I'm good.

04/01/2023

New Years Resolutions… continued.

So after my last post, I got asked myself what my New Years Resolutions were a number of times. I don’t set them. The only one I set myself is to be happy. Cheesy I know, but the sentiment means more than the statement.

It’s not about being happy 24/7 or being happy in a literal sense, but being mentally happy. Mentally stable and try to keep things level. The past year was one of learning for me, doing therapy properly and understanding my own mind. This year it’s about maintaining that and learning more about myself. Coping strategies, ways of reacting and being more accepting of myself.

For others, being happy might mean not worrying over that Chinese takeaway if it made you feel better than before. Might even mean sleeping that hour longer when you need it. Taking that bath when you’ve had a s**t day. Anything that makes your day that little less stressful.

For some it might even mean taking that first step to addressing your mental health issues. Booking that doctors appointment. Self referring to therapy (yes you can do that!)… even learning to meditate.

There’s no pressure in anything you choose to do to make yourself happy.

31/12/2022

For most, midnight tonight will symbolise a change in themselves and a pressure to rectify things that might not have gone well this year.

You might set goals to lose weight, stop drinking or save money. All perfectly normal goals and no issue in setting them... but don't apply unnecessary pressure on yourself if you're not achieving them by the 20th January.

New Year comes around each year and companies fill consumers heads with "New year, new you" crap. Discounts to start celebrity diet plans. Vitamins endorsed by influencers who haven't even tried them. A need to change who you are completely to fit in with this new lifestyle goal that is going around.

You're no different to what you were 2 weeks ago, and those companies aren't any different to what they were 2 weeks ago. Diet pills, slimming tonics and coffee diets... all marketing crap to get people to feel badly about what they might have ate at Christmas.

I've seen countless posts already by certain influencers spouting their new diet plan or weight-loss journey. All since Boxing Day. Capitalising on people who might not feel their best or feel like they need this change in order to feel good about themselves. Stop and look in the mirror. You are more than enough and need to find that happiness inside yourself before listening to what others are saying only to get your hard earned cash.

I guess what I'm trying to say, is not to put too much pressure on yourself to change anything post midnight tonight. Make sure you're happy and doing what feels right for you. Yes, start the gym if you're wanting to lose weight to feel better about yourself, but don't do it to fit in with what society wants. Don't take vitamin pills because you think it might make you look like the overly photoshopped and enhanced instagram celebs... and don't take my advice on how many chocolates to eat... I've ate enough.

Hope everyone has a great evening tonight, make sure to enjoy yourselves in whatever way that is! Make sure to have the paracetamol ready for tomorrow morning for those hangovers.

Here's to 2023! (or whatever that means!)

28/12/2022

Feeling that overwhelming "Christmas is over, what do I do now?" feeling?

The lead up to Christmas can be a stressful one, the usual stresses increase and the additional ones add on. Have you got enough presents for one person? Have you got enough pigs in blankets? Have you mentally prepared to deal with that awkward family member?

All that lead up can cause you to mentally drain yourself and leave you feeling quite exhausted after the big day. Here's some tips to chill out and get back to "normality"...

1. Have a bath. You don't literally need to have a bath, but take some time out for yourself and pamper. It feels good to take time for ourselves and "clean off" the stress of Christmas day and the days after. Light some candles/wax melts/incense of your favourite scent and relax. Take as much time as you need.

2. Do something you enjoy. With the lead up to Christmas, we often put things we enjoy to the back of our minds because other things take priority. Use the time you have off to explore things that give you joy. Got a new book for Christmas? Get cosy and read a few chapters. Got some new skincare? Have a read of the leaflets and try it out. Got some new games? Play them... use the time to forget about the chores you had before Christmas and take that time to unwind.

3. Go for a walk. You tend to be cooped up in the house over Christmas and New Year, so take some time to get out in the fresh air and enjoy it. You can become sluggish and feel worn out from being in the house all day relaxing. You need to get that heartrate up from a few laps around your street or further afield. Go for a drive if you're not able to get out walking, seeing a different view will refresh the brain and senses.

4. Sort out your wardrobe/drawers/closet/junk drawer. We tend to get A LOT of new things for Christmas, whether it's socks, clothes or trinkets. A clogged up bedroom can lead to a clogged up mind. Especially with most of us working from home frequently, we need a clear space to feel clearminded. So go through that drawer you haven't opened in months, get rid of the clothes you've not worn in years and make some room for the new things you've received. With only a week till everyone starts returning to work, you can easily forget these things and they'll become a bigger problem when you're looking around your room that first day back looking for new clothes/socks. Remember, everything in moderation, don't overwhelm yourself by redecorating, just casually declutter your wardrobes and mind.

For most, Christmas is a time of a year that brings a lot of stress and sometimes upset (for family members that are no longer around). It's important to remember yourself in these moments, take in your surroundings and be present. You cannot do that if you're overworked.

11/12/2022

“Let’s Get Closer” card game. (Unsponsored recommendation)

I bought this card game a few weeks (maybe a month?) ago now and seen a little video on TikTok of it being used. The premise of the video was to take two random people off the street (grandparent/grandchild, partners, friends, parents) and have them play this game… I say play, but it’s really just question prompts to start conversation. The outcome was actually quite moving.

The cards themselves are quite open ended, simple questions which provoke thought and a deeper insight to your mind and how you work. Simple questions such as “What struggle have you overcome?” Or “what would you change if you did something again?” spark a soul searching question and perhaps raise something that’s been hard to speak about before.

There’s a bit of lightheartedness in there too, it’s not all about digging deep, but if there’s a strained relationship or things left off the table, this would be a great starter instead of therapy if that’s not financially possible right now. Just try not to put all your eggs in one basket, different strokes for different folks.

They’re set up in three categories depending on closeness of the people playing it. (Strangers, friends, family, lovers… something for everyone). Just set yourself a healthy time limit (45 minutes or so) and take turns picking cards. You can have both answer or just the person picking the card. Keep it simple, it might be unsettling enough depending on the relationship!

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05/12/2022

After a 2 year gap, I've decided to start this page back up again. My own personal journey has taken a massive turn since starting therapy this year and learning more about my own mental health. I think there's a lot to be achieved in sharing experiences and tips!

Here's a two part question to get us back into the swing of things... Christmas is coming up, what's your favourite thing about this time of year? AND what is your least favourite thing that gives you anxiety?