When was the last time you took a mental health break?
Now that life has picked up the pace to pre-pandemic levels, it is more important than ever to take a breather and check in on yourself.
Though life may seem to be ‘as it was,’ the effects of the pandemic and the post-traumatic stress response many are going through because of it need to be acknowledged.
Do you feel your life has changed? Are you finding it difficult to socialise or spend extended amount of time around people? Are you anxious about travelling? Do you feel your interests have diminished and your connections have lost their charm? Do you have low motivation or energy? All this could be indications of covid PTSR.
Add to that the cost of living crisis, inflation, war and political upheaval, it is no surprise that your mental health could be affected. Have you thought about taking a mental health break?
It could be anything, a few hours, a small activity, little bits of conscious self-care peppered in your day or week. A day off, or a week off, where you can explore a new place, get away from screen time, catch up on a book or take long walks, eat good food or reconnect with nature.
I booked a working week in Tasmania recently, where I would write for a few hours (details at the end) and spend the rest of the time exploring the cities I was in. I thoroughly enjoyed Hobart and Launceston and all they had to offer. I found my time there like a spiritual writing retreat, a chance to slow down and to see my life choices and circumstances from a different perspective. I have returned energised and have more clarity with where I am right now and how I would like to proceed.
When you get some distance from your place of work or where you live, your life’s issues and problems don’t always go away, you just see them differently. They may not appear so important or difficult as they first did, giving you new ways to deal with them or just being content with leaving them alone for a while until you have more information.
Going away for a short or an extended break may not always be an option. What can you do for yourself in that case? A spa day. A day trekking or going to a nearby spot which you haven’t seen before. Cooking, going to your favourite café/restaurant or joining a new group class. Making new connections or rekindling old ones. Journaling, learning a new skill or researching a new career path can shake off the inertia you may be feeling.
Sometimes, just having a candid chat with someone about everything that has changed or how much you miss the way your life was can be cathartic. You may think you are the only one who feels that way until the other person shares that they too echo your sentiments.
Maybe you can’t take a break in the near future, but you can plan for one. Planning a trip or getaway can help you manage daily stress and researching things to do can drum up the excitement that can help you ride out the time till you make the trip.
Sometimes, the best you can do is make small connections with those around you. When you thank the postman or say hello to the barista, smile at your server or wish a shop attendant a good day, it doesn’t only add meaning to their day, it also makes you happy and decreases your stress. You feel the external world is safe when you get positive responses from others. It gives you more control in your world as you work on your happiness and see that your surroundings are not a threat.
A mental health break, however long or short it may be, is not trivial and can do you a world of good.
Sandeep Adnani is currently writing a non-fiction collection of short stories, life reflections from a counselling perspective, that will be published in July 2023.
