We all have mental health. I remember asking my family how they take care of their mental health and I got responses such as ‘I
don’t have mental health’. I asked how they take care of their physical health, and almost a mic drop moment and this is because many people only consider their mental health when faced with difficulties, when they experience anxiety or low mood and recognise the need for coping strategies or ways to manage these thoughts and feelings.
People look after their physical health in many different ways; walking, running, gardening, taking vitamins and a whole host of other methods.
But what do we do to look after our mental health? Not just in times of distress but everyday to keep ourselves healthy?
I took the opportunity to speak to Salford CVS staff to share how they look after their own mental health everyday and share their top tips!
Move your body, clear your mind
Many staff shared how they feel physical activity supports their mental health:
- Running club
- Morning walks/walking in general
- Staying active in the office by utilising standing desks
- The gym
- Yoga
- Zumba
- Swimming
The links between mental health and physical activity have become more prevalent, and the benefits of exercise reach far beyond physical health. As you exercise, your body starts to release feel good hormones and also helps to bring down the stress hormone (cortisol) naturally, this is why you may hear people say how clear their mind feels after exercising, and how they feel less stressed.
Nature: The original healer
In more recent years, nature has become one of the most popular things that people turn to, this is because of the significant benefits it has; reduces feeling of anxiety, stress, anger and depression, supports you to be more active and helps to feel more relaxed.
- Gardening and allotments – growing plants, flowers and food, being able to cook what you have grown
- Hiking
- Visiting the local park
Connection counts - Socialising
A lot of staff shared how they always prioritise ‘the good stuff’ –
- Making time for family and friends
- Quality time with children
- Attending church
- Speaking to friends
- Engaging with new people
Home is where the health is - Taking care of your mental health at home
Not everything we do has to be grand, some of our staff found that being at home and having little things to do just for them is the best way to spend their time:
- Crafts – making things gives you a sense of accomplishment and brings a feeling of calmness
- Cooking healthy food
- Playing loud music after a heavy or intense day
- Watching ‘crap’ or ‘rubbish’ tv
- Podcasts – which can offer distractions but also have a purpose and broaden our knowledge and learning
What keeps me mentally well?
For myself, a lot of what my colleagues shared resonated with me and I found that I have quite a lot in common with them, this is what I feel I need to have in my life to keep me mentally healthy:
- An hour to bring myself around and get ready for the day before anyone else in the house wakes up
- Music and singing
- Physical activity – this is not an everyday thing but 3-4 times per week, I can feel the benefits instantly and how my mood can change if I don’t do this for a number of days – I personally like to go to the gym, run, walk and play badminton
- Speaking with close friends and family regularly and being around my family
- Needing time alone – I have found that although it is important for me to be around others, I do also need time to be alone to re-charge and recuperate!
- I need organisation and a flexible routine – I like a to-do list to focus and know that I have been productive, some days the lists are long and some days, short – we can only give so much each day so I try to be as realistic as I can
- A good sleep routine! I will never go back to late nights again, the older I get, the more I value sleep as without it, all of the above that I have mentioned tends to slide and I can become stuck in an unhealthy cycle
Explore, try, thrive - Take a look at our noticeboards
Looking after your mental health doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, small changes can make a big difference. We've pulled together a range of resources and ideas on our Padlets to help you find what works best for you – whether you're just starting out or looking to build on what you're already doing.
