2020 Will Be The Year Of Mental Health
I’m calling it; The new year will bring with it a focus on our minds. For years I’ve watched people preach about physical health to anyone who would listen. It’s time we broaden our focus to include mental health. We shouldn’t talk about them separately anymore. Health must, by default, include Mental + Physical health.
You can’t have physical health without mental health. The two go brain in skull.
It has taken me many years to understand that placing myself at the top of the priority list is important. You need to start putting yourself at the top of your priority list, especially when it comes to mental health. I have spent the past few years talking openly about seeing a psychologist, battling with physical illness caused by stress and a severe struggle with anxiety.
I believe that 2020 will be the year that Mental Health finally becomes the missing puzzle piece for most people.
Right now, mental health is something that people talk about in the corner of the room, in the dark alley or in private chat messages just in case anyone catches on that you might be having a tough time. It’s time we welcome the conversation about our mental health, good or bad. I wear my mental health improvements as a badge of honour. I can’t stop talking about what I do to keep sane and healthy both physically and mentally. I want to hear more people discussing their version of mental health and what works for them.
Things that are going to be cool in 2020:
6-8 hours of sleep every night. EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT.
Working reasonable hours
Enjoying downtime to rejuvenate your mind and creativity
Eating a healthy meal every day
Daily exercise
A calm mind and meditation
Things that are dead in 2020:
Ego
“Killin’ it”, if you’re struggling, talk about it
Stress-induced panic
Work-induced anxiety
Lying about how busy you are
Using “Busy” as an answer to the question: “How are you?”
In particular, men are very against asking for help when it comes to mental health. I know very few men who even acknowledge that your emotional state exists, never mind needs help. 2020 must be the year that we start to seek help and speak openly about our successes and difficulties in overcoming our problems.
Everyone who lives a high-pressure life (most of us) needs an outlet. Find yours. It could be pottery, team sports, walking your dogs, painting, reading, cooking or anything else that moves your mind into a new paradigm when you get home from work.
On that note, go home more often. If you answer one more email, you’ll get one more reply. The cycle is literally never-ending so you may as well wait until tomorrow when you’ve had a good night's sleep to get back into it.
Nothing is that urgent. That email can wait until tomorrow and if it really can’t, they’ll call you.
We all know that one person who makes us think we’re not doing enough with our lives. They manage to run, meditate, work, read, write and play with their kids/dogs/friends. How do they do it? They put themselves first.
2020 needs to be the year that you put yourself first and prioritize your mental health.
