Do you take care of your mental allotment? ????

Abi Manifold our Head of Organisational Development shares her tips on how she nurtures her mental allotment and sets boundaries both in personal and professional environments, which is key to mental well-being.

We often think of mental health as something that becomes a problem when there’s a crisis. I believe when you feel as though you are in crisis, this can be the worst possible time to think about mental health. You can’t think clearly if an unwanted or unhelpful emotion has hijacked your brain and, sometimes, the problem is so big that it needs help or an urgent solution.?

The best time to think about mental health is when you’re feeling fine. I like to think of your mind like an allotment. Allotments need care and attention in the way of digging, watering, planting and weeding, if we want them to be productive. We can’t just expect it to grow with no tending or wait until plants are failing to then take restorative action.??

A massive influence on your mental health is all the background maintenance and nurturing, so that you experience fewer problems in the first place. So, in your mind-allotment; what are you doing to make sure your soil is good, it’s consistently got enough water, has plants that can grow happily in the right sunspots, and that weeds don’t grow massive and take over??

There are loads of ways to maintain good mental health and sustainability is the key to many of them.?One great sustainability tool for the allotment of your mind is having boundaries. Boundaries are your allotment's raised beds. They give control to what can grow and where, and keep it organised.?

Boundaries get a bad reputation sometimes because of inter-generational perceptions of ‘wokeness’ and what they really mean. Boundaries can also feel affronting to someone who’s never had them before – but they’re not. They’re also not just for TikTok influencers. As long as boundaries are fair and nobody is getting harmed by them – go ahead and set your own.

Here are three positive boundaries you can consider for sustainable mental health and well-being:?

1. Protect your energy – If you’re in a great mood, ace! Don’t let the mood-hoovers get in your head. They don’t need to occupy space there rent-free. That’s a boundary you can build now. Nobody can see it but you can feel ALL the time! I call this the Snowstorm Boundary – because my good energy is safe inside my glass bubble, nothing gets in that I don’t welcome in!?
2. Work Life balance – it’s been a buzzword for decades now and we all know what this means. But how good are we at actually doing it? How many times did you check Outlook on your phone this weekend? Do better!?
3. Stop trying to be perfect – know that it’s OK to say you don’t know something, that you changed your mind, need help or aren’t sure. We would call this the boundary of Accepted Imperfection – and once you nail that, you stop needing to be right or perfect all the time.

This mental health awareness week and beyond, prioritise your mental allotment and be sure to check on others around you.??

If you need support or you are seeking urgent help, then please seek professional help from below:?

Call Samaritans on 116 123 (UK-wide)?

Text SHOUT to 85258 (UK-wide)?

Call C.A.L.L. on 0800 132 737 (Wales only)?