Nurturing a Mind for Matters

We have commenced the second quarter of 2023 and it is only natural that folks might be inclined to take stock of the progress they’ve made thus far. What is also natural is that we have made it to this point making lemonade where we needed to, and not comparing apples to oranges through self-comparison. The nip in the morning and evening air also foreshadows the onset of winter – albeit in Botswana, this season is not quite as gloomy as in countries of the northern hemisphere. This, however, doesn’t prevent some of the affects of the lethargy that come with wanting to stay bundled up and warm. Thus, since prevention is better than fashioning a cure, this is an apt time to work on developing a mind for the season to come. [ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type="show" ihc_mb_who="1,2,3,4" ihc_mb_template="3" ] Psychology is often framed as a luxury service or a last resort for saving a mind in distress. However, this belies the practices of consultation and counselling that have existed among native and indigenous peoples the world over. With the pace of the world ever on the rise, it may seem even more luxurious to spare time to tend to the mind. The ecopsychological approach that most indigenous psychologies employ, where the focus is on the relationships of human and non-humans and the greater natural world, is still continually proven invaluable to the present age, with a report by Precedence Research stating that the global “complementary and alternative medicine market size was valued at USD 92.65 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach over USD 411.4 billion by 2030”. What cannot be denied is the central role that mental fitness plays in general well-being. Perhaps then it is fitting to see what tools and techniques might be useful in being prepared for the way ahead. To be honest, much of the internal labour – such as shadow work – can be daunting and tedious at times. The responsibility of self-regulation cannot be outsourced though. An age-old practice that is rather easy to take up is to introduce some form of physical workout into your daily or weekly routine. A 15-minute session of stretching, an evening walk, or something more rigorous like skipping or cycling are good, simple ways of getting oxygen to the lungs and brain. Whether done indoors or outdoors, the near-immediate results are stress reduction, improved mood and better sleep quality. This workout time is also a good way of finding something to dedicate thought to, thus clearing the mind of distractions that sometimes come with worry. As a part of the body, it goes without saying that what you feed the whole also affects how your mental health fares. In his book, The Doctor's Diet: Dr. Travis Stork's STAT Program to Help You Lose Weight & Restore Your Health , Dr. Travis Stork reminds us to “eat the foods you love, but to eat them in a healthy way that will add vibrancy to your life and help keep you out of the ER”. A healthy diet doesn’t have to be a boring diet. There are many ways to stay excited about what you’re going to eat without it being on cheat days. Vitamins like B9 (folate), with its properties for supporting brain and neurological health as well as balanced psychological health, is great for optimising neurotransmitter activity; and B12, which is good for improving memory, energy and easing the processes of learning things; are equally easy additions to be made to keeping the mind fit through what we consume, and can do wonders alongside the ever-present Vitamin D, which Botswana has in abundance from the desert sun, which helps with mood regulation and keeping depression at bay. Mental health and well-being also go beyond simply affecting the person on an individual level but bear economic ramifications. The White House has reported that approximately USD 280 billion was spent on mental health services in 2020. In the United Kingdom, the NHS budgeted GBP 15.5 billion for mental health, learning disability and dementia services in England for 2022/23 – with GBP 2.6 billion of the amount going toward specialised commission for mental health services. With Botswana’s consistently poor grading on the UN Happiness Index, moving from 4.33 points out of a maximum 10 in 2015 to 3.47 points in 2021, there is no question that the environment calls for more resilient mental strength and fitting investment. However, not all of it has to be monetary. The promotion and development of healthy interpersonal and social relationships and spaces is but one means of making these contributions. Tropes such as the ‘strong Black woman’ and boys and men who don’t cry are regularly being challenged by generations of people who refuse to equate strength to suffering in silence. The cultural shifts may be slow, but they are certainly happening. In the greater landscape of being people who bare the responsibility of caring for our neighbours lest we endure the consequences of their neglect, the approach of a new season in the year is an opportunity to make changes, whether big or small, to prepare to thrive on the mental health front. Much like anything worth achieving, the work of nurturing the mind has to be done by each person in their own way, at their own pace, unrelentingly. [/ihc-hide-content]

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𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐔𝐒𝐂 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐫

Botswana gears up for high-stakes Gabs Open karate showdown

Orange Botswana Awards P390,000 to Historic 4x400m Relay Champions, Coaches & BAA

Eppie’s breakthrough hints at a brighter future for Botswana’s 400m

BFA slashes deficit and eyes bright future with financial reform and football revival

Sports chief raises alarm over doping spike amid Region 5 triumph

𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐔𝐒𝐂 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐫

Nurturing a Mind for Matters

With Botswana’s consistently poor grading on the UN Happiness Index, there is no question that the environment calls for more resilient mental strength

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Nurturing a Mind for Matters

With Botswana’s consistently poor grading on the UN Happiness Index, there is no question that the environment calls for more resilient mental strength

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