5 steps to mental fitness with Lorraine Pascale
Everyone deserves to be happy and fulfilled and being mentally fit helps with that. I have used these techniques for many years to maintain my own mental fitness but if you are really struggling, always seek help with a professional. The website Mind has excellent resources to enable you to get back on track and become the best version of yourself and have more peace in your life and at work.
MEDITATION
Meditation is one of the most powerful things you can do. People often think they cannot sit still for long enough but think of how long you can sit on your phone mindlessly scrolling through social media. Download Calm or Headspace and start with just a 5-minute meditation a day.
GENTLE EXERCISE
If the gym isn’t for you, how about a gentle walk? Or, perhaps you could join a local netball team or find a friend to play tennis or badminton with? Don’t be afraid to experiment but do give something 6 months or so as finding the right type of exercise can take time.
TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS
The people we surround ourselves with can make us or break us. If you are in an unhealthy relationship it can drain your energy, make you doubt yourselves and leave your head in turmoil.
If you are surrounded by people who do not make you feel good about yourself, spend less time with them. If you cannot physically distance yourself, emotionally distance yourself instead. Tune into YouTube, Instagram and iTunes and listen to podcasts which resonate with you and make you smile.
YOU CANNOT POUR FROM AN EMPTY CUP
If you are giving your all to others and forgetting to look after yourself, your physical and mental health will eventually suffer. Check in with yourself every so often and learn to say ‘no’.
Learning that ‘no’ is a complete sentence was the biggest lesson for me and has helped me to create healthy boundaries. The more you practice saying ‘no’ the easier it will get.
POSITIVE SELF TALK
How does the voice in your head sound? Is it kind and forgiving or harsh, aggressive and demanding?
Negative self-talk can be debilitating which is why it’s important to counteract it. A good way to do this is to write down your negative feelings in a journal and then scribble over them with positive things to challenge them.
