What maintains your mental health?

[nightymoose]

Just that, what parts of your life do you feel keeps your mental health on an even keel?

I know a lot of people say exercise and I do work out several times a week but I don't personally feel like I get a mood boost from it although I do like being fit. I find my mental health is more affected by having a healthy diet, lots of fresh fruit and veg with little or no processed foods. Getting plenty of sleep and generally being organised and keeping on top of the housework so good routines I suppose. Cuddles and affection from DH are also important.

What about you?

I can't let that one go! I assume you're joking, but just in case anyone reads this who doesn't realise you are...
Highlanders DO want to live in the Highlands. They are being forced out due to a mixture of over-tourism, second homes, and people moving in from outside with their city-based WFH jobs or to retire, which all have a massive impact on the housing available to locals. Lack of housing for local workers (and people who want to move to the area to actually do a local job) means that local services have been decimated. It's not that Highlanders don't want to live here, but that we're being inadvertently cleared to make way for tourists, rich second home owners, and retirees.
Yours, a Highlander.

(Sorry for derail OP! I won't be back to this thread just in case it turns into a bun fight and I don't want to derail further).

Regular time alone

Swimming

For me it’s mostly exercise but in particular yoga is massively important in helping me stay stable.

Also, snuggling with my dog. I overthink and catastophise so much of the time but when I’m hanging out with my mutt, I’m reminded to be in the moment. His life is incredibly simple but he absolutely loves it. To be fair, he doesn’t have to go to work or worry about politics so no wonder he’s chillled out 😂 but I feel like the simplicity of his life sort of rubs off on me a bit when we’re together.

• counselling
• journaling
• exercise
• good diet
• cuddles with my girls
• perfectly clean and tidy house
• I too, love routine (actually, I need it).
• meditation
• getting out of the house
• seeing a friend
• having a hobby
• working part-time

I’ll admit that I have EUPD (BPD) so I don’t always stick to the above as I have long periods of feeling unmotivated/depressed/suicidal etc.

Medication is helping but it’s odd thinking the above helps my mental health, yet I have to be somewhat mentally balanced to begin with, in order to do the things that will help me; it’s a bit of a catch-22 at times.

Being outdoors, especially in winter when the days are short. I live fairly rurally and get so much joy from things like seeing an owl fly overhead at dusk, or hearing them calling.

Enjoying our dogs - much of which is outdoors.

Making things, all the way from biscuits to a new dress.

Living in a friendly community where I know a lot of people.

A drive to the coast or country with my sister.. looking at the stunning views.. we do this at least once a week.. even in winter.
Also having an holiday booked and something to look forward to ( we are lucky we go abroad a few times a year) the sun is marvellous at keeping the depression away as well as great for the body and soul.

Swimming
Walking the dog
Cuddling the dog
Having time alone
Being outside
Keeping in touch with friends

No over-watching the news or doom-scrolling on social media. Doing work that I enjoy, and not working full-time. Not allowing toxics to be present in my life at all, even if they're family. Knowing when to get off the treadmill and relax. A good social life, & happy in my own company too. Reading saga fiction. At least some exercise. Nature & scenery. Enjoying time with adult DCs & my longterm friends. Sometimes its the little things. I got a lovely Afternoon Tea Set as one of my Christmas presents, I dont why I feel happy when I'm using it, I just do. Maybe part of no longer saving nice things for display or 'best'

I think this is really important to stress - sometimes all the self care in the world won't dig you out of a mental illness, and medication and structured therapy are actual life savers.

For me, it is a really good sleep routine - no phone in the bedroom, in bed by 10, up at 6.45. Reading, a lunchtime walk, time with people I love. Time on my own - I have a switch and I love to play on that. It relaxes me and stops me ruminating or catastrophising. I like to journal, but I am not consistent with it. I love to read and listen to audiobooks and podcasts. I love to sit in the garden with a brew and listen to the birds. Just tiny little pockets of joy throughout my day.

As soon as any negative self talk starts, I just shut it down - I imagine its Hilda Ogden, with her rollers in and a fag hanging out of her mouth, and it is easier to dismiss whatever imagined criticism she has for me today.

Pilates
My cat
Walking
Reading
Writing a couple of pages every day in a diary
Painting
Healthy, but not restrictive, diet
Cutting off toxic people from my life
Listening to 10 minute guided meditation on YouTube at the beginning & end of the day.
Accepting & understanding that I am neurodivergent and that my experience of life/the world is bound to be quite different from the majority of people rather than always thinking that there was something really wrong with me.

But also perspective: realising that my physical and mental health should always be my priority. Not work or what other people want from me.

It took a serious breakdown to the point where I contemplated ending my life to realise this.

I think we are conditioned, especially women, to ignore our needs and expectations and put everybody else's first and try to be 'busy' and 'productive' all the time. I think that approach has a dreadful impact on mental health.

Walking my dog, watching my son play football, chatting with friends.

For me it’s:

1. Exercise - this is definitely number one. I do an exercise class 6 days a week (sometimes 7!) Love every minute.
2. Healthy ‘clean’ eating incl. supplements.
3. 8 hours of sleep a night.
4. 2-3 litres of water a day.
5. Skincare routine with my favourite products.
6. Minimal alcohol.
7. Walks in nature, especially coastal walks.
8. Regular holidays - every 2 months or so.
9. Learning, especially through listening to podcasts.
10. Journaling / documenting my thoughts, ideas, feelings

The main thing is leading a calm, mindful drama-free life, where those I choose to have around me make my heart smile, and where I have plenty of time for self-care, personal growth and reflection. Though I dislike the phrase, I think “positive vibes only” sums up my approach to mental health. 🙂

Reading and walking (not at the same time though I have seen people do this!)

Two things are non negotiable for me:

1. A good nights sleep, with 8 hours set aside for sleeping.

1. At least one hour a day out walking the dog in the countryside. Preferably two hours a day.

If I get those, the rest tends to take care of itself.

Regular meetings with friends. Lots of laughs

I love how all the ideas are so simple. Maybe I need to be better at taking pleasure in the little things like reading a book. Thank you so much.

Sleep.
Exercise. (Cardio and strength)
Eat well.
Water.
Walk wherever possible and in nature at weekends.
No alcohol.

Organisation. And routines. Habits work so much better than waiting to 'feel' in they mood for housework, exercise, everything.

Knowing that all of these take time and not one day to rectify any mood imbalance.

Walking through the graveyard near my house. I usually go there in the evenings, when it's quiet. I read the names of the people on the headstones and take note of the dates. I think about the people who are buried there, what their lives were like, and about the people who must have stood by the graveside.

It reminds me of my own mortality and gives me perspective about the things I may be worried about.

I come away from there feeling calm and somehow refreshed.

Other people.

Yoga and pilates and yes, those forms of exercise specifically. I do not feel better after general cardio or gym sessions etc. Also having regular sauna sessions. We got ‘left’ and small infared sauna in our garage by the previous owners of our house. We think they couldn’t figure out how to move it. In any case, sitting in it for 20 minutes does wonders.

My faith in God. On the back of that, I do lots of other things such as help others - because serving is one of my giftings, worship through singing, socialise, keep fit, care for the family (all healthy adults hence why low on list!), walk in nature, listen to Abide meditations. However, when things are going really badly and I haven't got enough strength in myself to do any of those things, I can let God take the load. Believe me, I've had to do that a few times in the last 4 years! Even just knowing that he's there is a massive help.

Alone time is very important for me. If I have to endure enforced socialisation (weddings, funerals, wakes and Christmas), then I end up finding reasons to leave early. Needing to walk my dogs is a perfect excuse!

I retrained and technically work as part of a team, but we all work a lot on our own. I spend more time with animals than I do with people. Routine is key, for both me and the animals. Anything out of routine throws us all out completely!

I read a lot, write attempt gardening (I will grow my own fruit and vegetables one day, once I find out how to over-winter things and not kill them by accident), knit while watching programmes, play the piano, listen to music while doing other things, sew, windsurf... basically, if it is an unsociable hobby, I'll give it a good go!

Living very rurally helps. It's pitch black at night and I occasionally have to herd lambs back into their field (it's OK, I know where they're from), but it's so peaceful! I grew up in a village which is now being stuffed full of shiny new housing estates. It's so busy that it's awful, and I can't even take my dogs for a quiet walk in their favourite place, because that's now fenced off for building work...

I don't think gym exercise does, I do it, but as a health thing.

Being outside, gardening, walking, hiking. Making sure I'm fed and watered and had a good nights sleep. I'm feeling meh today and I know it's because I slept badly last night.

Walking the dog and seeing her complete enjoyment of it.