{"id":136439,"date":"2023-01-03T11:00:53","date_gmt":"2023-01-03T11:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/?p=136439"},"modified":"2023-05-19T14:02:41","modified_gmt":"2023-05-19T13:02:41","slug":"survive-a-recession","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/survive-a-recession.htm","title":{"rendered":"How to Survive a Recession with your Mental Health Intact"},"content":{"rendered":"
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photo by Karolina Grabowska for Pexels<\/p><\/div>\n

by Rob Stanley <\/span><\/p>\n

How to survive a recession economically is one thing. We also need to consider our mental wellbeing. What can we do to make sure we\u2019re still engaging in self-care<\/a> even when money is tight?<\/p>\n

The link between finances and happiness<\/h2>\n

Though it can feel inappropriate to admit, the truth is that<\/strong> financial security is directly connected to good mental health<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A recent paper in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science<\/a> puts this clearly when it concludes, “although money may not necessarily buy happiness, it reduces the intensity of stressors experienced in daily life\u2014and thereby increases life satisfaction.” <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This highlights the importance of guarding and prioritising our<\/strong> mental health even when our economic situation is strained<\/a>.<\/p>\n

That being said, we shouldn\u2019t form the blanket conclusion that money alone<\/strong> is the key to happiness<\/a>. Yes, it is a strong component of living a less stressful life<\/a>. But the true answer to the question \u2018What makes us happy?\u2019 is much more complex.<\/p>\n

What ultimately makes us happy?<\/h2>\n

An American study on pursuing happiness<\/a> concluded that while 60 per cent of our happiness comes from uncontrollable factors such as circumstances and genetics, the other 40 per cent\u00a0 is the result of intentional activity on our part.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This means that while we<\/strong> face different circumstances and challenges in life<\/a>, we all have the capacity to push back against tides of unhappiness to some extent when they arise.<\/p>\n

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photo by Juliane Liebermann for Unsplash<\/p><\/div>\n

The key to excelling in financially difficult situations then, is to realise that while<\/strong> money is a definite factor in influencing the opportunities which are available to us? A large part of our personal happiness<\/a> is ultimately in our own hands.<\/p>\n

How to survive a recession? Look to self-care<\/h2>\n

In her publication on Happiness and Self-care<\/em><\/a>, clinical professor Gina Merlo concludes that emphasising self-care means we “manage stress and enhance overall happiness”.<\/p>\n

Self-care evidently goes far beyond taking a day off or the advertised version of spending a day at a spa.<\/p>\n

A paper on self-care amongst doctors<\/a> wisely points out that self-care is multi-faceted and is any strategy we use to take better care of our physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual<\/a> or social selves. <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The paper then concluded that the most relevant core element of self-care which needs to be present in order for us to flourish is a strong sense of self-awareness.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Self-awareness as a key to self-care<\/h2>\n

A core thing to remember about ourselves as individuals is just that<\/strong>\u2026we are\u00a0individuals.<\/p>\n

The self-care steps which one person uses will not necessarily resonate with others. We need to understand what elements need to be present in order for us personally to truly relax<\/a> and de-stress.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A key way to know this is to give yourself permission to ask\u2014and answer\u2014the question:<\/strong> \u2018What would truly make me happy today?\u2019<\/p>\n

This is not a question which should be asked in a fantastical way<\/strong> with answers involving winning the lottery or striking it rich in the market. Instead, we should consider our true financial circumstances<\/a>, consider our true selves<\/a>, and ask ourselves what commonsense activities we could implement to help increase our happiness levels<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This might mean going to the zoo\u2026or starting a jigsaw puzzle\u2026or standing up for ourselves at work<\/a>. It could be any one of a million possibilities. The only key is that it should be a step which we take voluntarily with an eye on speaking to our own unique personality<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Thrive in a recession by changing routines<\/h2>\n
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photo by Priscilla du Preez for Unsplash<\/p><\/div>\n

Routines are amazing things which help wire our brains to<\/strong> complete repetitive tasks effectively.<\/p>\n

And yet a 2017 study in the journal Personality and Individual Differences<\/em><\/a> revealed that people who rely on habit and routine to accomplish tasks can sometimes display higher levels of anxiety<\/a> than those who change up their routines.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This was further supported by an interesting study looking at how curiosity in daily life affects our wellbeing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The study discovered that people who explore new ways of completing tasks are generally more goal-oriented<\/a> and experience better moods than people who rely on habit alone.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What these studies reveal is that when we rely on routines we can lose our sense of resilience<\/a> by limiting the amount of new experiences that we face.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

So, as we face the task of reimagining self-care and enjoyable activities, one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves is the chance to change our routines and explore new avenues.<\/p>\n

How to tweak routines to improve mental health in a recession<\/h2>\n

What can changing our routines to improve our mental health look like in practise?<\/p>\n

1. Change the time of your activities.<\/h3>\n