Keep Learning: Mental Health awareness week 2023
It’s the last day of exploring ways to boost wellbeing for mental health awareness week 2023. The theme for 22nd September is: Keep Learning.
Human’s are primed to learn new things; anyone who has been around young children will see this in action; the way they curiously explore the world, test how things work and relentlessly ask ‘why?’ Regardless of our age, learning new things has been shown to boost our self-confidence and resilience.
As a psychologist, I am lucky to have a career that involves lifelong learning. Learning about psychology is one of my hobbies; and every week I listen to podcasts such as Hidden Brain and The Happiness Lab. Even if I do nothing with this learning other than have a ‘hmmm interesting’ moment, I find that my active mind feels better when it’s learnt something.
Often the notion of keep learning can feel dauting; like we need to do a university paper, or learn a new language. While these are awesome goals, we can also get wellbeing boosts from learning in small, achievable ways too. Learning a new recipe, a craft, music, learning how to stop snails eating your lettuces - it all counts.
One of my goals this year was to learn how to do a half halo braid in my hair.
I can only do it on one side, one way, and my tongue needs to be out while I’m doing it. However the satisfaction while learning this and now having the new skill has been enormous.
Perhaps next year I might learn to do the other side too so I can go for a full halo effect!
Check out the MHAW website here for my idea on how to Keep Learning.
While this my last post of mental health awareness week 2023, the five ways to mental wellbeing can be brought into our lives every day of the year.
