How to protect your mental health when faced with new beginnings

Despite arriving well into the second half of the calendar year, autumn is a season closely connected with new beginnings for many of us. The most obvious link is the start of a new academic year, as schools, colleges and universities start back again in September or October after the long summer break. However, this autumn has seen a great many more new beginnings in the UK than usual. We now have a brand new Prime Minister, who was officially appointed days before the death of Queen Elizabeth II ushered in the reign of a brand new monarch.

Change can be a challenging subject for many people. Some changes are very big and tangible. A new job, new baby, new academic course or house move can bring about huge changes to our lifestyles, routines, income and outlook on life. Other changes and new beginnings are ostensibly smaller and less apparent, but can still have a profound effect on us. Personal relationships can shift and enter new phases. Changes in the dynamics of our friendship groups can take us by surprise and affect our emotions, feelings and general sense of wellbeing. Even having to change to a new supermarket or doctor’s surgery can feel unsettling and strange at first.

One reason why facing new beginnings can be hard on our mental health is that they challenge our established habits and routines. We are no longer able to cling on to familiarity, but must branch out into the unknown. Acclimatisation can take a while and we must make a series of modifications, both physically and mentally, to cope with this period of flux[1]. This is not always easy to do on our own. Asking for support during these times is not only an acceptable thing to do, it is an extremely wise one too.

Coping with change

New beginnings can be stressful to manage. There are several ways in which we can seek support and help ourselves navigate our way through, until we feel familiar with what is happening to and around us once again.[2] A good first step is to take a step back from the situation and take stock of how you are feeling. Admitting to feelings of trepidation or uncertainty over something new in your life is perfectly normal. Talk these feelings through with someone you trust, or write them down to help get them out of your head and into some sort of order.

Next, start to focus on the short term and how you can affect it, rather than trying to make sense of the whole situation at once. Break things down into smaller, more manageable chunks of time. If you have had a baby, for example, just think about how you are going to care for him or her for the next few weeks. It’s not time to start fretting over helping with GCSE revision plans just yet! For a new job or college or university course, work out where you need to be, what you need to have with you and how you are going to establish good studying routines so you keep up with the work in the first few weeks. Take time to acknowledge what is going well, recognise your achievements and feel grateful for these first positive steps.

As you get more into the swing of things, try to find a new rhythm and routine. You may need to make some physical changes, such as getting up or going to bed at a different time, interacting with new people or travelling to new places. Work out what you can control about your new situation – and take time to relax, unwind and reflect whenever you are able to. Tools such as mindfulness or meditation can assist with this – and help you stay in the moment without becoming overwhelmed with worry about the future.

Take time to reframe any unhelpful thoughts, such as dwelling on things that you may not have got completely right yet. Let go of any feelings of disappointment or worries over what was ‘supposed’ to have happened. Try out different strategies to support your mental health and stick to them to help keep your mind open to embracing all of the positive things that have come with your new beginning. Always move at a pace that is comfortable for you when settling into a new situation, and seek practical or emotional support to help you move forward if you need it.

Making positive changes

Of course, it can work the other way around as well. New beginnings can be the solution for someone feeling anxious, overwhelmed or unsettled. Taking themselves out of a continuing negative situation can help to reset emotions, strengthen mental wellbeing and provide a whole new focus. Before embarking upon a new beginning, however, it is essential to make sure that you are doing so for the right reasons, and that you understand the consequences. Starting a new hobby to help alleviate boredom, frustration or anxiety is one thing – planning a new baby or moving to a new town is quite another, and will need careful consideration before you take the plunge.

The good news is that new beginnings need not be quite so monumental. A change in routine, such as walking or travelling a new route to work, trying out a new café or deciding to read a new genre of literature can help you discover joy in making positive changes and inspire you to explore new interests, friendships and activities. This could be enough to provide your mental health with the boost it needs to carry on. It could unlock self-expression in new and exciting ways. It could even lead on to larger changes and more significant new beginnings for you, once you are ready to embrace them. By trying out some smaller new beginnings first, you can learn how to cope with the associated feelings, both positive and negative. This will then help you feel stronger and more able to cope with larger changes when they arrive in your life.

Where to seek help

If you are facing a new beginning in your life and are feeling uncertain, worried or upset about it, please check out these helpful links to help support your mental health during the time of flux.

[1] Source: https://emotionalskills.uk/blog/change-and-new-beginnings. Accessed 28 September 2022

[2] Source: https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/coronavirus/how-to-manage-change-during-covid-19/. Accessed 28 September 2022