January is National Mental Wellness Month: time for you to check-in

By Rob Pearson

Contributor

It’s time to bring awareness to mental health disorders, break the stigma, and encourage anyone in need to seek help. It’s also a great time for you to check in on your own well-being, and we’re here for that.

You just got through the holidays, often a very stressful time of the year with overeating, preparing cards and gifts, maybe traveling or entertaining guests, an abnormal number of social engagements and not making time for yourself. Let’s begin to turn things around before it becomes untenable.

Find 10-15 minutes a day for yourself. During that short but purposeful time try to practice gratitude, communicate with a friend you haven’t reached out to in a while, get active, stop scrolling on your device, get outside, clean, stretch, meditate, check in with yourself.

Take time to find out what makes you happy or accomplished. Practice mindfulness by being present in whatever you’re doing. This may assist you in slowing down and can reduce stress. Set small goals acknowledging that you can’t overhaul your life immediately. Remember to use your support system when you need help. Set boundaries so you have time for yourself and are not always thinking you have to constantly be there for everyone else.

After you’ve taken care of yourself, continue improving your mental health by improving your life. Eat healthy. Sleep well. Manage stress. Visit your health provider. Volunteer at a local nonprofit that is important to you. Talk to family and friends. Try something new.

Reaffirm your purpose in life through service, work, hobby, family or elsewhere. Sense of purpose can help you live longer, be happier, sleep better and improve your health.

Really listen to those you are conversing with. Show compassion. Your responses to someone sharing a trying experience with you can assist both parties in the conversation. Instead of using the familiar phrases such as “it will all be fine,” “it is what it is,” “stop worrying so much” or “I know how to fix this,” try using more reaffirming phrases such as “I’m here for you,” “tell me more,” “I understand,” “I’m listening,” “this is hard” or “I hear that.”

Try some or all of these tips and you will successfully make it through ‘Blue Monday,’ traditionally the third Monday in January when the holiday stress subsides, credit cards need to get paid and a few pounds may need to be shed. Best wishes for the New Year!

Rob Pearson, M.S. is Executive Director of Mental Health America of the Lowcountry, providing daily adult group mental health counseling programs in Bluffton and Beaufort for clients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, PTSD and more.  Contact: robp@mhalowcountry.org , 843-415-9110