Spring Cleaning for the Soul

As I’m sure many people have, I found myself draped over the couch in a state of pure ennui wishing for some precedented times.

My mental health had been blah, to say the least, but I had reached a point where I’d become frustrated by the way I felt and the grey outlook I‘d developed of my life.

I can’t say exactly what the spark was that finally got me off my backside, but I realized that if I wanted anything in my life to change, I had to be the one to change it instead of being thrown about by whatever malevolent, benevolent, or tricksy winds are out there.

Getting myself back on track is an ongoing process of small changes. I’ve found that for me, and perhaps for you too, small changes are the only ones that actually stick. Baby steps are much easier than some dramatic overhaul akin to a movie makeover montage.

This is all working for me so far, so here’s what I have to pass on:

1. Write it down

To get out of my funk, I had to work out exactly what I was feeling and try to pinpoint why. So, grabbed one of my (far too many) blank journals off my bookshelf, and I wrote. I let everything spill out onto a page with no judgement or particular regard for what was coming out. I just tried to let it all out. This works differently for everyone. Letting it out might come in words, pictures, colours, shapes… Just get whatever you’re feeling out.

It took a while to whittle down what some of these feelings actually were, but once I did, the writing continued. I tried to work out why I was feeling these things. While some causes were exclusively the domain of a skilled therapist, others were well within my abilities to try to address.

The first step to any change is to acknowledge what you are feeling and why. Honestly, this was not the most pleasant experience. There was a lot lurking in the darkness, and it only came out through a lot of tears, but when it was all done, I felt remarkably lighter.

2. Routine

Along with the ennui, the days seemed to all be bleeding into one interminable fog. Since I stopped working, I had lost the sense of routine that gave my days some structure and actually allowed me to get things done. Out came the trusty journal again.

I split my day into four little sections around my main meals and snacks and wrote down one or two little around-the-house jobs in each section. It was hard to get into at first. I had a complete lack of energy, but after a few days I started to feel a little better because I was at least moving a little each day, eating regular meals, and my house wasn’t falling into that depression-funk mess.

If that is all too much to heap on at once, I heard some great advice from a YouTube video (yes, I’m very wary of taking mental health advice from YouTube). The advice was to aim to make things better by 8 o’clock. Whether it was tidying, having a shower and washing your hair, anything at all, just aim to make things better by 8. Two chances each day to make things just a little bit better.

3. Eat healthy

As a lover of all things carby, salty, and fatty, this was a hard one to turn into a habit, and in all honesty, exact recipes and meal plans are going to look different for everyone. They will depend on your exact health needs, your activity levels, and very importantly, the kind of food you actually enjoy eating.

When it comes to healthy eating, life is far too short to be eating things you don’t enjoy. It can take a while to find the right recipes, but you can always find something that includes your favourite flavours and is also full of a healthy mix of carbs, veg, protein and fats.

It takes some research, and if you’re giving yourself a major diet overhaul, it is definitely worth speaking to a doctor, dietician, or nutritionist about it just to make sure you are doing the best thing for yourself and your changes aren’t going to have negative effects. We only want positive, constructive changes!

While you might necessarily think of diet as playing a role in mental health, it does. A healthy diet can leave you feeling more energised during the day, sleeping better at night, and help you lose that sense of fogginess, putting you in a better place to deal with everything.

4. Move

Now, I’m not suggesting you immediately sign up for a marathon. Let’s not get crazy here. Especially if you’re starting from scratch, it is important not to overdo it. This is one I do know from experience. I have a long history of getting far too enthusiastic about a new exercise regime and almost immediately injuring myself.

The important thing here is just to move. Even if it’s just a little at first. I started by just going for short walks outdoors in the mornings. If there is a beautiful place outside you can go for a walk, that’s wonderful. If it’s just a short yoga or Zumba video or whatever online, that’s fantastic too. Just get moving a little bit in a way you find enjoyable. If you’re struggling with injuries or not sure where to start, have a chat with a trainer of physiotherapist.

5. Sleep

Sleep is so important to functioning at all, not just for mental health. Generally, you need about 7 – 9 hours of good quality sleep to be at your best. Too much more is not great, too much less is not great. It’s a very Goldilocks and the Three Bears vibe. 7 – 9 hours is just right.

I reached a point where I was sleeping for 11 – 12 hours at a time and having a nap in the afternoon. I was not feeling great. I mostly felt like I never quite woke up. That left me feeling tires, irritable, and less able to deal with whatever was happening in my head.

I found that improving my diet and moving more frequently really helped improve the quality of my sleep and giving myself a routine really helped me keep within that ideal time bracket.

In the end?

Making all of these changes in my life have (so far) really helped me get my mental health back on track. Is it perfect? Heck, no. But it is better.

The really important thing to remember with any advice like this is that it is just what has worked well for one person. It may not all work for you as well as it has worked for me. Another thing to remember is that I didn’t make all these changes in one hit. It was tiny little bits over a couple of months. I added something else when I felt I was ready for it.

Be kind to yourself. Nothing has to be perfect.

Remember too, whenever you are trying to change anything to do with your mental or physical health, you don’t have to do it alone. If you feel you would benefit from seeing a psychologist or therapist, do it. If you are concerned about your physical health, see a doctor of physiotherapist. There are so many wonderful professionals out there to help us make our lives better.

There is never any shame in asking for help.