can all think of numerous things that could possibly make our lives better, happier, or simpler, but thinking that way can be overwhelming and stressful.

So, instead, choose just one thing that you’d like to change, to give a try, or improve at, and concentrate on just that one thing, thinking about how you could achieve it.

Tackling things one at a time is much more manageable, and we often find we can do them more efficiently because we are giving them all our attention, and not getting distracted by all the “other things” –

then, once you’ve conquered that, move on to the next…

Karen x

It’s Just One Day…

At this time of year, we’re surrounded by festive cheer, laughter and talk of spending time with friends and family, but sadly, that’s just not the case for everyone.

For lots of reasons, Christmas can be a difficult time for lots of people, so it’s important to be kind to yourself over the Christmas period.

The prospect of attending gatherings or parties can be daunting, and even the fact that our usual daily routine is disturbed at this time of year, can cause additional anxiety.

Try not to put pressure on yourself to please everyone else – remember it’s your holiday time too…don’t spend it feeling stressed or overwhelmed.

If you’re feeling anxious and need to step away for a moment, do it, find a quiet area, simply breathing in and exhaling, slowly and deeply, can help your body settle down to a more natural, resting state, and ease feelings of anxiety.

If you can, keep doing the activities or hobbies that you enjoy during the rest of the year, so you don’t notice the change of daily routine too much, and remember, it is just one day…

 

Karen x

Relax & Recharge

We can forget how important it is, to take time out, to relax and recharge our batteries – in fact it’s not just important, it’s vital!

In the same way that the technology we use every day, needs to be rested and recharged regularly, we, as humans, work just as hard, if not harder, so it’s essential that we do too.

There are so many ways to recharge, some people like to simply chill out in front of a fabulous boxset, and get “lost” for a while, while others may like to participate in hobbies, or activities that they enjoy. Whatever is your choice, we all need to give ourselves a break and some much-deserved downtime.

However, taking time out for ourselves can sometimes feel like we are somehow being “lazy”, or that we should always be on-the-go, after all, it seems that there’s always something that needs doing, but if we don’t give ourselves this time, to simply step back, and take a moment to breathe, we can experience burn-out, and then our overall wellbeing and mental health can be hugely impacted, in a negative way. If we keep going at full speed, constantly, it can be really hard on us, both physically and mentally.

Taking time off gives both our mind, and body, a chance to “switch off” and unwind for a while. Going away on holiday, is an obvious way to take a break, but in reality, that isn’t always an option, so it can be a great idea to plan relaxation times in advance.

It doesn’t matter whether your “thing” is to take part in an activity, such as joining a group, maybe yoga, an art class, or circling in the countryside – it can be something physical, something creative, or simply planning time to do absolutely nothing…it really doesn’t matter, as long as it gives you, time to be, you.

So, whatever you enjoy, make time to do it, go on, you work hard – you deserve it!

Karen x

Stepping Outside

We’re approaching another bank holiday weekend (yay!), and fingers crossed, the weather actually looks like it may be Okay, so it’s a great excuse to get outside!

We all know that sometimes, simply taking a moment to step outside, and take in a deep breath of fresh air, is enough to make us feel a little better. Having anxiety or depression can be crippling, and being outside can be helpful for calming the mind, and allowing us to have a mindful moment.

Sitting outside can also reduce blood pressure, and lower our heart rate, as when we’re outside, our body naturally slows down, and so it can give us a sense of peace.

Being outside, especially around nature, can help reduce our stress levels, boost our mood, and has been proven to increase brain function too.

It also gives us a reason to “unplug” for a while, both physically and mentally – it may be scary to leave technology behind…but it will all still be there waiting for us when we return!

Walking can be brilliant to help increase our focus, for those moments when we feel a little lost – a brief walk, can work wonders to help us regain our ability to focus and find direction. For a significant boost in concentration and creativity, maybe escape to a forest, or a beautiful woodland.

This week was the Chelsea Flower Show, and one lovely garden was designed by Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge. Kate wanted to highlight the benefits of the natural world, and inspire children, families and communities to enjoy the great outdoors, and how being active in nature can positively impact our physical and mental health – so it must be true!!

So, find a little time over the long bank holiday weekend, to take advantage of the benefits of being in the great outdoors. Replace technology time spent on electronic devices, with a walk in the local park, or even, maybe, a bike ride…

Karen x

Keep Growing

Springtime is now definitely here, and we are loving it at TSP HQ!

The trees are beginning to turn green, flowers are starting to bloom, and if you’re lucky to live in or near the countryside, you’ll start to see the new Spring lambs arriving in the fields.

Spring is known as being a season of new life and growth, and regardless of how old we are, or what we’ve been through, we are all, also growing, all the time.

Personal growth is an important part of life, it gives us the opportunity to experience new things and learn about ourselves, about others, and the world around us.

We are always evolving as people, life is always changing, and we can choose to stay where we are, or we can continue to grow with it, keep learning, challenge ourselves and have new experiences.

Personal growth can be great for our overall well-being and mental health too, as it can make us more prepared and able to deal with the challenges that life will undoubtedly throw our way, and develop the skills needed to handle our emotions.

Sometimes, it can be difficult to keep fighting on, and know which direction we should be heading, and that’s Okay, but if we want to make the most out of life, we need to learn to push through these obstacles and barriers…keep going, and keep growing.

Karen x