The last four months of the year have been characterized by a lot of ups and downs for me. Well, to be completely honest I think the downs have been way more prevalent than the ups. But, the truth is that this is the reality of our human experience sometimes. So, as a response to the bad, I resolved within myself to make the most of May.
My goal is to not let the bad that sometimes happens to define the days. It is easy to allow yourself to be shaped by bad experiences that you end up missing out on all the good that is available to you. For that reason, I want to talk about how to make the most of May 2024.
Let’s get into it
1. Prioritise Your Mental Health
Looking after our mental health is something that we should be doing whether we are feeling anxious, struggling, stressed, or feeling low. It is something that should be prioritised just like we do physical health.
Admittedly, looking after my mental health is something that I did not do well in the last couple of months. So in May, I purposed to stay on top of my mental wellbeing.
To achieve this, some of the things I hope to do include:
- Getting good quality sleep
- Be present in the moment
- Reframe unhelpful thoughts
- Pray and connect to my Faith.
- Connect with friends and family
For more tips to improve your mental wellbeing visit NHS Every Mind Matters
2. Set Clear Goals
One thing that I have learned over the past few months is how easy it is to waste your days. For me, the issue comes down to not planning my months effectively. I realised that I have not been intentional when it comes to setting clear cut goals for the new month.
As a result of not setting monthly goals, I found that I was as productive as I could been. Many tasks were left undone simply because I did not set and prioritise goals.
What I have done is set a few definitive goals that I want to achieve. Setting goals and achieving them is important as this can give you a great sense of accomplishment and boost confidence.
Things to reflect on each month:
- What do you want to accomplish in the new month
- Things on your ‘bucket list’ you want to do.
- How can you make time for friends and family
3. Plan Activities Ahead
It is easy to waste away your days watching Netflix or spending hours on Tik Tok. Trust me, we have all been there. But I have come to realise that this is not an enjoyable life for me. Which is why one of my goals this month is to plan more activities for myself.
So one of the things that I have decided to implement for myself each month is planning and booking at least one activity each month. This does not have to be anything expensive at all. There are many inexpensive things that you can book for yourself or with friends. The main idea is to make sure you have something to look forward to every month.
4. Avoid Multi-tasking
It’s so easy to fall into the trap of multi-tasking in hopes that you can hit two birds with one stone. However, the only thing that multi-tasking did was slow me down and cause me to be inefficient. I was too busy trying to do everything at once, mostly out of sheer panic, that nothing was done efficiently
Remember the optimal word when it comes to multi-tasking is ‘efficiency’. So, to avoid multi-tasking, try to focus on one thing at a time.
5. Get Moving
Another way that you can make the most of the new month is through Fitness. It is important to reach a certain level of fitness in our everyday lives. The intensity and extent of this exercise depends on your capabilities, age, and health (consult with a healthcare professional if you have an underlying health condition). For most of us, however, the NHS website recommends 150 minutes of exercise weekly.
My go-to fitness goal is walking every day for at least 5k to 7k steps, this includes days that I am not at work. Walking is a great low-intensity exercise with many health benefits. For me, walking helps me to clear my mind on days that I feel low. So, for that reason, I always make sure to prioritise fitness.
O’L Final Thoughts
I hope that May is fruitful and productive for you. Remember to prioritise the things that matter like your mental health, loved ones, and overall well-being.
