Sometimes you just need to STOP - and take a moment for your mental health.

Just stop. It sounds so easy, but actually, when did you last manage it?

We’re so busy. Busy working, busy looking after the family, busy thinking about bills, plans, the weekly shopping list and when the dog’s due its next booster. Even in lockdown we have found ways to fill our time and our minds - and often it’s with stuff that we’re using as a distraction from bigger worries or issues.

So when was the last time you stopped and took in your surroundings?

When was the last time you paused to listen to bird song or the wind in the trees? You may be sceptical about the benefits of stopping, thinking that getting things done and keeping your mind busy is much better for you. But sometimes, if we stand still just for a moment and breathe, it can help ground us. A pause gives us time to calm down, to reflect, to put things in perspective and see ourselves as part of a bigger picture.

When we’re busy, busy, busy, we don’t allow ourselves to really listen to what we may need.

We keep rushing in the fast lane, but how would it to move across to the slow lane? Remember the fable of the hare & the tortoise? It’s so often the case that less haste results in just as much speed. Slowing down doesn’t mean you achieve less - just that it’s less of a panic and better thought through. That’s why incorporating a STOP point within your day, every day, can be so beneficial.

So why not STOP and smell the roses?

It’s a simple two step process. Stop and breathe. Stop and breathe. Try it even for just 10 seconds each day. It’s such a small amount of time but it has the potential to truly benefit your mental health and wellbeing.