Does the thought of Christmas make you break out in a sweat? Does the sight of mince pies and Advent calendars in the shops start your mind racing even when Christmas is over two months away? It’s hard trying to juggle work, being a mum, and Christmas preparations and Christmas overwhelm and anxiety is real. But, there are three things that you can do to create an awesome Christmas and reduce your stress:
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Walking can see like the world's dullest form of activity. You know it's good for you, just like eating vegetables, brushing your teeth and making your bed. I get it, I'm not a runner, or bushwalker, or in anyway athletic. Which leaves walking by the process of elimination.
And yes you can walk to improve mental health and boost mood, but the challenge remains about how to make walking more engaging so that you want to keep doing it. A sustainable habit needs to be practical, doable and yes inherently motivating - ie enjoyable. Knowing that for me it meant I needed to be able to walk out the door, not drive to a spot and walk, I explored various ways of making the everyday route I walk something I looked forward to. And I'm going to tell you why, because the key components of walking and creating a habit are to do with enjoying the process, right? Have you been told you "really should" walk, but you can't seem to make it happen?
What stops you from walking? It's normal to feel hesitant or unsure about starting something new. In this article I share strategies to help you get out the door, what to do when you're feeling uncomfortable or feeling anxious about what lies beyond your front door.. Learning how to pay attention to your thoughts, feelings and experiences in a mindful non judgemental way, may be the key to all the changes you wish to make.
How do you move from overwhelm to calm? It can feel so daunting. All the steps, the time and energy involved. It's all just too much. Yes, there are many steps. Yes, any change requires time and energy, discipline and commitment. And yes, the thought of all these things is often enough to stop you from doing anything. But, what if you were to focus on mastering just one skill? Whether you want to reduce overwhelm, increase your health, increase calm, improve your confidence, deepen connections, or create more sustainable work habits, it all starts with this one thing. Self-care fatigue describes the exhaustion and guilt you feel when you can't fit self-care into your day or your budget.
Going out for lunch, getting your nails done or a massage, even going for a walk. When all you want to do at the end of the day is to put your feet up and watch TV Sometimes it is all just so far out of reach. And the pressure to do it is yet another burden adding to the daily overwhelm. The good news is that self-care doesn't have to be something else you fit into your day. Mindful, integrated self-care is available to everyone, because self-care is not just about what you do, but how you do it. It's not just about taking chunks out of your life, but making self-care integral to your life. What’s the longest you have every waited for anything? Life is full of waiting. You wait for concerts, wait for the RACV when your car won’t start, wait for the microwave to heat up your food. And many people seeking mental health support wait on waiting lists. How long should you wait for a mental health appointment? Recently one of my children attended their first ever music concert. Do you remember the first concert you ever attended? I think my first was Australian Crawl, my favourite was U2 at Festival Hall (I think), before they started touring stadiums, which my best girlfriend took me to for my birthday. (We had great seats and it was a magic night. It was amazing.) The tickets to see The Kid Laroi were purchased about six months ago. My child has been counting down the weeks, the days and then the hours. I’ve been listening to The Kid Laroi in the car for at least that long. They were dropped in the city to meet with friends around 5pm, lined up to get into the arena, purchased some merchandise, sat through two support acts, posted lead up photos in a private discord chat (so I didn’t see any, because I’m the mum), sat through a sound check by the act themselves and saw the clock hit start time – 9pm. And sat And waited And then at 9.35pm the show was called off due to The Kid Laroi being ill. All that waiting. I couldn’t do anything about their waiting. but I am trying to do something about people being told they have to wait for a mental health appointment. How long does it take to get an appointment with a psychologist?
I have had clients say they have been told to expect a year’s wait to get into a psychologist. Now this has been the most extreme example, but I regularly receive calls from people saying they’ve been told to ring around as they will need to wait months and months before being able to get help. This is problematic in so many ways. For a start, it’s simply not true. Whilst there are clinicians who are booked out in advance, many more aren’t. And while it’s really hard waiting for an artist who doesn’t show, it’s much harder sitting on a waiting list when you need support. If you've been advised to go on a waiting list, here are four questions to ask. |
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Disclaimer* These articles are provided by Kim Ross, Psychologist for general information and education . They are not designed to be used for therapy.. If you are experiencing stress please contact your GP or mental health professional.
AuthorKim Ross is an Online Psychologist and Founder of Positive Young Minds and Private Practice Sustainability. |