Tips for keeping on top of your mental health
WE all vary from person to person in terms of how we react to different things, and the same can be said with how we deal with our mental health. But evidence has shown a number of pursuits and techniques we can use to ensure we can keep a positive state of mind and good mental health.
At a time such as this, when many of us are working from home, it can be very easy to never switch off from work. Perhaps you log on in the morning and stay logged in until late in the evening.
That is fine, but make sure to take your breaks throughout the day. Shut down the laptop at lunch time, and if the weather permits, head out for some fresh air. And, when the time comes to log off for the day, make sure to do so. Many of us may have a tendency to keep checking emails, even late into the night, but it’s important to shut down, and shut off, to give your mind a rest.
As mentioned, working a basic bit of exercise into our days can be a good way of relaxing too. Regardless of how busy you are, be sure to work in at least half an hour where you can go for a walk or a run or do something active to keep the mind and body healthy and alert.
When evening time comes around, it can be nice to just sit down in front of the television and take in an hour of your favourite shows. Watch something you enjoy - a laugh or two can be a great tonic!
And, it’s also vital that we stay connected with our friends and family through this challenging period. Be sure to pick up the phone and stay in touch via a phone call, text or over Zoom. Chatting with family members and friends and staying in touch is even more important now at a time when we have to stay apart.
More tips on how you can mind your mental health are available on www.hse.ie.
IT SEEMS like our entire world has moved online these days for obvious reasons, and while the adverse effects of too much online activity are clear, in these dark times we all need to learn how to use technology to our advantage. A case in point is the use of online counselling and therapy services.
What are the advantageous? The most obvious one is the sense of connectivity it offers. In a lockdown, online counselling brings you face to face with someone who is able to talk you through a difficult phase in your life. This option is a particularly important one for a county like Kerry where populations are dispersed and often isolated.
Another advantage of online therapy is that is suits people with a physical disability, and people who are unable to make their way to a clinical setting in a nearby town for a variety of reasons. Online therapy enables you to build and maintain links with your Counsellor.
Online therapy also offers a degree of anonymity. Even though you are face to face with your Counsellor, many people may feel more at ease with online, especially at the commencement stages of therapy when feelings of anxiety may be more acute.
Lastly, flexibility is another obvious advantage of opting for the online model of therapy. This flexibility is not just measured in terms of when and where you choose to talk, but also ‘emotional flexibility’. Often the thoughts of making an appointment and waiting to see someone one in a waiting room can alter or emotive responses . By logging in at home it allows you to do so when you are relaxed and, perhaps, more likely to be expressive and forthcoming.
Online Counselling might be a necessity in the current pandemic, but there is nothing to suggest that it won’t become a more permanent fixture in the future. It won’t suit every person and every situation, but it may just work for you.