If you remember in one of my previous blogs (Mental Illness, Mental Wellbeing and Mental Health) I talked about the mental health continuum and the importance of focussing on improving our mental wellbeing. I want to share with you my go to strategy for combating low mood, feelings of nervousness and / or anxiousness, lack of motivation, lack of interest in doing anything and inability to find joy in things that usually I’d be buzzing about. It’s important for me to mention that I don’t have a diagnosable mental illness and I am referring to dealing with periods of low mental wellbeing.

Like most aspects of health and wellbeing there is no quick fix. No one size fits all ‘treatment’ and certainly no linear path to optimal wellbeing. The one consistent tool that has worked for me in my own continuous strive for mental wellbeing is exercise. After trying numerous other methods which I thought would be easier, and quicker, it always comes back to exercise. For me exercise has a positive domino effect on everything else.

When I exercise regularly I eat better.

When I exercise regularly I manage stress more effectively.

When I exercise regularly I have a healthier sleep routine.

When I exercise regularly I get on better with those around me.

When I exercise regularly I have more energy to get stuff done.

When I exercise regularly I have more creative ideas and solutions.

When I exercise regularly I am more productive towards reaching my goals.

When I exercise regularly I am more clear about what my goals are.

When I exercise regularly I feel like me.

This makes it easier, all I need to focus on is doing some sort of exercise on most days of the week and the rest will follow. I don’t need to become overwhelmed with worrying and focusing on all the things (of which there are hundreds) I should be doing to look after myself properly. Making sure I eat right, making sure I’m not getting stressed too often, worrying about relationships etc. This of course has taken time and practice to build up a toolkit that I can dip into when needed but It all starts with exercise. If I focus on that I don’t need to worry about the rest.

Unfortunately the debate between logic and emotion is ongoing. There are still times when however strongly I know going for walk will help, my emotions get in the way. It’s about gradually moving from exercising 1 time out of the 10 times you need to, to exercising 9 times out of the 10 times you need to. Remembering this isn’t a straight line from 1 to 9 and that achieving 10 out of 10, although very possible for a lot of people isn’t the goal. I’m very happy if I hit 9 times out of 10. It has taken practice for me to say and accept that.

Exercising regularly certainly hasn’t always been a consistent part of my life and I could argue it still isn’t but it works and it has certainly always been affective. From being a young teen and my Mum and little brother saying to each other ‘she’ll be alright and calm down once she’s been training’ referring to me having a teenage strop which always seemed to dissipate following a session on the track.

To University when I lost all motivation and interest in anything other than drinking and partying which as you can imagine didn’t have the greatest impact on my mental wellbeing. It took a while but having family and friends who I eventually listened to and who slowly supported me to get back into the gym meant I was able to finish my degree which on more than one occasion didn’t look too likely.

To now when during lock down I have struggled with all sorts of emotions, the unknown the feeling of not being able to help, do more or not being able find solutions and plan for the challenge we face.

I’ve gone back to focussing on what I can control and what I know will serve me well, my exercise routine.

If you are currently facing challenges with maintaining your mental wellbeing and need to seek additional support and advice please call the Samaritans on 116 123

If you are in need of urgent professional medical attention call 999

Additional reading and resources;

https://www.samaritans.org/

https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/

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The Power of Moving My Body