YOUR HEALTH

As 2020 taught us, we can’t take our mental health for granted. Here’s how to prioritise it in 2021.

Prioritise your mental health in 2021

QUIET TIME POWERS THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

The forced stillness the pandemic brought into our lives allowed us an escape from our busy schedules and commitments. ‘People tend to assume you need a lot of time to help your body relieve stress, but just 10 minutes a day of an activity will help your nervous system to power down – and that can have a big impact on how you will feel physically and mentally,’ says psychologist Dr Roseann Capanna Hodge. Bottom line: slowing down is key to being kind to yourself.

FEELING ANXIOUS IS TO BE EXPECTED

Uncertainty messes with our evolutionary survival strategies and raises our internal level of alert. ‘We tend to respond the same way to stress each time, so the best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour,’ says psychiatrist Dr Jennifer Love. So pay close attention to how you feel when life changes present themselves, as it could help lower your anxiety.

SHARE YOUR FEELINGS

Don’t ignore feelings of grief because someone else’s problems seem ‘bigger’. Give yourself permission to feel your pain and grieve without judgement. The five stages of grief follow the acronym DABDA: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. You can go through these stages all at once, or in no particular order. When you’re moving through complex emotions, a support system is important – you have to share your feelings, whether with a professional or someone close to you.

REARRANGE YOUR WORKSPACE

You are what you surround yourself with. Studies show a cluttered environment can impact your mental health negatively and cause frustration. So, if you’re working from a disarranged dining table, it’s time to make a change. Have a look at our story on page 52 for some great – and affordable – ideas for your workspace.

FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL

A disruption in routine could make you feel as if your life is spinning out of control. Set daily goals for yourself. As you meet these goals your confidence will begin to bounce back, because focusing on what you can control will help you overcome feelings of helplessness.