A blog by Tamara Webb
As we celebrate World Mental Health Day, I wanted to take a moment to share some reflections on my personal journey toward prioritising mental well-being. In the hustle and bustle of life, it’s easy to get caught up in the chaos and forget about the importance of maintaining a healthy mind. Over time, I’ve discovered that adopting certain practices has significantly contributed to my mental health, and I hope these insights resonate with you.
Prioritise Values
Identifying and prioritising my values has been a game-changer. It’s about understanding what truly matters to me and aligning my decisions with those values. Whether it’s spending time with family, or personal growth, recognising these core values has so far helped me navigate life’s choices.
Set Clear Goals
Life without goals can feel like sailing without a destination. Setting both short-term and long-term goals has provided me with direction and purpose. Whether they relate to work, family or personal development, having defined goals gives me something to strive for, and to celebrate once achieved.
Create a Schedule
Balancing work, motherhood, friends and family, self-care and leisure is no easy feat. Creating a schedule has been fundamental in managing these aspects of my life effectively. Allocating time ensures that I’m not neglecting any important areas in my life and helps me maintain a sense of control.
Learn to Say No
It took me a while to realise that saying no is not a sign of weakness but rather a form of self-care. When overwhelmed, learning to say no and declining additional responsibilities or social invitations has allowed me to preserve my energy for the things that truly matter.
Delegate and Seek Help
Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Delegating tasks and seeking support when I’m feeling overwhelmed has lightened the load and allowed me to focus on what I do best.
Practise Time Management
Effective time management is like a magic wand that maximises productivity and minimises stress. Techniques such as prioritising tasks, breaking them into smaller steps, creating thought-out to-do lists, which are not overwhelming, and setting deadlines help the way I approach my daily responsibilities.
Embrace Technology
Technology can be a powerful tool in staying organised. I’ve embraced calendar apps and other digital tools that help me keep track of appointments, deadlines and important upcoming events.
Maintain Work-Life Boundaries
Drawing a clear line between work and personal time is crucial. When I’m off work, I avoid checking emails and allow myself the space to recharge. Even though I work in social media and this is a sector where time is never ‘switched off’, I have learnt to establish boundaries and since then, this has significantly improved my overall well-being.
Regular Exercise
Physical activity is a natural stress-buster. Incorporating regular exercise into my routine not only boosts my energy levels but also provides much-needed me-time to reduce stress.
Quality Sleep
This is important but not always possible with the number of things we want, and sometimes NEED to squeeze, in a day. Having said so, a good night’s sleep is non-negotiable for mental well-being. Prioritising quality sleep allows us to recharge our mind and body to face the following day.
Social Connections
Nurturing relationships with friends and family is extremely important for my mental well-being. Spending quality time with my daughter and loved ones creates a support system that is invaluable, especially during challenging times.
Self-Compassion
Finally, being kind to myself has been a lesson in self-compassion. Avoiding perfectionism and understanding that it’s okay not to have everything figured out has been liberating. This point is very challenging personally, since I am an overthinker. It’s a journey, not a race, and I’m working on this daily.
On this World Mental Health Day, I encourage you to reflect on your own well-being. As my mother always told me, we only live once. Prioritise what matters to you, set achievable goals and embrace practices that contribute to a balanced and fulfilling life. Remember, your mental health is a priority, and small steps toward self-care can lead to significant positive changes. Here’s to a happier ‘us’.
Tamara
