Blog

2nd October 2020

Weekend triggers...

Many people manage to stick to their goals regarding food, alcohol and exercise throughout the week but find that they come a cropper at the weekend. Why is this? One of the reasons is down to routine. Midweek people often have a regular routine in relation to food, work and school and these timekeepers can serve to keep our habits in check.

At the weekend there may be no routine or an alternative routine. If we want to increase our chances of keeping habits up at the weekend then we need to keep our 'autopilot' in check. We often look forward to the freedom of the weekend and unplanned time but this can leave us at the mercy of sponteneity in relation to our behaviour.  There is no reason why you cannot have an unplanned weekend and stick to your goals. The key is to select a time in advance of the weekend to choose what you would like to do in advance. For example, if you are trying to reduce your alcohol intake then perhaps you could choose to do an activity each weekend morning that would not be compatible with having a few drinks on Friday and Saturday night. Perhaps it is a trip out that will involve a drive or some moderate exercise for which you need to feel refreshed.  We often think of freedom as unplanned and spontaneous but look back at your life. Often the unplanned and spontaneous is what keeps us trapped and prevents us from spending our time in the way that we truly want to. We have a lie in and forego a cycle ride that would have given us more pleasure and improved our health. Ironically it is planning that allows for freedom. By holding ourselves in mind and  noticing what would really make an enjoyable weekend, we are able to prioritise activities that we enjoy and make the time and space to allow them to happen. Have a fabulous weekend.

1st October 2020

Choosing where you shine your light in the dark...

One of my favourite fables is of the father who wakes his two sons up on Xmas morning and takes them outside to a pile of manure.  Son 1 looks at it in disgust and asks 'What am I supposed to do with that?' He walks away dismayed and disappointed. Son 2 looks up at his father excitedly, eyes like saucers and a wide grin. 'It must be a huge horse,' he says.

In these difficult times it is so easy to turn our gaze to what is missing, to what we have lost and to how simple things can now seem such a struggle.  It can make a huge difference to our well-being when we notice that it is within our power to 'choose where to shine our light'. Just like using a torch in the dark where we choose to put out attention is key to how we feel. 

One method of 'noticing the good' is to keep a gratitude journal of 3 things each day for which we are grateful.  Research has show that this can indeed shift our gaze towards  'the good' and in doing so enhance our neural networks associated with helpful and positive experiences.  This is enhanced further if we make a note of why we are grateful for these things.

Managing your mental health is not always about taking big action. Small things practiced repeatedly make a big difference. After all that is how children learn to walk.

So give it a go and while your at it just make a note of how you feel afterwards.  Notice the difference it can make.