Diary of a WFH Director - World Mental Health Day

Tomorrow is World Mental Health Day, and I believe this year it is going to resonate with more people than it ever has.

The 2020 theme is 'mental health for all', the aim being to improve access to the support people may need. And right now, with the hangover of COVID (I know it is still here), there is a substantial mental health epidemic coming out of this. And this epidemic has no vaccine, and it takes self-awareness, courage and us taking the first step.

I have not hidden the fact that I have suffered from poor mental health in the past and that the pandemic has impacted me regularly. 

I am not alone in this. 

Similar to physical health, everyone has a mental health scale. So similarly, everyone's mental health dips. It is about knowing where on the scale you are. Whether you just need to schedule in some downtime or activities that make you happy, or do you need to reach out for help and support. Either way, recognising and taking control of your mental health does not make you weak. It makes you brave and in the long run, strong, resilient and capable of so much more.

I am not a mental health expert. I would never profess to be. But I can say from experience that investing in my mental health has been one of the most valuable practices that I have ever done. I also have a fantastic cohort of friends, family and employees that are open-minded, compassionate and aware. This is invaluable. 

So my tips for this ( and most likely future) World Mental Health Day are:

• Surround yourself with people that nourish you and limit exposure to those that drain you. Relationships are a two-way street. And you have a choice about who you give your energy to. 
• This also counts for online stuff. If you are following people that are bringing out frustration, angry, making your hate yourself or questioning your existence, remove them!
• Use this time to reinforce your boundaries to keep your sanity safe. These could be working hours when your phone gets turned off, when friends or family contact you or how you like to be contacted. Simple things like adding your working hours to your email signature can make a difference as well as having DND on work apps after 5 pm or all apps if you choose.
• Schedule in joy daily. That could be making your favourite hot beverage at 11 am each day, having a hot bath or speaking to one of your favourite people. Then weekly something to celebrate the wins of the week, such as watching a film at home or go out for brunch with friends. Whatever it may be, do something that brings you joy daily and NEVER forget to celebrate the week. Book that in.
• Take a holiday. Yes, I know the world is a bit upside down at the moment. But that doesn't mean you have to work yourself into the ground five days a week because you can't go to [insert your fave destination here]. If taking a Wednesday off means, you get a day without the kids so you can pamper yourself or can go somewhere when it is less busy then do it.  
• Talk to people. Do not bottle up when you are not feeling yourself. Regardless of what others are going through, your feelings are also valid.
• Suppose you can't find someone in your immediate friends or family to talk to then reach out. There are so many charities that offer support from Boys Get Sad Too, to MIND and even specialist group charities like Macmillans or Ripple Pond. But please do not suffer in silence. 

So that is my 2p worth. I would love to know what you do daily, that brings you a smile. Other than that - stay safe and as sane as you can.