Maintaining our mental health in 2024
We all talk about the importance of reflecting on the year that’s been, but – seriously – take a few moments to think about how 2023 was for you. Perhaps you faced some challenges. You might have changed jobs, dealt with family difficulty, or just worked really hard at whatever you do each day.
However you feel about 2023, I hope you’ve been able to find some ‘you’ time over the summer break. For many people, that important rest is not always possible at this time of year. The ‘holiday’ period can bring a different kind of stress for some, and many people can start the new year feeling just as worn out as they did at the end of the last one.
This is why reflection is important – to help us make different choices to improve our situation.
As another busy year begins, I am looking for ways to develop some healthier habits to maintain better mental health in 2024. Here are five things I’ve found that might help you to create that balance in 2024 as well.
Reflect on and measure what matters to you.
There are so many things that we might do to regain balance and replenish our energy. Reflecting on what is most important to us is key to understanding how we can best support ourselves. In many ways, it doesn't matter what you choose to do, as long as you know what works for you and why…and then commit to doing it. For example, if walking in nature or on the beach is something you do to look after yourself, take a moment to think about how satisfied you are with how often you do that activity during your busy time. If you feel you’d like to be walking more often, then perhaps it is especially important for you to put the time into those walks during less busy times, and establish a habit. Why not use this tool to reflect and review how well you are going in practicing those top 4-5 things you like to do really look after yourself.
Consider your consumption.
This can be a time of year where we overindulge in all sorts of things. How healthy are the things you are consuming? What do you want to do differently to manage your consumption? Do you want to eat more moderately? Perhaps you’re more concerned about your digital habits. I know that, in recent months, I have benefitted from not reading, watching or listening to as much news as I used to. I’ve started cultivating a new habit this year of reading more fiction, rather than work-related books, reports and online newsletters.
Screen-free time.
I'm preaching to myself here. I really needed to take some solid time away from my laptop and phone over the break. I find this particularly hard because so many things seem to require me to look at my phone or laptop to 'find out’ something. I need to find out what time the ferry runs, whether the café is open yet, what my bank balance is, how to get from A to B using a maps application. All of these things are easy to do on my phone. This article on the ABC website points to the importance of being able to put our phones down, and take a real break from the digital world.
Make change.
We've all heard it before. If we keep doing things the same way, we'll get the same outcome. I don't know about you, but I'm clear I want better outcomes in some areas of my life. For me, this is not about linking change to the new year. It’s possible, and positive, to start a change now, whenever we have the impulse. My mate, Ivan Cunningham, recently swam 22 days in a row in 22 locations around Tassie as a fundraiser for men's mental health. He's actually been swimming every day since Boxing Day 2022 and, when I first wrote about this in December he had clocked up over 330 consecutive days of ocean swimming. He started by just getting in the water, swimming a few metres and noticing how he felt.
Inspired by Justin Clear’s excellent book, Atomic Habits, I’ve started cultivating one small habit that is linked to my morning cup of tea. While I wait for the kettle to boil, I’ve committed to doing some stretches and body weight exercises. It's five minutes of doing something good for my body that I otherwise wouldn’t do, that will make a positive difference to my day.Find time in nature.
The evidence is overwhelmingly clear that time in nature is good for us in so many ways. Being in nature can be as simple as spending time in your back yard, or going for a walk in the park. Just listening to the sounds of nature, or feeling the breeze, the heat of the sun, or the cool of river or ocean waters is simply rejuvenating.
Whatever changes this year brings, I hope you can find some time for yourself and to stay connected or reconnect to the things that are important to you.
Thank you for your support over the past year. I look forward to reconnecting again in 2024.
JB
