With one in six people in the UK experiencing conditions like anxiety and depression each week, a wellbeing expert has provided ideas to help people boost their mental health – which cost a penny.
Counsellor and author Lynn Crilly said: “With the days getting shorter and darker, winter can be a hard time for some people particularly as we’re less likely to get outside and socialise. This can lead to us feeling cooped up or lonely
“With little sign of an Indian Summer this year, September being four times wetter than usual and October looking bleak, there is a risk that we could see an increase in lower moods, anxiety and depression.
“Coupled with the constant barrage of negative news and worries about everyday living costs, not to mention the increase in energy prices, it’s important to have a ‘mental health survival kit’ of ideas or activities to see you through the difficult days.”
With worries over money often a leading cause of poor mental health Lynn, who is an ambassador for the mental health charity SANE, and her followers have come up with suggestions if you struggle over the winter months:
- Start a monthly book club with friends, where you not only explore new books together but know you have a regular meet up every month to look forward to.
- Walking in and around nature. Whether alone or out with someone, this can be really energising and release those feel-good hormones.
- Get Crafty! Whether it’s drawing, colouring or perhaps getting arty with some old clothes, whatever your level crafts can be fun and therapeutic.
- Teach yourself a new hobby using YouTube. Whether its knitting, crochet or even the person who taught themselves tap dancing, the internet can be a great way to learn a new skill or hobby. And if it’s exercise, that will help boost your mood naturally.
- Cook healthy hearty meals from scratch that will fuel the body and mind in a positive way rather than eating lots of ready meals and junk food. It’s vital to eat well, and winter is a chance to learn, or improve your cooking skills and potentially save money through batch cooking and healthy ingredients.
- Whether in a class environment or in your own space at home, practising yoga and mindfulness can really make a difference to how you are feeling and clear your mind. There are loads of good resources on YouTube, including popular channels by @CatMeffan and @yogawithadriene
- I love reading a good old fashioned book. A good book allows you to lose yourself within its pages. Charity shops have an array of books but the local library is often an under used resource. It’s also a good chance to get out and talk to other people and perhaps find a new local group. Community libraries are no longer the places of silent study.
- It’s good to know what’s going on in the world, but right now it feels like we’re constantly being bombarded by negative news. It can be hard sometimes to look past that, so maybe switch it of for a few days have a social media break and go back to life before technology which will hopefully allow you to recharge
If you’re still feeling down, Lynn recommends her top tip for all year round. “On the days I find myself struggling, I think about all the things that I do have, rather than what I don’t have.
“We can become consumed in what other people are doing, particularly in the unrealistic world of social media influencers, that we look past our own lives and the joy we can find there.
“As a counsellor, I don’t believe in suffering in silence. If you are worried, or perhaps worried for a friend, talk to someone who can offer professional help.”
