Taking Stock October+ 5 Ways To Check-in On Your Mental Health!

Hello October! 😀 Yaaaaay… It’s about my favourite season of the year and I just can’t keep it to myself! Feels like the perfect time to stop & Take Stock as we also do a much-needed Mental Health check-in. Are you game?

 

Let’s check-in, shall we…?

How are you doing my friends? I hope that you are finding reasons to smile, no matter how small… I think if 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that nothing in life is guaranteed. Not even that which we once considered ‘normal’. All the more reason to make the most of each day…

 

You may have noticed that I was missing in action for about a month or so… Thank you for your patience.

I noticed the need for a break, when no matter how hard I tried, I could not write… I guess I’d been going for so long, working to find the ‘silver lining’ in our present circumstances that I ended up neglecting my own self-care… And without realizing it, I found myself slipping into a ‘dark state’ akin to depression.

I share this because, hopefully, there is someone out there who can relate or needs to know that: you are not alone…

And my goal here remains to keep it real, because we are all human, and no one is ON all the time. We all have our off days, and it’s okay to step back and prioritize on your self-care…

 

 

5 Questions to Check-in On Your Mental Health Daily

The International World Mental Health Day is marked annually, on 10^th October. It’s easy to confine our conversations on mental health to that just 1 day. However, the mental health journey is an ongoing, daily process that never ends…

And from my personal experience, (and perhaps yours too), I have seen how easy it is to neglect mental health, albeit unintentionally. I would love to challenge you and I to make each day, a mental wellness day! 🙂

So here are 5 Questions we can use daily to check-in on our mental health & that of others too…

 

1. What Are Your Thoughts Like?

Consider what occupies your mind… Are your thoughts supportive, positive & kind? How do you feel about yourself and position in life? Do you have any interests besides work?

 

Tips>>

• Keep a journal to keep track of your thoughts and try shift your focus on to positive things.
• Personally, I find that my thoughts can easily dwell on the negative, particularly when things feel out of my control. Journaling then helps me to stay aware of my thoughts.

• Develop interests and schedule time to do what brings you the most joy.
• I’ve also found that prayer journaling daily & reading a devotional first thing in the morning starts my day off right.

 

2. Are you getting enough sleep?

Do you have trouble falling asleep? Are you overly fatigued or have trouble concentrating?

Tip>> Try to establish a sleeping pattern by going to bed and waking up at the same time daily. Journaling before bed is a good way to release any stressful thoughts.

 

3. How are you relating with others?

In this age of social distancing, it’s easy to completely isolate oneself, and miss out on relational support.  Are you connecting with others regularly? Do you have a healthy support system?

 

Tips>>

• Set time apart to spend with your family friends around shared interests.
• Surround yourself with the people who love you & understand your journey. My girlfriends and I try to have a call at least once a week, where we talk through life’s events… This has been a great help in placing things into perspective.
• Reach out to someone you trust whenever you need help.

 

4. Are you eating well?

What’s your appetite like? Sometimes we indulge in certain comfort foods when we are not doing okay within… Take note of whether you are eating more or less than usual…

Tips>>

• Keep a food journal and try to eat a balanced diet that supports your lifestyle.
• Check out this post on: 7 Ways To Nurture Your Mental Health.

 

5. Is It Time to Seek Professional Help?

I think it’s about time we normalize seeking professional help for mental health… If you notice that you are not coping well by yourself, it’s okay to seek help.

>>Let us not shy away from talking about mental health issues… Moreover, let’s endeavor to create a supportive environment for others around us.

 

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Taking Stock October 2020

Buying: ‘Swimming classes’ because 2020 needs to be the year!

 

Craving: Pork ribs

 

Cooking: Pork ribs (in my head). 😀

 

Drinking: Hot lemon and ginger with honey concoction.

 

Eating: Breakfast for dinner.

 

Enjoying: The colors of the Jacaranda trees starting to bloom in parts of the city. 🙂

 

Feeling: Grateful for the memories of those who’re no longer with us.

 

Learning: To listen to what’s going on within.

 

Listening: To an Indie/Folk playlist on YouTube that feels just right for this season!

 

Looking: Forward to my upcoming trips unearthing more of Kenya’s *magic!

 

Making: Travel plans… so if you are looking to partner up in this season, hit me up on my Contact form (Top Right corner)! 😀

 

Missing: My Dad. Always.

 

Noticing: How much my hair has grown in the past few months. Still going. 🙂

 

Playing: No games with Covid-19!

 

Reading: The little quotes found in the footnotes of my diary… Some are funny and others- just plain weird! 😀

 

Thinking: About how how resilient we are as a human race. Can you believe we are surviving a global pandemic? What amazing grace!

 

 

Wanting: To finally watch the Netflix film ‘Becoming’ based on Michelle Obama’s book.

 

Watching: Modern Family reruns because the fun never gets old!

 

Wishing: For even happier days ahead!

 

Working: On a fun Christmas Playlist (already, Lol). Send in your ideas! 😉

 

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I’d love to thank YOU for being my faithful readers… Thank you for always coming back to read & for sharing your inputs in the comments.

So don’t hold back, keep those comments/questions coming down below! 😀 I appreciate you!

 

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