It has been a rollercoaster of a year (to say the least). Global events have affected the lives of just about everyone. The problem with constantly keeping a finger on the pulse of international affairs is that we can become outwardly focussed. There is a significant social impact that requires appropriate public investment, but we can lose sight of ourselves within the scope of the goings-on. This causes us to become unbalanced and puts serious strain on our mental health.
So, during this holiday season, let’s take a few moments to look within. Let’s consider ourselves, our habits and our personal world-views. We can take a page out of the book of Stoicism and seek to minimize negative emotions and maximize gratitude and joy. If we can explore this approach we can emphasize our own mental wellbeing and cultivate positive emotions that will help us bring balance to our lives.
And, in the spirit of the holiday season, we can also practice these three wise men-tal health ideas; they might not only help us, but those around us too who could be looking to us for guidance and support.
Take care of your body
Having time off can seem like the perfect time to get around to all of those chores you’ve been putting off for weeks. However, everything you do, you’ll do better after a good night’s rest. Make sure that you are getting enough sleep, eating nutritious meals, drinking plenty of water and getting exercise.
Surround yourself with good people
Lockdowns, curfews and social distancing rules have made public socializing somewhat taboo. This is a stigma that we are going to have to overcome once everything has settled down. People with strong social networks are generally healthier and happier than those who lack a support network. Reach out to people you may have lost contact with throughout the year and have a catch up.
Appreciate yourself
You deserve kindness. Respect yourself and avoid self-criticism. Make time for hobbies, personal projects and pursuits that are of benefit to you: solve a sudoku, read a book, plant a garden.
Strenuous workouts cause muscles to breakdown, it is when we rest that our bodies re-build the muscles. This year has been quite the strenuous workout for our social and psychological muscles! Try and view any downtime as a rest day, allowing us to come back stronger than before.
Remember that all the wealth in the world is worth very little if we’re not healthy enough to enjoy it. Keeping a balanced approach to maintaining our health and our wealth is crucial to finding meaning and purpose in life.