2020: The End is Finally Near (Tips to Improve Your Mental Health in 2021)
2020: What a year! Praise the lord — the end is near. Finally, the day is fast approaching where we bid farewell to — hands down — the shittiest year we have lived through in recent times, collectively as a species.
I don't know about you, but I have visions of an altogether different New Years this year, one where the world joins together, and, as the clock strikes midnight — collectively and merrily scream, "Fuck You 2020" from the top of our lungs. In our back gardens. Alone.
2020 has been a shit year for humanity. Forget the virus and quarantines, a new normal, not seeing loved ones and having to pivot in business and career, acquire new skills, watch industries and the livelihood of those in them destroyed, as well as the massive amounts of uncertainty throughout it all.
It's been shit because something that could have brought us together appears to have divided us even more. It's been shit because everybody thinks they are an expert on something few truly understand. And it's been particularly shit because the media — both traditional and social — have successfully made humanity more terrified and fearful than ever.
There are, of course, positives to focus on if you so choose. And we'll get to that.
This fear has immeasurable consequences on our quality of life and mental health and because we have already been conditioned to be overly fearful, to see it trumped is not something I choose to celebrate.
Vox came out with an article highlighting the mental health strain of this pandemic. Unsurprisingly, it's taking its toll. I have pulled the below passage directly from the article,
"Rates of depression and anxiety in June were three to four times higher than at the corresponding point in 2019, according to the CDC, and deteriorating mental health outcomes have been similarly observed in nations across the world... Rates of suicidal ideation, substance abuse, and alcohol consumption are rising steadily."
It's not pretty. No matter how you slice or dice — we can't hide from the fact. And there isn't a vaccine coming to help with the despair experienced thanks to the Coronavirus and 2020.
So, if your mental health has taken a beating this year, I want to offer a few tips on how you might approach next year to help ensure things only get better for you — and not worse.
1. See it as a challenge. And accept it.
Life is tough. Right now, many of us are paddling upstream against a vicious current. These challenges and conditions will test the strongest amongst us.
If you accept the challenge to prove your strength, you will greatly increase the likelihood of coming out the other end stronger and more resilient — and who doesn't want that?
2. Be careful where you focus your energy
When I interviewed Tim Desmond, he blew my mind on many fronts, but above all, this might be the most fitting for the times,
“Understand it’s possible to care about the world without it hurting you.”
If you focus your energy on all that is wrong in the world right now, it will only get worse. And so too will your health.
Focus only on that which you can control. Take care of yourself, and you'll soon be able to take care of others. It has to start with you and what you can control.
3. Don't engage
There are many people I like whose opinion I vehemently oppose. But it is their opinion, and they're entitled to it. And honestly, who's to say what I believe is right?
I'm still not entertaining it, though, because it cuts into my time — time I could put to better use. Not to mention, it also raises my heart rate and increases the production of stress hormones — all the shit I don't want or need in my life.
If you have created an environment online that is conducive to stress — you can easily unfollow all that triggers this response within you.
Offline is a little more challenging, especially with family members. If you strongly disagree, at least agree to disagree and not to discuss the matter further. And if they can't do that, fuck 'em — eat your dinner watching Home Alone.
Complete Bliss!
4. Make a mental health plan
Take an hour, a day, or a week to plan out what you need to do for optimum health and ensure your life moves in the direction you want it.
When you have done this, condense it into an A4 page and stick it on your wall or somewhere you will see it and be reminded often to help keep you positive, upbeat, healthy, and on track.
And don't forget: Less is often more. That page should be to the point and potent.
5. Remember to have fun
When mental health takes a hammering, one of the first things we forget is how to have fun. Ironically, fun is one of the best things for our mental health.
Don't punish yourself further. Do fun shit — and do it often.
6. Avoid the self-help trap
Self-help is home to some of the most calculating, disingenuous narcissistic assholes on this planet, who will prey on every insecurity you have for their own gain.
It is what it is: I have shit myself in the past over concerns I might be one of them. Learn how to screen them out.
Also, please remember that acquiring more and more knowledge about health and wellness doesn't make you a healthier person. Quite the contrary — it can make you more stressed because your brain will become overly stimulated and confused by it all.
I read a lot because I see it as part of my job. Honestly, it all says and promises the same shit. If it worked, we wouldn't be coming out of a pandemic and going into another one.
I'm not trying to shit on self-help. It has it place. And there are many genuine and brilliant people in the space I look up to with huge amounts of admiration.
All I am saying is knowledge will only take you so far. It all comes down to action. And the more time spent acquiring knowledge in an effort to out intellect your mental health is often time wasted — time that could be spent marching towards better health and a better life.
At the end of the day, that's all that matters. Is it not?
So forget about whatever 2020 has in store for its finale and start focussing on season 2021, episode 1. That script is yet to be written — and you've got both the pen and pad.
I know the holidays can be tough for multiple reasons, but I also know you can drive your thoughts to brighter days ahead and make the most out of them. So, if they suck for you, know there's no shame in it — and if it helps, I'm rooting for you!