October Blog posted in Mental Health
Mental health and self-care have become increasingly important over the past few years. The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the impact that health and mindset have on our general well-being and ability to cope. For many, with a new year comes renewed hope and a chance for new beginnings. Yet the new year's resolutions to take better care of ourselves seem to taper off after a month or two.
Sustained, long-lasting behavioral change comes from a mindset that is grounded in meaning and discipline. In order to attach meaning to positive lifestyle changes, ask yourself where your need for change comes from and what makes self-care important to you. If your motivation for self-care is rooted in external validation, it might be more challenging to create meaning. To become disciplined, build on self-esteem and self-worth in order to commit to yourself daily through new healthy habits.
Here are a few tips on maintaining the changes and focusing on self-care:
- Start with one to two small changes. This could be as simple as drinking 1.5 liters of water a day or making your bed every morning.
- Track your progress. Use a journal, and do not diminish small improvements in pursuit of big, visible changes.
- Celebrate small wins by rewarding yourself in healthy ways
- Remember the "why" question you asked yourself? Reconnect with the purpose of your behavioral change and use your health as a motivator rather than what society deems as 'healthy'.
- Have goals, but take it one day at a time.
To build more motivation and gain support from others who might share similar experiences, download the app and join a session in the Panda Forest. Sessions run every weekday from 8am - 10pm and 10am - 10pm on weekends. You can also host or propose a session on any topic that interests you.
Posted by Dave Blakey