5 Things I Do To Help My Mental Health

Now I don’t know about you, but my mental health has really taken a bit of a dive in 2020. Partly pregnancy and partly the pandemic are the most obvious reasons why, but regardless of what’s built it up, there’s never not a good time to take care of your mental health.

I’m not the best at dealing with it sometimes, and find that I’d rather bury my head in the sand about it, or hide myself away in the hope it’ll pass (it doesn’t!). But as the years have gone by, I’m slowly still learning that the smallest things really can make such a difference - so I thought I’d share the simple at home things I do and love, when I’m having a bad day.

And y’know, sometimes they don’t work and I’d rather just cry the day away - which trust me, is totally OK too!

TAKE A BATH

It might be one of the simplest things, but as soon as I hear the water running and smell the relaxing scent of my Neal’s Yard Lavender bath salts, I instantly feel a weight lifted off my shoulders. There’s something about being confined in a bath with the warmth of water against your body, that really soothes me, and has me questioning whether my worries and stresses are controllable or not.

Some days I’ll take a book in with me, to really lose myself away from the outside world and other days I’ll find myself daydreaming about anything and everything to distract my mind. And on the odd occasion, there’ll be a cheeky glass of bubbles joining me - because there’s always a time and a place for a glass of bubbles midweek at 4pm!

GO FOR A WALK

I always remember as a child when my mum would say about blowing the cobwebs away, and as an adult now, I fully appreciate this saying. A walk really does help to clear the mind, and put everything into better perspective. It’s also a time when I’m less distracted by things at home whether it’s the TV, my phone, those dishes piling up, or the cat, and so find that I can work through what’s triggering my mental health.

Most of the time it’ll be a walk with Tim as I find myself more relaxed and calm when with him as opposed to a solo walk. I find it a perfect time to break everything down with how I’m feeling, and talk things through looking at all my options and what’s gotten me to where I feel, helping me figure out the next best steps. And some of our walks have merely been a quiet affair, simply embracing our surroundings, and just taking in the fresh (or not so London fresh) air.

STAY IN BED

This might not work for everyone, but sometimes nothing will shift my mood and thoughts. And so if it means a day spent in bed, aimlessly scrolling my phone, looking back through old pictures, watching trash TV on Netflix and eating lunch still in my comfies, then that’s OK too.

Majority of the time I try to get up and do something, but whenever I’ve felt the need for a bed day, my mood has normally shifted a little the following day, in order to focus on something more positive. After all, pasta in bed might not be the cure, but it’s a sure helper!

LISTEN TO MUSIC OR READ A BOOK

I can so easily get lost in music, and whilst others may find my music in the depressing category, I find it incredibly soothing. I’ll pop on my favourite playlist and either turn the volume up so it fills the whole house, or sit quietly on the sofa with my headphones in where I can transport myself away and into the music.

Listening to music, I feel I can relate more to the words, which then in turn makes me reassess how I’m feeling and ways I can improve my mood or worries. It may sound crazy, but some of my biggest turning points have been helped by various songs.

Many people enjoy reading, and sometimes I’ll pick up a book - although it takes me a lot to settle into one as I find when my mental health isn’t great, I’m way too distracted for a book. But I’m slowly starting to make more time for reading, and can appreciate it’s benefits.

TALK TALK TALK

Everyone and their nan will say that the first thing when it comes to your feelings, is to talk. And whilst you may not think it at the time, it really does help.

Personally for me, I’m either all or nothing - and being quite open with my feelings I can express to friends and family when I’m having a bad day in the hope it’ll help, but sometimes it’s the last thing I’ll want to do, and I’ll find myself ignoring my phone, and putting it off. A lot of my friends and family are super supportive and whilst they don’t fully understand or know just how I’m feeling, they’ve always been there to help me try and figure it out - from a checking in text to long video calls, those simple acts of kindness really help. And i’ll absolutely stand by the fact that the starter kit for dealing with mental health, really is by talking it out.

There are so many other things that you can do, to help ease or distract your mental health, but for me, these are my key ones that I’ll always try. And if none of these work, then I know that the next step in helping it - is to speak to a doctor and discuss things further. It’s always a work in progress, but together we can help beat the stigma of mental health being a bad thing.