So glad you are here. Friday Five is all about being intentional about our mental health. 5 ideas, questions, tools, and resources to encourage you to lean in, care for yourself, and reset.
We’re in THAT season. You know, the one where we start to yawn at 4:00 pm, and then by 5:00 pm we’re convinced it must be 11:00 pm? I call it “hibernation season.” Dark, cold, and often wet (rain, ice, snow, or a mix of all three!). Is it any wonder that our moods often sink at this time of year? Even if you love the winter season, the shorter days can still impact our mood and energy levels. Our vitamin D levels drop with the reduced sun exposure, and our exercise habits can wane as well.
“Hibernation season” can co-occur with other challenging seasons. Grief, anticipatory loss, physical and/or mental unwellness, job loss, and relocating to a new city can all be additional stressors to this season. Life is hard, and it can be tempting to want to stay isolated at home under a warm blanket until the season passes. This isn’t optimal, however, for many reasons. Humans aren’t created to live in isolation.. We’re made for connection, regardless of the season.
This season can also be an opportunity to slow down. Check in with yourself- how are you doing? On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being optimal and 1 being extremely poor), how’s your mental health? A low number (say, 6 or under) should be considered an alarm bell that tells you that something needs to change. Take action today by creating a plan to care for your mental health in this season. Here are 5 things to consider when doing so.
- Create a list of activities and interests you enjoy that can be done indoors (or outdoors when the weather is okay). Revisiting what hobbies spark your interest is important and should be done yearly, at minimum. Consider trying something new as well!
- Make a list of your friends and family. What does this list show you? How long has it been since you have seen each of them? Who on your list do you want to still be in your life in the next decade(s)? Consider reaching out to one person on your list and make a plan to meet. Relationships take effort. If you aren’t making the effort to stay connected now, don’t assume that relationship will exist at all in the future. Start small. It can be as simple as meeting someone for coffee.
- Exercise, even when you don’t feel like it! Don’t have time? Don’t have the energy? Start small, and build from there.10 minutes is better than nothing, and that 10 minutes can often turn into 20 minutes once you get started. Exercise boosts mood!
- Take a nap. The reality is that many of us are sleep deprived, and as a result our mood is negatively impacted. If you aren’t getting 7-9 hours of restful sleep each night, there’s a chance you are sleep deprived. So if your schedule allows it, treat yourself to a short nap. Your mind and body will be glad you did.
- Volunteer. Helping others feels good. Our mood often improves when we are caring for others, especially when we are doing so as part of a community. If your time is limited, as is often the case, choose to help out in a small way. Collecting socks and blankets for those who are homeless, raising money for a charity, or helping out at a food bank. The options are limitless. When we help others feel better, we feel better in turn. Suggestion: Find something that resonates with you. You will be more likely to stay consistent in your volunteering when you do so.
Let’s face it, some seasons are more difficult than others. You may be facing something much bigger than seasonal low mood challenges, and if so, the above ideas will likely seem unhelpful. If you are in a difficult season, or you rated your mental health at less than 6 out of 10, please reach out to a Registered Psychotherapist and your family doctor to get the help you need. It’s important to stay connected to the appropriate health professional, as well as to your friends and family. We at Connected Co are here to help you get connected to the right professional for you. Please reach out if we can be of help.