The Five ‘Pillars’

On the days when things seem to be running smoothly, have you ever given any thought as to why? Could there be a science behind having a ‘perfect start’ to the day, or a day that doesn’t feel like a downward spiral?

On our ‘good ‘days we feel able to take on tasks, even seeing them as boosts or tasks we feel good about completing. With these days, it feels like everything is in ‘equilibrium’ – we feel grateful and content in not letting the chaos affect our mental health.

What about the bad days though? “The straw that broke the camel’s back” springs to mind here – if I haven’t had enough sleep, especially, receiving an irritating email or text can be enough to alter my mood for the duration of the day. Which, somehow seems to make everything else snowball into an unmanageable fog of stress.

According to some (including author Dr Julie Smith, author of Why has nobody told me this before?), we have five ‘basic pillars’ of needs that need to be in balance for us to keep track of our mental health. These being:

Diet (what you eat and drink)

Sleep

Exercise

Routine

Social Contact (or interpersonal connection)

If one of these is slightly off balance, it can easily make us feel like we are unable to cope. Sometimes basic needs are knocked out of our control, but in the moments where we are conscious of stress, we need to make even more conscious awareness to input as much of these pillars as possible. For example, if you suffering from poor sleep due to young children it’s important to ensure you are eating a healthy diet, and drinking plenty of fluids. Or, if you are working excessive, or long hours, it’s good to make an effort to try to get as much sleep as possible – not too much, not too little.

Routine can be imperative for our mental health, but it’s also healthy to allow for spontaneity and adventures. Routine can ensure we feel we are serving a purpose, and we are ‘needed’ to undertake tasks daily, but too much routine upsets the balance of the brain – we start to believe everything should follow routines, and the thoughts of any spontaneous or unplanned events can fill us with anxiety.

Something to think about:

Diet – Did you eat any nutritious food today, and drink enough water?

Sleep – Did you get a good night’s sleep last night?

Exercise – Have you made a conscious effort to move your body today, and get some fresh air?

Routine – Do you feel you are in a healthy routine?

Social Contact – Have you had any conversations with friends, family or a therapist that makes you feel good today and connected?