How Hobbies Can Improve Mental Health

The Ramen Girl did more for me than make me appreciate that 'real' ramen's better than instant noodles ;)

This film is about a naive but charming American girl called Abby, who travels to Japan to be with her expat boyfriend. Everything is peachy for Abby, until her boyfriend ditches her. Falling apart, she finds solace in the neighbourhood ramen house, and finally convinces the moody old chef to take her on as an apprentice.

Though Abby is a downright klutz at first, she eventually catches on to every cooking skill she is taught. Yet...

Mother: “Her broth is bland.”
Sensei: “I wonder why. She’s mastered the technique perfectly.”
Mother: “Sometimes too much technical training can get in the way. You cook with your head. Your head is full of noise. You must learn to cook from the quieter place deep inside of you. Each bowl of ramen you prepare is a gift to your customer. The food that you serve your customer becomes a part of them. It contains your spirit. That’s why your ramen must be an expression of pure love. A gift from your heart.”
Abby: “I don’t know anything about love. Every time I feel it, it’s gone. It disappears. And all I have left is pain and sadness.”
Mother: “Begin by putting your tears into your broth.”

Abby learns that, in order to both overcome the sorrow she felt when her love left her, and to perfect the art of making ramen, she must put her heart into it. There's even a science behind this!

Kelly Lambert, the neuroscientist who wrote “Lifting Depression,” asserts that…

Activity that “… produces a result you can see, feel, and touch, such as knitting a sweater or tending a garden” [and cooking!] causes physiological changes in the brain that promote a sense of well-being, and that such activity “reduces stress and anxiety and, most important, builds resilience against the onset of depression.”

The Ramen Girl teaches us that finding and working at a passion really can improve our mental health.

What is your passion?

How To Get Out of Bed When You Just Don't Want To

Some days, you just don't want to get out of bed. Here are some ideas to help you get up & out the door:

-Put your alarm across the room. You'll only be able to stay in bed for as long as you can stand that incessant beep beep beep.

-Promise yourself a reward. A little something special might be just what you need. A latte on the way to work? Flaunting your favourite dress?

-Out of bed but not awake? A cold shower will do it! Very effective at waking you up, plus it's good for your hair and skin.

If your tiredness stems from chronic fatigue or a mood disorder like depression, it will be more difficult to deal with. I know this from years' experience battling depression-induced hypersomnia. Here are some tips for coping with it:

-Make sure it's not medical. Get tested for anemia and sleep disorders, just in case. Both are very common co-morbid disorders, and they may be the culprit behind your exhaustion.

-Motivate yourself. Find something every day to look forward to, even if it's little. This is especially difficult (but especially rewarding) if you suffer from depression. I had a hard time with it at first, but the more you practice, the easier it gets.

-Mantras. I will get out of bed. Today is going to be a fabulous day. On the count of five I'll get up and get moving.

-In your head, run through the events of the morning. Tiny steps are least intimidating. I'm going to get up. Brush my teeth. Get dressed. Eat breakfast. Get in the car...

Good morning, gorgeous! Have a great start to your day!

Image source: unknown.