Can You Really Control Your Own Mental Health?

One of the questions that you have got to ask yourself when your mental health feels like it’s slipping is whether or not you can control it on your own. This doesn’t mean literally on your own without anyone around you, your support network is important! It means being able to identify what skills you already have that can support your mental wellbeing. It can take time to find out what is going to support us when we're feeling low but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try. Keep reading down below if you would like to find out more.

Reach Out For Help

Often, when we're experiencing mental health challenges it can feel incredibly isolating and lonely. We may feel like a burden to those around us or we may even struggle to get out of bed. Sometimes, it may be taboo in our culture to discuss our mental health. This is where reaching out for professional support might be a good fit. 

Professional help, whether face-to-face, online, or through an app, can help us to identify our positive coping strategies that we already have access to. It can be hard to remember some of the things in our lives that help us feel better when we're struggling. Talking this through in a safe environment can be especially helpful. 

Try Something New

Have you given much thought to trying new things that you haven’t done before? New experiences are either going to show us something new that we enjoy, or they are going to show us something that we don’t like, but either way we will know for sure. It might not seem like a good idea in case it goes badly, but it’s still one of the best ideas out there. You need to be open to new things, as the way things are going right now clearly aren’t doing any wonders for your mental state.

For example, we know that it’s not for everyone, but you could always look into going to cbd bars and giving this a go. Some people say that it helps them to feel more relaxed and better about themselves, so it’s worth a try. Other things that you can try include drinking special types of tea, taking up a new hobby, reading a book and so much more. Before you trial any new thing, it is important to talk with your doctor as there may be some unwanted side effects you were not expecting. Sometimes, it can make your mental health worse so it's always best to be safe and ask.

Exercise Often

Exercise is good for the mind as well as the body, and that is what a lot of people don’t seem to understand. It’s not just physical fitness that exercise is important for, but also mental and emotional. When you exercise, your body releases some of the tension that it has been holding onto, which will immediately make you feel better. As well as this, when you exercise your body also releases endorphins which are natural mood enhancers and painkillers. Even if it’s just for a little while, you’re bound to feel better.

Exercise doesn’t have to mean hitting the gym seven days per week if you do not want it to be. You can go for a walk that is as long as you want, or you can swim in the pool for a little while. You have got a lot of options here, as long as you are getting your body moving, that is all that matters.

Talk About Your Feelings

One of the things that people often do when they feel their mental health declining is to avoid talking about how they are feeling. This is done for a number of reasons, one of them being that they don’t want to feel as though they are a burden to those around them. It’s important that you don’t do this, and instead you let those feelings out. Trust us when we say that the people who love and care about you will listen to the same problems over and over if this is what you need them to do.

Talking about your feelings is healthy, and if you don’t do this, all that is going to happen is that one day you are going to explode.

Don’t Isolate Yourself

The final thing that we are going to mention is that you should not be isolating yourself from those around you. We know that this is likely your natural inclination to hide away, but you will only make yourself worse. Instead of doing this, stay around people as much as you can, as this will usually force you to do other things rather than sit and let yourself get worked up further.

You need to continue to do your regular daily activities as much as you can and this means continuing to do things with friends as often as you usually would. If you feel yourself struggling, get some company.

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and  now see some of the things that you need to think about when it comes to supporting your own mental health. Sometimes, you will be able to manage by yourself, as long as you keep doing the things that you know will help, even when it’s hard. We wish you the very best of luck, and hope that you manage to keep your mental health under control.

If you're struggling and want extra support, you can contact Lifeline at 13 11 14 or by text on 0477 13 11 14 any time.

And until next time...

Stay Curious!

Are You Compromising Your Cultural Exposure When You Travel?

While a range of reasons including sun, fun, and escapism most often contribute to our desire to travel, those of us with real wanderlust in our bones also often feel an urge to get lost in cultures other than our own.

Unfortunately, an increasingly tourist-focused travel industry, and its impact on countless popular destinations, means that cultural exposure is by no means a given. Plus, depending on how we choose to travel/act, we can inadvertently further block ourselves from the true cultural exposure that we’re hoping for. 

By leaving us lacking in memorable, unique experiences, this can quickly become a problem, and it’s one that you can begin to overcome by simply considering the following ways that you might be blocking yourself from cultural exposure right now. 

# 1 - Failure to Research

If you don’t take the time to research in advance, it can be impossible to get a full cultural picture of a country for the short duration of your trip. By comparison, hitting the internet in search of things like local food traditions, history, and even trends such as dress or sports as outlined on sites like https://sportnews.in/Football, can help you to embrace the best experiences throughout your stay. In fact, the more you know, the better able you’ll be to develop a trip itinerary that’s a true reflection of your location, instead of sticking to the same old things you do every time you’re away.

# 2 - You’re Travelling Like a Tourist

Travelling like a tourist is perhaps the most sure-fire way to miss out on what a culture has to offer. Everything from location choice to where you choose to sleep and even the areas you visit throughout the day will certainly struggle if you stick to the most obvious, tourist-heavy areas where locals wouldn’t even think of heading. To avoid this limitation, it’s therefore always worth choosing less obvious options. Luckily, there are now plenty of apps to help you here when it comes to things like where you eat, while even choosing to stay with locals instead of in a nearby hotel can help you get a true taste of what any country has to offer. 

# 3 - You’re Overlooking Local Languages

While there’s an obvious temptation to head to areas where English is a commonly used language, using this as an excuse to overlook even basic language learning while away can be another fatal cultural mistake. After all, languages are often steeped in the history and meaning of a place. Learning even a few words with the help of sites like https://www.duolingo.com/ can also help you to converse with locals who can recommend experiences you’d never find otherwise. In turn, you’re sure to have a far more rounded, authentic experience, as well as returning home with a newly acquired skill that keeps the trip fresh in your mind for a long time to come.

Culture can transform any trip. Make sure you aren’t limiting yourself by locking it out of your experiences in these ways! What are some of the travel mistakes you've made in the past? Share them in the comments below!

And Until Next Time...

Stay Curious!

First Time Couple? Here Are Some Helpful Travel Tips

As a couple, there is nothing which can be more exciting than the first time you spend a holiday together abroad. When you are dating, you want to spend as much time with each other as possible, and this includes going on holiday abroad for the first time as a couple. When you are getting ready to travel there will be a ton of excitement and anticipation, and here are some things to think about when going on the trip. 

Plan Your Trip 

Before you go ahead and book a holiday with your new partner, you first want to plan what you will do, where you are going, and how long for. The Travis visual travel planner is a useful app that allows you to curate your whole trip from start to finish in one place meaning you don’t have to have 15 tabs open in your browser at once! 

Prepare for the Flight 

Flights are something which if you have never flown before, can be pretty intimidating, to say the least. Flying with your partner for the first time will give you a sense of safety and comfort right away, but you will also want to think about bringing some entertainment onto the plane with you to pass the time. A deck of playing cards will be great because you can both play together and keep each other distracted, or you can download a movie onto your laptop and watch it with earphones in. Whatever you choose, it will make the flight go so much smoother. 

There Will Be Ups and Downs  

You will likely be preparing for your first couples holiday with the idea of romantic strolls on the beach, candlelit dinners and romantic gestures everywhere, but it isn’t realistic to think that everything will be romantic on holiday. In actual fact, this might be the first time you’ve both spent this long living together, and it is impossible to be romantic 24 hours a day. Expect some silence, some little tiffs and times where you both sit and do something entirely different for a while. It is normal, and it isn’t anything to worry about! 

You Might Get Stressed

There will be a huge ball of excitement building up when it comes to planning and being on holiday with your love, but there will also be some stress. You’ll have to decide where you will go, what you are packing, how much money to take and then while you are there you’ll be waiting for the other one to get ready to go out… there will always be some annoyances to deal with. But these little stresses will be nothing compared to the fun you will have together. 

Share Your Luggage Space 

If you are going to a hot country together, then you won’t need to bring too many layers, and this means that it is pointless carrying a suitcase each. It makes much more sense to share your luggage space if you can because it will save you money and time when unpacking at the destination. You won’t need to worry about forgetting your bags because everything will be in one easy to access place for you both. 

Save Up Together 

When it comes to paying for everything on your trip away, there will always be a worry that you aren’t contributing enough and you can feel guilty if your partner pays for everything. To combat this, make sure that you pool your funds together before you leave, and both pay an equal amount towards your spending money. While you are away, this means you both feel happy with contributing towards activities and you have more money to spend on things like meals out and fun activities together. 

Explore New Places 

It is always fantastic landing in an entirely new place and having the freedom to go and explore the area. When you land in a new place with your partner, be brave and visit new territory. Don’t be scared to try new activities and go where no one has gone before because it will allow you both to spend some quality time together and chat. 

Bond 

When you go on holiday, you will always have the ideal opportunity to spend as much time as possible with the other person, and this can allow you to form a more tangible relationship with each other. When it comes to you as a couple, you will have the chance to get to know each other on a much deeper level, and it can be one of the greatest privileges in the world. Having that time alone to be with only each other is precisely what you need to feel close, and you will come home having learned some more of their adorable quirks and loves.

Have you ever travelled with a partner before? What helped to make your trip a success? Share your stories in the comments below!

And until next time...

Stay Curious!

How to Get More Out of Each Day

When it comes right down to it, it’s probably fair to say that everyone wants to live the richest and most fulfilling kind of life they possibly can; with as much positivity, meaning, and fun as possible.

Ultimately, we all only ever experience the world moment-by-moment and day-by-day, meaning that finding ways to get more out of each day is an extremely important step to take when it comes to living your best life.

Whether you love the idea of getting out and about on more travel adventures to exotic locations, or whether you’re interested in becoming a successful entrepreneur, finding ways to thrive each day can be a game changer.

Here are some tips and suggestions for getting more out of each day.

Engage in Practices That Help You to be Here Now

If you look at many of the spiritual and philosophical traditions found around the world, you’ll notice that one very regularly occurring message is that being present in the here and now can be extraordinarily powerful — and that being too wrapped up in your own fears and projections can be very negative.

If you’re constantly exhausting and worrying yourself about what might go wrong in the future, or about what happened in the past that you wish you could change, you’re inevitably missing out on a lot of the purpose and contentment that can be found in the present. What’s more, you’re almost certainly missing out on opportunities in the here and now for improving things and steering a new course.

Engaging in mindfulness-boosting practices such as yoga and meditation can really help to enrich your experience of the present moment, and can open your eyes to a lot of its magic and potential.

Practice Gratitude Each Day

Most people, if they’re being honest with themselves, will probably have to admit that they take things for granted at least some of the time.

While life can be very difficult and stressful, finding the pinpricks of light and taking the time to express gratitude for them can be very powerful and uplifting, and can help to do a lot of good.

On a daily basis, pausing to reflect on what you’re grateful for can help to promote greater feelings of equanimity and positivity. It can also help to focus on the things in life that really matter the most.

Your daily gratitude practice could involve starting up a gratitude journal, or doing some quiet reflection just before bed, among other things.

Do Something Each Day That Takes Your Full Focus and Enthusiasm

Have you ever noticed that when you are completely immersed in some creative or constructive activity, you tend to not only feel significantly better, but also get significantly more done?

One of the most draining things that many people experience over the course of day-to-day life may be simple boredom and inertia, and it’s significantly more likely you’ll experience this if you are just coasting without anything much to invest yourself in.

Doing something each and every day that takes your full focus and enthusiasm — such as a hobby that you find really engaging — can add a lot of energy and drive to everyday life.

What motivates you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

And until next time...

Stay curious!