I have seen a trend with my clients these past few weeks, and felt a shift personally, towards emotional exhaustion, chronic fatigue, and feeling hopeless in the face of this ongoing pandemic!
With all this going on, it is NOT surprising that a lot of people are noticing their mental health status is being negatively impacted - which might look like increased levels of depression/anxiety, decreased motivation, or just an all-around lower mood than usual!
While battling with our mental health is NEVER easy, and sometimes it can feel like there is no end in sight, there are a few strategies we can partake in to try and optimize our mental health when we are struggling:
Practice self-compassion: you are not alone in this struggle, reach out to someone you trust for help and try to show up for yourself the same way you would a good friend in the same situation!
Cultivate gratitude: when we are struggling it can feel like everything is terrible, experiment with a gratitude list to try and remember the things in your life you are grateful for.
Moving our bodies: it does not need to be a full-blown gym workout or sweat session, I know this can be hard when battling with low moods. Try getting outside for a mindful walk or hike to re-connect with nature and yourself.
Fueling our bodies: choose nourishing foods to fuel your energy levels throughout the day, and know it is okay to add in fun foods you enjoy to fuel your tastebuds and soul as well.
Stay hydrated: remember fluids are important for our overall health, mental health included. Choose to sip on fluids you enjoy throughout the day, such as flavoured waters, tea, broth, smoothies, or diluted juices.
In the coming weeks, I will be spending a bit of time on the 5 nutrients we know are closely linked to our mental health: vitamin D, omega-3, zinc, magnesium, and B-vitamins. Chatting about how these optimize our mental health as well as where we can find them in our diet!
And remember - you are not alone in your struggle if you are noticing your mental health is being impacted right now💞
If trying to partake in all of the above strategies seems overwhelming right now, try to choose one or two to start and try to work your way up!