As people are asked to Wear It Green tomorrow (Thursday, 16 May) for Mental Health Awareness Week, Kate Robinson, our Physical Activity and Sport Development Officer has penned her thoughts on the importance of looking after your body to support your mind…whatever your age!
“We can all feel the ‘Sunday scaries’ before the start of the working week, this is completely normal, and it never turns out as bad as we think.
I was very fortunate to kick off my Monday morning at Ellergreen Community Centre where I was welcomed in by a very special group of men who meet weekly for a cuppa tea, some breakfast, and a good chin wag all in the name of combatting isolation.
As it’s Mental Health Awareness Week I was visiting with an important message that one of the most important things we can do to help protect our mental health is regular movement.
Even a short burst of 10 minutes’ brisk walking can boost our mood and increase our mental alertness and energy – which is exactly what we did!
We put on our dashing green t-shirts (see pic above) and enjoyed a lovely walk and talk in the fresh spring air, the local post man even took interest in us and our positive message.
The men were quick to open up and tell me how much they look forward to meeting each other every week, even after 5 years which is when Eric, who volunteers his time to run the group, saw the need for a safe space for men to come and chat about whatever is on their mind without judgement or expectations.
The men have gone from going in and not knowing anyone to a tight community of friends who check in on each other outside of the group session.
At the end of our walk one of men told me how much “walking clears your head. If I have anything on my mind, I’ll go on a walk and organise my thoughts and write some stuff down along the way, by the time I get home I feel so much clearer.”
If you’d like to get moving more, here’s some ideas to get started:
- When you’re beginning to move more for your mental health, set yourself small goals. It might be walking to the end of your street. Then you can push yourself a little further each day.
- If you are sitting for large periods of time throughout the day, set a timer to take regular breaks to stand up, walk around and stretch your body.
- As we get older, we sometimes forget that movement can be fun! Instead of thinking of exercise as a chore, embrace your inner child and find the joy in movement. Fun and laughter alongside movement will increase your motivation and the psychological benefits.
- You could also use opportunities for movement to meet new people. Check out what groups and activities are taking place in your area and sign up to join in. Being part of a club or team is a great way to increase your self-esteem and help reduce feelings of depression, stress, and anxiety.
- Taking time to rest is important for good mental health, especially if you’ve been using up a lot of energy. Try to prioritise time for rest and establish a regular, relaxing routine that lets you unwind and sends a signal to your brain that it’s time to rest.
- Focus on you and don’t worry about what other people are doing. For your own wellbeing, be kind to yourself and don’t feel pressured to keep up with someone else.
These handy 10-minute activity tips could help boost your mood and your energy levels – https://www.fitforme.info/10-minute-motivations/
Find support and tips on https://kindtoyourmindliverpool.co.uk/ or go to the NHS website at: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/
