Investing in your Wellbeing on Life’s Rollercoaster
Life is a crazy ride of ups and downs, and we need a game plan to prioritise mental well-being and keep sanity intact. Let's break it down into three modes: reactive, proactive, and reflective – your Mental Health Game Plan for the rollercoaster ride we call life.
Three Ways to Tackle Wellbeing.
1. React Like a Pro
Life throws lemons at you, and sometimes they come in truckloads. That's when you switch to reactive mode. It's about having a toolkit for the messy days, a game plan for when the universe decides to challenge you. If you have had a particularly stressful day or week, how do you best respond? Do you do a hard workout or take a long walk? Do you lose yourself in a movie or engage in a hobby to unwind? Or maybe your anxiety has stepped up a notch. Do you dive into mindfulness or treat yourself to a sauna session? The key is knowing your strategies, ready to engage when adversity hits.
2. Proactive Power Moves:
Being a mental health superhero also requires a proactive mode. It's like making daily deposits into your well-being bank, giving your life margin. Creating consistent, attainable habits and routines is the key. Maybe it’s about moving your body for at least 15 minutes a day, spending time in nature on your way back from work, or nailing your sleep routine. If your work or family situation is so demanding it’s hard to prioritise these things, remember, it's not about perfection; it's about making deposits, and even the small ones help. Do the best you can with what you’ve got.
3. Reflect & Thrive
Enter reflective mode, where you look back like a wise old owl. It's not about beating yourself up – it's about learning. Consider it like an audit. How did you show up? What worked, and what didn't? Only a couple of months ago I was drowning in commitments, and my brain resembled a messy desk. Reflection was the key, and I’m learning (very slowly!) to get better at delegating and remaining present in the task at hand. It’s hard work, and old habits die hard. But learning from our mistakes and improving how we tackle the future is key to looking after our mental well-being.
Over to you…
Ready to make this game plan yours? Grab a piece of paper, sketch out the above Venn diagram, and jot down a bunch of practical things you can do in each mode of wellbeing. Get in there and see where it takes you. Explore - there’s nothing wrong with trial and error. And remember, throughout the process, be your own best friend. Kindness is key!
In Summary
Crafting your Mental Health Game Plan is like having a secret weapon against life's curveballs. React, Invest, Reflect. Know how to respond to your chaos, invest in your health by being proactive, and look back with a smirk of wisdom. Your mental health journey is uniquely yours, so own it, explore what works, and look after that mind of yours during the rollercoaster ride!