04/06/2022
Mindfullness, gratitude, walks in nature and talking are all great for Stress and Depression
Feeling stressed out or depressed? The first thing that you need to do is to get some help, but in the meantime, there are some things you can do to cope with the situation and feel better in the short term. Mindfulness is an approach used by many therapists and psychologists, but it’s also something that anyone can do on their own in order to cope with stress or depression. Mindfulness teaches you how to keep yourself from becoming overwhelmed by your emotions and thoughts so that you can think clearly about your situation and make rational decisions.
What are the benefits of Mindfullness?
Focussing on the present moment and therefore giving your mind some things to concentrate on that are happingin in the present time, is a highly effective way to get control of your thoughts. Many have found that when they stop obsessing over the past or future and focus on living in the moment, they feel a sense of wellbeing not experienced since childhood. It’s something we all used to do as children; it’s only when we grow up that we start caring about what other people think about us, or what might happen tomorrow.
Do One Thing at a Time
Multitasking is a myth. Psychologists have shown that we can't do two things at once; we have to switch back and forth between tasks, using only about 25% of our brains for each one. Doing so makes us less productive and more prone to mistakes, since multitasking doesn't give our brains time to engage in deep work and absorb new information. When you're trying to reduce stress, you want to make sure your thoughts are given attention. If they aren't, they'll wander into stressful territory. Being mindful means being able to bring your focus back when it's been distracted by what other things you could be doing or thinking about - including solutions to your problems that might come up over time if you give them attention now instead of juggling work and life simultaneously.
Practice Gratitude Everyday
Cultivating a daily practice of gratitude is an excellent way to bolster your mental health. Learning how to appreciate all that you have can alleviate stress and depression, improve your overall wellbeing, and help you sleep better at night.
Talk To Someone About Your Feelings
Talking to someone about what is stressing you out or making you feel depressed is often the first step in feeling better. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or an Emotional Therapist, talking about your feelings is an excellent way of figuring out what is at the root cause of your moodiness. This knowledge can help you take the next steps towards living a healthier life and keeping stress and depression at bay.
Enjoy Nature Everyday
Going for a walk in nature is one of my favorite ways to practice mindfulness. It’s also a great way to get some exercise every day and it doesn’t have to be 30 minutes each day if you can't manage it—just a few minutes can make all the difference. Find something that works for you and do it every day, even if it’s just 10 or 15 minutes. It will make you feel better however if you can manage it, 30 minutes will not only help seretonin levels but it will boost your Vitamin D levels too. The problem with doing so many things in our lives (at work, at home) and keeping up with our busy schedules is that we never stop to smell the roses so to speak. So why not start doing so by going for a walk everyday? And if you want to add another 5-10 minutes on top of that, go ahead and do it—it’ll pay off dividends later on down the road when life gets stressful as well as other mental health issues such as depression.
And remember, if you need a helping hand, my first session is free.
