#118
In the last 3 years I’ve done countless things for my mental health.
I’ve tried a lot of different stuff in the pursuit of mental health, in the pursuit of good mental health.
In the pursuit of working out what that even means to me.
In this post I’d like to share some of the things I’ve done for my mental health.
I hope it's unique because I don’t think that many people have been on this pursuit, or maybe they have and they just don’t write about it.
I hope it’s unique because maybe most of the people who do actively work on their mental health are; therapists, coaches, “spiritual people”, “hippies” - of which, I’m none of these.
I want us all to work on our mental health, every day, like I’ve said a million times - like we do for our physical health. So I hope this is a good read.
I’m planning on sharing more details on specific things on my instagram (https://instagram.com/jdroutledge/) in future, but here goes, here’s the list. I hope this might be a source of inspiration, or it could be a reference list or it might encourage you to try something, or it might just make you think; “Oh I didn’t think of that, I’ll try that”. Anyway here goes.
Here are the things I’ve tried for my mental health:
* Journalling - long form writing with no agenda, completely unstructured. This was the first thing I did and still do it now.
* Drawing/Expression - drawing random things, squiggling, lines, patterns, circles. Do this occasionally still.
* Meditation - used Headspace initially. Mainly meditated alone with headphone in or sometimes on public transport. Try to still do it, but dip in and out to be honest.
* Group meditation - did this once (45mins) in a group. V powerful, would do again.
* Floatation tanks - basically sensory deprivation. Hour long, floating in salt water, lights off, no sounds, body temperature water. Just you alone, nothing else. Only done 2 of these in two years though.
* Sanctus Groups - a version of group coaching/therapy. A group of 4-8 people sharing their feelings and connecting. We do these once a month at Sanctus and I try to always go, exceptionally powerful and transformative.
* Gratitude - write down 3 things I am grateful for every day. Have been doing this for the last 8 weeks.
* General mindfulness - usually walking or sitting in a park with no phone, just trying to be present and take in the surroundings. I sometimes do walking meditations too.
* Coaching - working with a coach to talk safely and openly about how I feel. I used coaching initially with Victoria (first coach) to talk about my big existential question of: “Who am I?”. I explored this and was hugely valuable.
* Therapy - recently started and have done ~8 sessions. Absolutely love it, different to coaching, more vulnerability and more consistent. I’m doing it weekly.
* Yoga - love it. Often it’s so painful for me that I couldn’t think about other stuff if I tried. After a yoga session I always feel incredible and when I’m in that lying down bit at the end I feel brilliant. Always improves my day when I do it. Probably do it once a week at the moment.
* Boxing - taken up boxing recently. Incredible workout and find the intense focus of it quite mindful in a way, complete focus on the pads or the technique/combo.
* Swimming - not been for ages, but had a spell of swimming and found it very helpful as it’s good cardio with no stimulus because you’re submerged, very meditative.
* Reading fiction - I find that through fiction I empathise and connect with the characters in the books, so certain books are cathartic and therapeutic.
* Self-development books - read loads “self-help” books and I have learned a lot from many, yet I find I learn more and connect more through fiction than non-fiction.
* Running - I’m a rubbish runner and have never really managed to get the meditative value of it, once or twice I’ve felt the benefit.
* Hiking - Peak District/Lake District - getting out into the fresh air walking for a good 4/5 hours. I absolutely love it, it makes me feel alive.
I believe anything can be good for your mental health if you make the connection.
There have been times when going out and drinking 10 pints with my mates has been good for my mental health.
I’d like to write about some of the less “likely” things at some point too.
For now though, here’s my list, I hope it relates, reminds or encourages.
I’m going to write more detailed posts on insta about the individual things that really work for me.
Not sure what I’ll write about next, but it may well be the things that have been good for my mental health, that nobody ever talks about.
People seem to talk more about yoga for your mental health, than they do about relationships. In my experience your relationships impact and benefit your mental health far more than yoga ever could.
Or people might talk more about meditation for mental health, yet nobody talks about finding purpose at work. In my experience your relationship to your work impacts your mental health far far more than meditation ever will.
That’s for another time though.
Haven’t been responding to you guys recently, will get back to everyone soon. Please do connect still 😃
Cheers,
James x
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