Being Intentional and proactive in managing your mental health

We need to be intentional, proactive and consistent in preventing mental health challenges and managing our mental health, through reflecting and reviewing the following areas, which are within our control:

Thoughts

Thoughts reflect our self-talk, perceptions and interpretations.

How have you been thinking about yourself, other people and the world lately?

Are your thoughts hopeful, encouraging and kind? Are they mostly critical and discouraging?

Emotions

Emotions communicate what is happening in our system and how we are responding to circumstances around us. Emotions are sometimes a catalyst for the needed change or in maintaining what is working.

What emotions are predominant in your system currently?

Are you sad, anxious, guilty, lonely, angry, overwhelmed and frustrated most of the time? Are you encouraged, relaxed and at peace?

Are the current emotions functional for you and those around you?

Overall functioning

How are you functioning at home, school and/or work?

Are you always tired, demotivated, indecisive with poor concentration?

Are you motivated and achieving your goals and plans?

Behaviours

Are you engaging in behaviours that promote your mental well-being currently?

How is your time management?

How is your morning routine?

Do you plan your day?

Do you create time to think kind thoughts about yourself and to encourage yourself for what lies ahead?

Do you engage in healthy activities that help you to feel relaxed, peaceful?

Do you exercise?

Do you have a mental health day/afternoon/hour/evening?

Do you create boundaries between work and your home/social life?

Are you drinking or smoking a lot lately?

Are you always sleeping/struggling to sleep?

Do you need to consult a mental health care practitioner?

If you find that your thoughts are mostly critical, discouraging; you are sad, anxious, guilty, lonely, angry, overwhelmed and frustrated most of the time; you are always tired, demotivated with poor concentration, drinking or smoking a lot lately and you are always sleeping/struggling to sleep, perhaps it is time to review and change your mental health care plan.

Be proactive, intentional and consistent in managing your mental well-being. It is very important.

You may also find these websites useful:

https://www.sadag.org/

https://www.familylife.co.za/services

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