Suggestions for everyday therapy/ lifestyle modifications for mental health and wellbeing?

[twg]

(apologies, posting on AIBU for traffic)

Whether its January blues or something more chronic, I thought it could be a good idea to share healthy ways to look after our mental health/ well-being.

Without delving into detail, my life is certainly a bit crap at the moment and possibly the worst I have personally faced, yet no slack to make considerable modifications (i.e don't have the time to take up new exercise regularly etc). For me its situational/ work-related with limited time, and I just have to hope things will get better in a few months.

So to kick off with some ideas:

1. SAD mood lamp - recommended by a colleague who swears by it (also works in a high-pressure role and has faced similar stress)
2. candles / reed diffusers made for mental health / positive energy
3. houseplants - I'm not sure which in particular, does anyone know what is meant to particularly purify the air / be good for mental health?

Happy for people to make specific suggestions / share links. Ideally don't want people to suggest antidepressants or actual therapy at this stage...

Exercise
Keep warm if you can
Cut down on refined carbs
Comfort media (books/films/music)
Get a healthy amount of sleep (not too much/not too little)

Get outside every day even if just to feel weather on your face

Good sleep
Daily fresh air
Decent food
Meditation
Stretching
Moisturise

EFT tapping every day!
Some kind of exercise every day. I always feel better even if it's just some squats while the kettle boils!

Fresh air for sure. I have 2 dogs so am forced to go out multiple times a day but even when I am feeling really down I always feel somewhat better when I get back. Stick an interesting podcast in your ears for company.

This plus exercise and laughter, and drinking more water while cutting out / down booze . You could also replace moisturise with another self care act.

If I had to choose one I'd choose meditate. I've fallen out of practice and will be taking it back up this year.

On top of that, work out what energises/serves you and do more of it. And vice versa with what does not serve you.

Good nutrition, boost your diet with a multivitamin and mineral supplement.
Turn your home into your haven. Start with your bedroom, make sure you have a comfortable bed and pillow. Buy a fleecy under blanket, put a tissue with a squirt of your favourite perfume on your pillow.
Have somewhere comfortable to sit in the evening, even if you don't spend much time there. Make it yours. Find scented candles that smell lovely. Leave a book by your chair and read a few pages every evening.

If mobility is not an issue:
Reiterating the point about getting outside at least every weekday - preferably a short walk if you're not doing any actual pottering about or yoga in garden. Do it regularly enough and you'll feel its absence on days you just stay in!
If you find it dull, stick a new podcast series on or use it as part of a daily errand (go get the newspaper, for example).
I don't (think I) do any kind of mindfulness but I go for a furious march to the woods and back every morning after walking DS to school, it's brilliant.

These are all great suggestions, thanks everyone!

I have long commutes currently, perhaps I could get a nice car scent - any podcast recommendations?

Then have to spend long hours on the weekends/evenings at a desk at home - so thinking nice candles, SAD lamp, house plants (not sure yet which ones would be good).

This is what my 2023 is looking like for the foreseeable. Thinking of also getting a skipping rope and small weights to incorporate a little exercise at home prior to jumping in the shower or while the kettle boils etc to save time.

If people have particular suggestions/links, that would be great too!
Happy new year to you all.

Don't sit at your desk - stand.

Get outside (ideally in the morning) to get daylight and help your circadian rhythms.

Not sure why you think scent will help much, and candles and reed diffusers are usually pretty poor quality. If it is very important to you, you could burn essential oils.

If you are on a treadmill with work, make plans to cut back (even if it cannot happen for a while) so you feel more in control of your work-life balance.

I love listening to podcasts while doing chores - can make doing them enjoyable. My top recommendation for a lovely combination of interest and comfort listening is the Adam Buxton podcast. He's not going to be releasing many this year (2023) as writing a book but there is a HUGE back catalogue to get through and they do t date. I also like news podcasts like the New Agents, Rest is Politics and Oh God What Now but given the state of the world right now I'm not sure I'd recommend them for helping with well-being.

My other tip would be to do crafts/make stuff - of whatever variety you like the best (so could be baking / gardening over arts and crafts). Being creative and getting lost in a task really helps me stave off anxiety.

I've recently had some intensive trauma focused therapy and a lot of it was centred around mindfulness. It has honestly changed my life. Highly recommend the Headspace app if you haven't tried already. Daily meditations and mindfulness exercises, it's really not as much work as it sounds. Completely worth it.

Something else that's helping me is taking better care of myself. Doing my nails regularly, face masks, nicer make up. Etc.
I am a work in progress but every day feels happier and I feel a lot healthier.

For podcast recommendations, what are your interests?

You could try a wobble cushion for your chair when sitting for long periods - good for the core

@twg HI, I'm late to this thread but if you google NASA best plants for removing toxins it has good suggestions. Hope things have improved stress wise and would be interested to hear what has helped?