The Essential Guide to Understanding Why Mental Health Matters

How many times have you tried opening up about your situation? Wanting to be heard? Wanting to feel comforted?

Let me guess, too many times to count and think of, and every time you do, the right words don’t seem to come out but words of passiveness. Saying it casually or coolly but deep inside you’re screaming. When the choice left for you was to isolate and be away from everyone’s sight.

I did that and did many possible ways to get back on my feet but I was not feeling it. Time is slipping so fast and things are occurring and re-occurring only until you start to show up again and again until it feels like you are living again.

Indeed, it is not true, every day is a blessing in disguise. Every day is a new beginning not just New Year. It’s the moment you decide to wake up and make things happen based on the desire to reset and refocus yourself from the things that trouble you.

In the season of Isolation, this calls for a reflection.

My Entire 2023 reflected these actions and boosted my 2024 activities—the desire to reset and refocus on the years ahead.

One of the non-negotiables I have every start of the year is having the 5 key activities

1. A Journal Notebook – As a child, I have always kept a diary with me, and up to this day I always had one whether my day was good or bad, I try to write all things in it even the most menial things that I can think or feel at that time. I write.
2. A Yearly Planner – I was never a fan of having a planner. Still, it did help a lot when I started working, and eventually running my own interior design business, and as I explored these yearly planners. I would love to use Belle de Jour Planners
3. Gratitude Notebook – My Gratitude Notebook and Manifestation notebook are rolled into one and have transitioned as a reflection on how my life has changed
4. Didache, I purchased this book every year and even gifted to some of my friends. I enjoy reading it as a start of my day and reflecting on my life towards the gospel of the day or reading, and this helped me a lot as there are many instances that my situation reflects on the gospel as if God has spoken to me.
5. Notion – I have a dashboard that has worked for me for the past 3 years and these 3 years, many had evolved. Like an online diary for personal and business use.

Belle de Jour Planner

Journaling is 1 simple routine to help you release your expression through your pen. It helps you pent up your anxiety, worries, and the things that bother you. Writing as your self-expression reliefs the weight that you felt for the day or the previous days. It keeps you in check.

1. Set your Intentions – Let’s talk about your dreams and goals for the Next year + Your Business or Work Life through Online Journal or Written Journal. I do both but for my business, I use notion to help me track to help me achieve it. Having a journal helps gain clarity and releasing stress.
2. Your Toolbox – I have listed my 5 toolbox above that are non-negotiables to me, and if you are a beginner. I suggest you start with Belle de Jour Planner and a Notebook to write off your thoughts and ideas.
3. Routine – I have a dedicated 3-4 Hours daily to do some of my morning, afternoon, and evening routines. However there are instances when I can’t keep my self checked. I try to do my routines from Self Care to a Daily Walk

Starting an activie lifestyle, doesnt fit for everyone. Love wanted a slow burning activity that keeps them in shape from doing yoga or who loves doing marathons. As long as it keeps them in shape, and with that they needed some Apps to help them with it.

1. Bend – I use bend to help me in my daily stretching and after-office work mode,. It helps me keep track my daily activities on helping me boost my day and unwind in the evening and in between breaks. This has similarity of doing yoga for beginners to intermeidate who wanted to have atleast 5 minute stretching.
2. Nike Training Club – This app is are for all fitness levels and I prefer using this app whenever you are in the Gym or in a game.
3. Samsung Health or Apple health -The apps are integrated into your account and can monitor all your daily activities. As for me, I usually use my Android phone as I use it a lot in my everyday work and monitors my daily walk, which I aim atleast 5,000 steps in a day.

These apps are beginner friendly and can be customizable according to your preference and schedule and goal. I enjoy the Bend App as it works well for my daily acttivity and paired with my Android App in monitoring my daily walks and even water intake, which i have to inpute the data.

In a country where Mental Health is overlooked, and yet a crucial of one’s being. My turning point was in 2022 when things got out of hand when all problems seemed unending and I realized that I hadn’t been myself since the pandemic. I was literally surviving but never tried to address how I was feeling inside and it took me a year to even address the problem because I knew I could solve it, but No. I needed to pause and halt things. I can’t fill a cup when I’m leaking on my own.

Here’s some practices that healped me prioritize self-care:

1. Journaling and Reading Didache or related books – I started to pour things out all my emotions even it seems repeatetive and to keep my mental state aware. I’ve read and re-read a few of my past journals and what came and had not. Its a simple practice and yet effective for me to keep myself grounded and also keep emotions in check.
2. Physical Activity – It was simple treadmill walks for at east 45 minutes a day and if i have more time to spare, i go for atleast 2 hours
3. Setting Boundaries – I had been a yes person for most of the time, not causing any trouble which was opposite in my younger years, maybe as we get older we try to settle down on changing ourselves, sometimes it does harm than good, and this comes with a realization of leading me to have more boundaries. Took me several times to practice this, and eventually its getting better.
4. Letting Go of things I can’t control– One by one, I let go of the things weighing me down, and as each person and things ended their story in my chapter. I felt happier and eventually facing other concerns, one goal at a time
5. Prayers – Remember to keep your spiritual life in check to give you courage, wisdom and a grateful heart

Belle de Jour Planner

Keep you Area Clean, and a Calm Space for Mental Wellness

Your environement has a significant role in your life, whether you knowledge the benefits of how it can help you. Having a safe space that makes you feel calm and supports your mental well-being is a must for everyone.

1. Declutter your Space – Having a clutter free area reduces your anxierty, and improves your focus. Have you notice when you are in an area where its clean and clutter-free it feels surreal and it makes you feel at peace. Thats a sign that you feel safe and crave for peace of mind even for a brief moment. But why settle for a brief moment when you can have a routine where you can upkeep your safe space.
2. Add Natural Elements – Add some plants, a live or artificial can help you boost your space. Did you know that adding a plant in your bedroom or space can reduce the stress level and they “feeling” of burnt-out? Try these simple steps., and if you can have a natural light come-in, welcome it. The sunlight makes a lot of wonders on making you feel great the whole day.
3. Choosing the Right Colors – Its safe to suggest Use Neutral Colors from whiles to light browns. I may sound bias when you hear these but these colors are calming and soothing.
4. Zoning – Whether its your bedroom or Open Space Area, it doesnt matter. Keep the visual clutter to minimum and make sure that there are zones for every area and items for its intended use.. This helps you organize and also keep yourself in check on what you need and what you don’t.
5. Personal Touch – Do you enjoy decoring your space, do it minimally. Keep something personal in your decor.

Your home is your sactuary, a safe space for you to relax and enjoy!