It’s no secret that I have been on a bit of a fitness journey for the last few months. I am delighted with how much better I feel about myself – I look more like the ‘old’ me and I feel fitter and stronger than ever before.
However, we’re currently in the depths of half term and I have four kids to entertain at home as well as all the usual household jobs that still need doing. Somedays I can feel that shouty, hormonal, postpartum mum coming back to haunt me. Small problems seem like massive issues and I get angry at the drop of a hat. I have been thinking about my mental health more and how to improve and protect it.
I make so much effort to stay fit and healthy and yet I let my brain turn into a pile of mush daily. My mental health gets placed at the bottom of the pile and I hope I don’t completely lose it before bedtime. So, with this in mind, it made me think about ways I can be more mindful.
Time alone
I’ve always quite enjoyed my own company but I am rarely alone these days and it makes me feel quite mentally jumbled. My thoughts are always interrupted by someone or something. To sit in peace and quiet would be a welcome break. Obviously spa days are amazing and a great way to shut off from the world but it could be as simple as sitting in the car and reading.
Being creative
My blog and my You Tube channel are how I like to express myself creatively. I have always been a bit creative and enjoyed subjects such as art, English and music at school. I don’t have as much time for it as I’d like at the moment and sometimes that frustrates me more than I realise. However, with the smallest children soon starting pre-school and nursery I am hoping I can pour a little more of myself into something I love.
Being outside
I know it’s a cliché but being outside really does do wonders for your mental health. As the weather has turned a little warmer recently I have been doing some of my runs outside and it’s my favourite part of the day. I can pop my headphones in, I have no-one needing my attention and I can think about everything and anything. When the girls were smaller I used to just enjoy a walk with the pram. However, since they can now talk the hind legs off a donkey and run as fast as Mo Farah it’s not quite the relaxing experience it used to be.
