TAKE TIME TO KŌRERO
WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH?
Lockdowns and Covid-19 can put a lot of pressure on one’s mental health, and with it being Mental Health Awareness Week this week, we want to put the focus on our wellbeing.
Mental and physical health are equal and integral parts of our Hauora (well-being) and can both vary greatly from day to day. Some days, we might feel especially strong, and others, not at all. This goes for both physical and mental health. Sometimes our mental health can dip, especially when something unexpected happens, like a global pandemic. All of this is a natural part of being human and prioritizing mental health is an important part of how we can help each other during tough times.
There are steps you can take to optimize your mental health, and one of the first steps is to identify your support network – who and what do you think will be there for you? What has helped lift your spirits in the past?
TOP TIPS TO SUPPORT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH:
Regardless of what alert level you’re in, here are some tips you can do to support your mental health:
Reaching out to loved ones
As we know, this is a lot better done in person and a warm hug can go a long way. However, when Alert Levels calls for a bit of distance, a simple “thinking of you” type text or call can go a long way not only for you, but can also help those who are feeling a bit lonely to know that you’re thinking of them
When lacking your normal routine, create your own routine
While it is difficult to maintain some sense of normality when everything is far from it, being able to create some structure from chaos helps a lot. While you can’t control whether you go outside to see people, you can control a few things, namely, your sleep schedule, screen time, eating regularly and exercise.
Journaling
Whether this be a complete dump of all your thoughts, goals, or putting into paper all your feelings the best you can (because sometimes it’s hard to put into words). Journaling is a great way to release any pent-up emotion. A proactive way you can lift your spirits through journaling is to express gratitude – whether it be for yourself, your family and friends, or anything in your life you’re grateful for!
Taking it easy on yourself
As great as it is to try be productive during tough times, there shouldn’t be an overwhelming pressure to do so. Some days are simply going to be better than others, and on other days, you simply won’t want to. Allow yourself some time off, as sometimes the most productive thing for your mental health, is to do nothing.
Nutrition is important
Up your fruit and vegetable intake. Choose these at every meal! Fruits and veg are a great source of antioxidants.
Prebiotic fibre and probiotics help your gut. Try out yoghurt, muesli and fruit for breakfast. Your gut produces 90% of the serotonin (the happy hormone) around your body - happy gut, happy mind!
When fish is on offer - take it up. Omega 3 fatty acids found in fish can improve mental performance and lift mood
Staying active
Physical exercise is not only a great way to keep your mental health in check by the release of endorphins, but it will also prime your body to wind down during the night too.
Wind down
Having a bit of quiet time before bed can help set you up for a good night’s sleep. Turning phones off and dimming the lights can do wonders in letting you doze off.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
It’s very easy to feel isolated during times where “isolation” is such a prevalent word. Just because physical distancing is a thing, it doesn’t mean you have to distance yourself from your loved ones, or from support.
There are plenty of resources and helplines out there for you, should you feel like you need somebody to reach out to. Check out the mental health resources on the Ministry of Health website here. A few of these can also be found below (Ministry of Health, 2021):
Youthline, where young people can talk one-to-one with a real person
Melon Health has a range of online resources specifically for young people
Staying on Track is an e-therapy course that teaches you practical strategies to cope with the stress and disruption of day-to-day life (Just a Thought)
REFERENCES
Sources:
Young, C. (2016, July). Diet & Mental Health. Retrieved from Food and Mood Centre AU: https://foodandmoodcentre.com.au/2016/07/diet-and-mental-health/
Ministry of Health. (2021, August 30). COVID-19: Mental health and wellbeing resources. Retrieved from Ministry of Health: https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-health-advice-public/covid-19-mental-health-and-wellbeing-resources
https://www.healthyfood.com/advice/how-to-foster-strong-mental-health-during-covid-19/