HOBBIES THAT MIGHT HELP to improve your mental health

Get out in the sun. Away from work that is! Activities such as hiking and gardening throughout the summer months can be a great way to improve mental health. Studies show that being in sunlight can help boost the body’s serotonin production. Serotonin is the naturally occurring neurotransmitter that plays a part in regulating our moods, according to Harvard Health Publishing.

Reading. Not for everyone. However, reading allows you to escape from a chaotic and busy lifestyle. It also happens to be a great hobby if you have anxiety. Reading can help distract you from negative or intrusive thinking you may be experiencing.

Exercise. When we exercise, our brains flood with endorphins that boost mood, that’s according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Not only does exercise boost mood, but it also allows any unwanted aggression and frustration to be released.

Understanding The Facts

Myth: You have to be mentally ill to think about suicide

Fact: 1 in 5 people have thought about suicide at some time in their life. And not all people who die by suicide have mental health problems at the time they die. However, many people who die by suicide have struggled with their mental health, typically to a serious degree

Cooking. It offers a level of emotional relief that other hobbies may not. According to Frontiers in Psychology, cooking can help you relax and boost your happiness. I suppose I have always enjoyed the eating that comes from cooking. With each dish, you feel more self-reliant and confident, not to mention the social connections you can make when serving it to others.

Journaling. That’s not the type of writing that you see throughout this magazine. It’s the activity of regularly documenting certain situations to allow a release to occur. It’s often recommended for those with anxiety, depression, and PTSD. You don’t have to write a novel; research has shown that journaling for as little as fifteen minutes daily can help reduce anxiety. For example, writing about an incident at work that caused anxiety may allow you to feel a sense of release.

Signs That A Colleague Could Be Struggling

• You get radio silence

• They seem down

• They get emotional more than normal

• They keep cancelling plans or changing meetings

• Changes in performance/ lack of motivation/ inability to concentrate

• Extreme mood changes of highs and lows

• Significant tiredness, low energy or problems sleeping

• Working longer hours than usual or trying to do too many things at once

• Not taking care of personal appearance or leaving living space untidy/unclean (if this is unusual or out of character)

How to help

• Let them know that you’re happy to listen if they ever want to talk about anything

• Mention some mental health services that can help or offer to go with them to a session

• Encourage them to speak to their GP about how they’re feeling

• Check in on them by messaging or meeting up when you can to check if they’re okay

• Be patient with them, it might take some time for them to feel like themselves

Visitors join us every year to celebrate the carpet of flowers