Welcome to Be Your Own Date - a space dedicated to all things self-care and wellbeing. If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to take a look at my other posts; I hope you’ll like them and find them useful too! 

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Nature

Ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week (10-16 May 2021), I would like to take some time to reflect on what has been a rollercoaster of a year for us all - full of highs and lows - and the effect that this may have had on our physical, social, financial and emotional wellbeing. It's been really, really, really tough! The theme for Mental Health Awareness Week this year is ‘nature’ which really resonates with me, having spent so much time indoors lately. It definitely feels like the time is right to venture outdoors more, as we slowly come out of lockdown in the UK. 

1 in 4 people experience a mental health problem each year

Mental health is more prevalent than you might think, affecting 1 in 4 people each year in England, according to the mental health charity, Mind. Experiencing a mental health problem can have a negative impact on a person’s day-to-day life, as well as the people around them AND disproportionately affects those from minority groups, such as young women, Black and LGBTQI+ communities. And what about all the key workers, as well as the children and young people studying during such an uncertain time?! 

Common mental health problems reported include anxiety and depression. But there are also some complex diagnoses to consider, albeit less common, such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, with symptoms including a significantly distorted perception of reality. More information can be found here. Together, I hope that we can continue to raise our awareness and understanding of mental health, whilst removing the stigma attached to it, so that more people can be open about their experiences, as well as access the support and services that they might need.

If you are reading this and worried about your mental health and/or are experiencing emotional distress, don't be afraid to reach out and let someone know. Someone who you trust, whether that's a friend, family member, loved one, your GP, or a charity helpline support worker. You have nothing to be ashamed of and sharing how you are feeling will hopefully help to ease your worries a little and perhaps encourage you to seek support, the sooner the better.

I previously worked in mental health for many years and have experienced poor mental health myself. This is why I firmly believe that the more we talk about it and open up, the better it is for our mind, body and soul! Raising awareness and normalising our experiences is beneficial for us all, we are only human after all. This is something that I've always been deeply passionate about and I pride myself in being a friend that people can confide in, but sometimes I need that support just as much too! 

Coping with money worries

Managing your personal finances can be both overwhelming and empowering! There have been times when I have felt completely lost and unsure about how to manage my money most effectively, especially when under financial pressure. For example, when I received a massive and unexpected gas bill shortly after moving to my new home.

Fortunately, after the initial shock, I was able to feel much calmer about the situation and coping with money worries, thanks to the support of my mum, and ended up negotiating to pay it off in monthly and affordable instalments. This is why I now put some money aside each month into a sinking fund for my utility bills and unexpected events that life decides to throw at me! I talk about the importance of a sinking fund in my post, Financial Wellbeing: Budgeting (during the pandemic). 

Experiencing money worries is something that we can all relate to to some degree, at some point in our lives. There are some things within our control and some things that simply are not. I find that focusing on what I can do really helps in this regard, whilst learning about and practicing how to budget and plan exactly where my money is going in advance can be really beneficial in helping to alleviate some of my concerns and, ultimately, to feel better about my finances. If you’re interested in some guidance on budgeting, have a read of my Financial Wellbeing: Budgeting Checklist.

7 simple tips to help lift your mood

At this point, I thought it might be useful to share some of the things that I enjoy doing, which are also effective in helping to lift my mood whenever I’m feeling low - 7 simple tips that can be carried out pretty much all year round and are also FREE! 

1. Talk to someone - whether it’s a phone call, video call, or in-person - seems so strange to say that now!

2. Luxuriate in a shower/bath and create a spa-like environment - I know personal care might be the last thing on your mind right now, but it’s helpful to get up and out of bed, and into some kind of a routine. Use your favourite shower gel, bubble bath, bath bomb, bath oils - you name it - if it helps. This will come as no surprise to you if you have read my post and listened to my podcast on having A Good Night’s Sleep.

3. Go for a walk - it doesn't have to be a marathon! A walk around the block will do. It's just nice to get out and get some fresh air and, hopefully, a little bit of sunshine and Vitamin D too, although you never know with our British weather! If you can manage it, go for a long walk in your local park and connect with nature - the theme for Mental Health Awareness Week this year. 

4. Treat yourself to something small - it’s so important to practice self-care and being kind to yourself. Go on...do it!

5. Journalling - write or type your thoughts down, and perhaps rate how you are feeling (on a scale of 1 to 10) on a daily basis for a little while. Getting into this routine can be a cathartic experience and also helps to keep track of your thoughts and mood. 

6. Curl up on your sofa and read/listen to one of your favourite books or podcasts. 

7. Play some uplifting music - here is a link to my post about my Feel Good Spotify playlist.

I LOVE listening to ‘Feeling Good’ by Nina Simone and recently came across this cover by Muse. It’s a powerful rendition, but what do you make of the video? Let me know in the Comments sections below. 

Resources

Here is a list of UK charities, providing incredibly useful information and resources on mental health. Simply click on each one for further information: 

• The Mental Health Foundation

• Mind

• YoungMinds

• Samaritans

• Money Advice Service

Please bear in mind that this is not an exhaustive list and if you spot a broken link, please let me know and I will fix it.

If you know of any other helpful resources promoting mental health, please share them in the Comments section below and connect with me on your socials. 

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Curious to know more? Read about my unique approach, personalised coaching programme and what to expect while we work together. 

When you are ready to get in touch, submit your interest in personal coaching sessions or pass this information on if you think it might benefit a loved one.

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Be kind to yourself. Be Your Own Date. 

~ Amy-Jo ☀️

Disclaimer: The content of this blog is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. For that, you will need to speak to your GP and/or local health provider.