Living in Nigeria, and in a crazy city like Lagos, keeping your sanity in check can be quite challenging. COVID-19 and lockdown also didn’t make things easier, as the number of mental health patients skyrocketed around the world. More cases of anxiety, depression and suicides were recorded.

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, and in the light of how 2020 has been, how do we look after our mental health? Making simple changes to your life does not have to cost a fortune, or take too much of your time. Check out the practical tips below:

1. Talk about your feelings - It is quite common for us to answer the question “How are you doing?” with “I’m fine”. However, when you’re really not fine, do you talk about it or mask it all up? Talking about your feelings can help you stay in good mental health and wellness. Do you know how they say a problem shared is half solved? Well, to a large extent, it rings true. Talking about your feelings doesn’t make you weak, but rather, it makes you accessible to the care or listening ears that you may need. It may feel awkward at first, but make talking about your feelings, to people you absolutely trust, be something you do.

2. Stay active - There are numerous benefits of exercise, and mental wellbeing is one of them. Staying active and fit helps to clear your mind and leave you feeling refreshed. Feeling anxious or depressed, try going for an evening run, or cycling or dancing - it will help improve your self-esteem, help you sleep better and concentrate better. It also would help keep the rest of your organs and your brain active and alert. 30 minutes exercise, 5 times a day, is most advisable. Try to make physical activity part of your day-to-day.

3. Eat well - Never underestimate the power of healthy eating. There is a strong link between what we eat and how we feel, for example, caffeine and sugar are known to affect our moods. A diet that is great for your physical health is also great for your mental health. Healthy eating should consist of lots of fruits & vegetables, nuts & seeds, wholegrain cereals or bread, omega-3 fishes, and plenty of water. Eat at least 3 times daily, and drink plenty of water (at least 3 litres every day). Limit high-caffeine or sugary drinks, as much as possible, and also reduce your alcohol intake.

4. Don’t be shy to ask for help - We all get tired and overwhelmed some times, and it’s completely okay to reach out to other people for help. Your family and close friends may be able to offer a listening ear; try to delegate duties if you need to. There are also local and international mental health counselling services that might be able to help you, e,g Mentally Aware Nigeria, Better Help, etc.

5. Take a break - Life does get busy sometimes. There are tons of tasks to carry out per day - kids to attend to, work tasks to carry out, the family you need to visit and check-up on, and a couple of errands to run. We get it, completely. But, it’s also completely acceptable to BREATHE. A few minutes of pause in-between tasks can be enough to de-stress you. Give yourself some ‘me time’.  A change of scenery is also great for you. Take a deep breath and relax. Yoga or meditation can also help greatly. Always pay attention to your body - if you are really tired, allow yourself to sleep. Sometimes, the world can wait.

Do you need urgent mental or emotional help, or do you know someone who does? Help is available, and you are definitely never alone. Talk to someone today, it’s the first step to recovery.

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