Do you find it easy to know what you want, know where you want to be and how you’re going to get there?  Some people have a clear sense of purpose and direction in their life and they just seem to be able to find the motivation and perseverance to turn their goals and dreams into reality.  This is an interesting article and TED talk based on research investigating the relationship between having a strong sense of purpose and direction and longevity.

It might be time to take stock of your life to ensure you have a sense of purpose and direction to help you stay motivated towards your goals; provide you with direction; help you to become resilient in the face of adversity and remain optimistic when faced with challenges.

It is widely known that what we eat effects our physical health and wellbeing, that is, you are what you eat.  Our bodies are machines and the fuel that we put into them determines how well they function.  If we eat dirty fuel (i.e., high fat, sugar, processed foods) then it is not surprising that we can feel sluggish, tired and cranky.

Although I am not a nutritionist, I know that there are some foods that I eat that affect my mood.  My general philosophy is if you experience any physical (e.g., bloating, diarrhoea, constipation), mental (e.g., difficulty concentrating) or emotional (e.g., irritable) symptoms after eating certain foods, then your body is telling you loud and clear that you should probably avoid these foods.

I’m excited to be part of the nutrition and mental health revolution where psychologists and nutritionist are now working collaborative to assist clients with improving their mood by understanding the intricate relationship between nutrition and mental health.

The Nourished Psychologist is a great resource written by a clinical psychologist who is currently studying nutritional medicine and provides invaluable information to improve your physical and mental health and wellbeing.  This is an interesting article on the link between gluten and mental health.

One of the most important things that we do everyday is sleep.  When we are stressed, anxious or depressed, then the amount and quality of sleep we get is often lacking and disrupted.  It’s important to highlight that sleep disturbance is a very common phenomenon when we are stressed due to conscious and subconscious worrying.  It’s important to understand the importance of sleep and then adopt some strategies to assist with improving your sleep if you are currently experiencing difficulties.

Continue reading →