We’ve seen a distinct change in the weather this week which implies that spring is on the way and we’re hoping that the longer days and warmer weather will begin to lift your spirits as we move out of a very long winter! That said, we know that the continued uncertainty of the coming months is having a toll of most of us, so we wanted to offer some practical advice for ensuring you’re taking care of your mental health. 

Focus on what you can control

Part of why we’re feeling so uneasy at the moment is that there’s far too much in the air that we have no way of controlling. Whether it’s when we’ll get to see friends and family again, when that wedding will be able to happen or when we’ll get to travel the world again, focusing on what we can’t control will only leave us anxious.  

Make a conscious effort to put your mind towards what you can control: set a daily routine that feels good; set a to-do list that feels plausible so that it’s easy to check it off and feel accomplished; commit to exercising once per day; do a thorough spring clean (one room at a time if the whole house feels like too much of a task); check in with friends and family for chat. 

Practice gratitude 

Whether you voice your gratitude out loud or jot it down in a journal at the end of every day, the simple act of giving thanks even for the smallest things will shift your mindset. Don’t let the bad parts of your day make you feel bitter, instead celebrate the good every time it happens. Eventually you’ll start to notice the good much more and realise that life’s still great. 

Breathe

We had a great session with Forever ambassador Kristina Rihanoff the other week to discuss the benefits of breathing and meditation. Even if you’re unable to commit half an hour to a full meditation or yoga session there are few who can’t commit to five minutes of breathing mindfully each day, and even this simple thing can do wonders for your mental health. 

Simply take yourself to a quiet part of your house (even if it’s just your bathroom!), set a timer for five minutes and get comfortable. Breathe in through your nose for a count of four seconds, hold for another four, breathe out for another four and hold for four more. Repeat until the timer runs out. Try to focus on the rhythm of your breathing and the beating of your heart. Take a few moments to wriggle your fingers and toes. If your mind wanders, gently bring it back to the here and now. All of this can really bring a sense of calm to your mind that’ll help you tackle the rest of your day head on. 

Nourish your body

Taking good care of your body can really help to lift your mood. While it may be all too easy to default to comfort food when things feel a little doom and gloom, you’ll actually feel all the better for eating healthy foods, drinking plenty of water and getting a good amount of exercise each day. Not sure where to start? 

When the Head Office tackled the C9 in January they created lots of healthy 600 calorie meals that are perfect whether you’re on the C9 or not. You can find sixteen of them right here. 

We recently released a Flavours of Forever video detailing how to make pancakes with Forever Lite Ultra, aloe & avocado on toast featuring Aloe Vera Gel and healthy Rocky Road bites with Forever Bee Honey for when you need a pick-me-up.