Let’s get one thing straight—everyone’s mental health has been on the edge for quite a while now, and who could blame us? Living through 3 historical events isn’t easy. With all due respect–it is a pain in the ass and a very tiring experience. If we were to rate it on an app or something, it wouldn’t get any stars–it will just command the worst of rants from people.
Anyway, onto the main discussion for this article.
Our mental health should be a priority, and that’s a fact. It’s hard to function as a person if one part (or every, for some) of ourselves isn’t really doing well. Now, while we’re 3 months into 2022, experiencing a whirlwind of events at least once a week, you must be wondering how you can make your mental health better this time.
We could list a number of things you could do to help you unwind and treat yourself better— talking to a therapist (most important!), self-care, yoga, journaling, collecting, eating well, and a lot more. But if you really want to start off your road to better mental health this year, start with this one little thing.
Start unfriending people in real life.
Okay, it may sound too immature, especially with people relying on each other these days in order to survive. Well, as the saying goes, “no man is an island”, right? Also, “unfriending” people is almost always referred to as removing someone from your social media friends and following, which isn’t wrong by any means.
It just means that you don’t want to see their posts (or them) on your social media pages because they might be toxic, unrealistic, or just annoying. This kind of thing should also be done in real life, and there is nothing wrong with that.
“Unfriending” people (or family) in real life might look childish, but it’s actually not. Contrary to popular belief, “unfriending” people is a very mature move to do, especially if you’re surrounded by unnecessary negativity or people that you don’t want to be associated with anymore. It gives way to judge who can stay in the close space of your life, and who you’re better off without.
“Unfriending” people in real life can be likened to the “KonMari method” of keeping things that speak to the heart and removing things that no longer spark joy, this time, it’s with people and friendships. The best people you’d want within your space are people who understand you inside and out and care for you in every part of the day—your closest friends, family members, significant other, etc. These are the friendships and relationships that keep you sane, help you find yourself, and make your life 10x better.
And if they’re the kind of people who do not bring the best out of you, or make you feel worse when you’re already having a bad day, or are downright toxic to your mental health, then it’s time to let them go. They have no right to be in your business, and it’s best to cut them off.
This may seem like a very adult thing to do (and it is), but it’s part of growing up into a better person. Accepting that friendships come and go much like the days of the week is something that could be hard to do, when in fact, it’s easy when you notice the signs of a connection withering away.
All you have to do is take the first step into making your life better—without them. So, if you do want better mental health this year, it’s time to evaluate your friendships and relationships and to choose which ones are worth it for you.
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