RECHARGE, REFLECT AND RECONNECT Together, Lets Talk @ The Check In
There’s no better way to reflect than at our HQ on Freston Road!
At Fit For Life Youth, we are excited to announce a new beginning for our 16-25 year olds, looking to improve their mental wellbeing. We are dedicated to creating an open, non judgemental and friendly community where you can feel safe and comfortable speaking out about your experiences.
Come along to The Check In at our HQ every Thursday and Friday from 10-12pm where we welcome conversations on both mental and physical health, want to support your journey and offer a free gym session with an open space to talk. We can’t wait to see and support you!
Mental health and the importance of down time
Life can be overwhelming and often comes with many surprises which can cause us to burn out. At times, we can feel like we are imploding slightly and our busy minds feel too full to navigate anything! But this is when we should be ‘’selfish’’ and put ourselves first.
Maybe there are exams coming up or job interviews looming? Perhaps projects are in the making and it feels like there are not enough hours in the day, or it could be that social pressures are keeping you in a constant mental cycle? All of those things will naturally cause chaos in your minds, leaving you to feel emotionally and physically drained!
In these moments, we should be listening to our bodies and think about what we need. Sometimes this is going for a run, going to the gym, participating in other activities such as yoga or going for a walk but sometimes our body just needs rest.
LISTEN TO YOUR BODY
We all hear and talk about ‘’rest days’’ but this doesn’t necessarily mean just physically - it means mentally too. Rest days are also very different to each individual. So, even if we are not gym enthusiasts or train 6-7 days a week, we still deserve and need time off!
The reason rest days are so important is because it allows us to have the time and space to recharge, reflect and reconnect with ourselves. These are 3 powers that are unlocked by setting aside regular “me” time. It allows us to unwind, navigate our emotions, improve our sleep, relieve stress and provide mental clarity. Which, in time will also allow us to understand ourselves better by recognising what we need, making better life choices, being more productive and living in the moment.
Give yourself permission to do NOTHING
‘’Bad days’’ are okay. Unproductive days are okay. If we are tired, lethargic or slouchy and our bodies are saying NO, that is okay! We are all human, it is important to go easy on ourselves from time to time.
However, it is so important that we are taking these days off fully and making the most of it. By this I mean, GUILT FREE. We should make a habit of telling ourselves, ‘’today I am taking a day for myself’’ and give ourselves permission to do just that. Otherwise, we will only be draining our batteries more by being stressed about ‘’doing nothing’’ and causing emotional burnout.
How To Be More Comfortable Spending Time By Yourself
Spending time alone can be harder for some due to many reasons but practice makes perfect! To become more comfortable in your own space, I believe we should firstly recognise what makes us feel good. Whether it is reading, listening to music, going for a walk… make a note and start from there. It is important to focus on the things that make us feel good because otherwise, what is the point! When we are enjoying ourselves and involved in activities, I feel that we naturally reflect happier emotions and form a better relationship with ourselves, and those around us.
There should be no pressure! This is personal time for us to do things the way we want to and feel comfortable with. Let’s be unapologetically ourselves, with no time frames, deadlines or comparisons. Let’s be present and embrace our own satisfactions, joy, love and comforts.