How to be kinder to your mental health this month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and we’re taking a different approach and chatting about the ways you can be kinder to your mental health. We’re here to help make sure you’re kind to your mind to help you reach your healthy lifestyle goals in the best way possible!

Ready to start? Read on to find out our top 5 tips of ways you can be kinder to YOU this month…

Manifest your morning

You’ve all heard of manifesting, but what is it all about? Starting your day right with a positive affirmation can help you take that step closer to being kinder to yourself and bringing your dreams to reality! This might be as simple as creating the perfect morning or night routine, writing down what you are thankful for. Doing what you enjoy is so important to setting the tone right for the rest of the day.

Find out how to get familiar with manifestation and other wonderful wellness techniques in our blog below:

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Be kind to yourself from the inside out

It’s always hard practicing kindness to YOU and your mental health when many people put pressure on themselves to ‘do better’ or change up their whole lifestyle in a short space of time. It’s very easy to blame yourself and speak to yourself in a way you would never speak to others. Instead of being judgmental about your progress or your body image, be kind to yourself. Remind yourself why you’re taking this journey and how far you’ve come and use positive affirmations to keep you motivated and optimistic.

Mental Health & Weight Management

Most of us will have realised by now that weight loss journeys are rarely a breeze, especially when it comes to our mental health. Ensuring we keep a balanced diet, whilst also juggling life, it’s easy to see how so many of us can feel overwhelmed and lose confidence in our ability to manage our weight.

Oftentimes, we’re able to pick ourselves back up, dust ourselves off and find enjoyment in our journey. Problems arise, however, when we’re not able to do this and the negative thoughts and feelings we have start to build up.

How to be kinder to your mental health on your weight loss journey

So, without further ado, here’s some tips to stay motivated and positive throughout your weight loss journey:

Set realistic goals – Setting goals that are overambitious are more likely to be unachievable. Ensure that you’re setting SMART goals. For more information on how to set SMART goals and how to have a successful exante journey, check out our blog below:

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Have realistic expectations – Setting yourself goals that challenge you can be a great way to drive your motivation. Though, setting goals that are too drastic, and even unachievable can do the opposite. There’s bound to be set-backs and ups and downs along your weight loss journey. The best thing to do is to stay consistent, stay motivated, and most of all – have fun!

Don’t compare yourself to others – You’ve heard this before and you’ll hear it again, every person’s body is different. Some people may lose weight very quickly, others may find it takes them a little longer to shake the excess weight. This can be for multiple reasons, from hormones to lifestyle.

It’s understandable, if not helpful, to use other people’s transitions and progress as motivation, but try not to focus too much of your time on it. Instead, concentrate more of your time on celebrating your own progress and achievements. Remember, everyone has different bodies, has different lifestyles, has different routines and preferences. A great place for support, advice and inspiration is our Facebook Closed Group- click here to get involved.

Don’t weigh too often – Every person’s weight fluctuates hour to hour, day to day. Weighing daily, or just too often will not give a realistic view of your weight loss. Stick to once a week, preferably first thing in the morning, before you’ve eaten and after you’ve been to the toilet. Note that other things, like the time of the month, can also affect the number of the scales.

Forgive yourself – Sticking to a strict diet is not easy. It’s only human to crave a treat and have a slight slip up from time to time. The point is, it’s fine to have a treat, as long as we see it as a treat, we enjoy it, and we understand that we should enjoy treats on occasion, not every day.

Shop our desserts and sweet treats for a diet-friendly treat

Be kind to your body – Oftentimes, when we’re stressed or feeling down, we can easily fall into unhealthful habits. For some, this may include relying on a few too many caffeinated drinks to give us a boost, whilst others may find ourselves reaching for one too many glasses of wine each night. Whilst these drinks in moderation won’t do much harm, having more than we should can accentuate feelings of anxiety and depression.

Looking for a tasty alternative? Our BURST Vimto is the perfect vitamin-packed substitute which certainly packs a punch!

Remember, if you are struggling with your mental health, it’s important to speak to someone – having a strong support network, or speaking to your GP about your options is vital when things get tough.

You never have to suffer alone.

Katie Jerome

Writer and expert

Katie graduated from the University of Manchester in 2018 with a BSc in Marketing. Since leaving university, Katie enjoys discovering new recipes and making healthy food at home. As a follower of the exante 5:2 plan, Katie, who works in the Social & Content team knows first-hand the importance of a balanced lifestyle to reach an end goal.