Now that January is upon us, it’s time to turn our thoughts to the next challenge in our winter Wellbeing Campaign. So far we taken on the challenges of Eat Well in September, Stay Active in October, Sleep Well in November and Connect with Others in December. And we have learned and hopefully put into practice the many tips and words of advice during these months to help us to stay healthy in all aspects of our lives. Four months down and four to go! We’re halfway there already!
Joyful January brings us the new challenge to Begin Doing. So what does this mean exactly? Well, it basically means to start doing something that you’ve thought about doing or maybe planned to do and just never got around to it. In January, Wexford Mental Health Association is encouraging us to get going and do it and not to put it off any longer.
Joyful January -Begin Doing Top Tips:
* Volunteer
* Make a phone call
* Visit someone
* Send a text
* Look up social activities of interest to you
* Meet someone for a coffee
* Send a card
* Exercise
* Read
* Look up courses online or locally
* Write a ‘to do’ list
* Prioritise tasks to do
* Set goals
* Set deadlines
* Play music while cleaning
* Take breaks
* Reward yourself
* Share your goals with a friend or family member
* Minimise distractions while you work
* Try out something new
* Keep a diary or journal
* Thank someone
* Pay for a coffee for a stranger
* Get a copy of the Great Places and Spaces guide and visit some of the beautiful places on our doorstep.
If the task you’ve planned seems too big or too daunting, why not take it in small steps? Begin small, spending maybe a few minutes at the task at first until you become more used to it, lengthening the time you spend at the task as you feel more and more comfortable with it. It might help you to commit some time to the task or activity and keep to that time at first. Then it is useful to break the task down into manageable small steps so that you won’t become overwhelmed by what you’ve taken on. You might also like to make a commitment to a family member, friend or a workmate?
The power of positive social pressure can be a good way of keeping you going with the task and it is always helpful and encouraging to have someone to share things with, isn’t it?
If your choice of task or activity can become a little boring at times, why not play some of your favourite music to keep you going? You might also choose to reward yourself at the end of the task or activity, this might be just what you need to spur you on! Deadlines can also be useful to focus on so that we reach our target-then we can celebrate our achievement!
Wexford Mental Health Association is grateful to Ciaradh Walsh, Senior Occupational Therapist HSE and Board Member of WMHA and Aislinn O’Leary, LINK Coordinator , HSE and Board Member of WMHA for the very comprehensive list of Top Tips for Begin Doing that we are going to use to help us all to Begin Doing in January. Whether we work through these Top Tips or choose a few on them to focus on, we are sure that our January will indeed be really joyful and will help us all to keep healthy and well for this first month of the New Year!
Why not let us know of how you’re progressing through January’s Top Tips! We’d love to hear from you!
