Each day new tips will be posted to help build and strengthen your resilience, courtesy of Mental Health Ireland.

1.  Have courage to be imperfect!

Accept and work with your flaws and imperfections and remember that everyone has them.  So striving for perfection is a pointless task, as perfection doesn’t exist.  Instead always be true to yourself and aim to do your best.

2.  Take time for yourself.

Allow yourself time to do things that you enjoy.  If you create boundaries around your time, and stick to them, others will respect you.

3. Sign up for that course, join that club.

Getting involved in community activities can develop skills and boost your physical and mental well-being.

4. Be active everyday in as many ways as possible.

A healthy mind is a healthy body and therefore a healthy body helps to keep a healthy mind.    See
www.getirelandactive.ie

5. Spend time with people who make you feel good.

Having supportive relationships is a key factor in resilience.  Good friendships are as important as romantic and family relationships.

6. Laugh out loud (lol) each day!

Laughing reduces stress levels, so look for opportunities to introduce some humour into your day.

7. Get your Zzzzs.

You will feel more resilient and able to handle the stresses of the day when you’ve had a good night’s sleep.  Go to bed earlier and learn some tips on how to improve the quality of your sleep.

8. It’s all about teamwork.

Learn to ask for help and how to accept help, no one can do everything alone.

9. Remember, this too shall pass

Keep everything in perspective. Avoid being negative about things.  There’s no point in stressing about things you cannot control.  Try and focus only on the things you can control.

10. Talk out your troubles.

If you let friends and family know when times are tough, they maybe able to provide a range of support.  This could include listening, advice or providing practical support.  Sometimes you may need to talk to a  healthcare professional.  It takes a strong person to recognise when you need to ask for help.

 11. Give yourself some head space

When you are stressed or anxious, thoughts race through your mind.  Take some time for yourself to clear your head, why not go to a favourite place or write down your thoughts and worries.  Your mind needs some down time too.

12. Take some time to focus on good things.

Instead of focusing on all of the bad things in your life, focus on everything that is good.  Build upon the positive and focus on the things you are grateful for and the things you love.