Aim for a healthy life balance: Achieve, Connect, Enjoy
Our mood can be greatly affected by what we do, when, and with whom.
In order to maintain a healthy sense of wellbeing, we need to balance what we do. We can use the acronym ACE to help us remember:
When we feel stressed, we often spend more time doing things that help us achieve, but less of enjoyment and connecting with others. When we feel depressed, we withdraw and isolate ourselves and do much less, and when we feel anxious, we tend to avoid places or people where we feel anxious.
Make time for yourself each day - relaxation, fun, enjoyment. Create a healthy balance - allow time for activities which give you a sense of achievement, those that give a sense of connecting with and of being close to others, and of a sense of enjoyment.
These activities affect our brain chemistry by acting directly on the release of neuro-transmitters, and are our natural anti-stress and anti-depressants.
Therefore, making sure we keep doing these ACE activities every day, will help us overcome our problems.
The BACE acronym includes looking after your body
Use these BACE logsheets and diaries to keep you on track:
ACE: Achieve, Connect, Enjoy - short video
ACE Activity - longer video
The Battery: LIFT vs DROP activities
Self Help BooksManage Your Mood: Use Behavioural Activation Techniques to Overcome Depression
Overcoming Depression One Step at a Time: The New Behavioral Activation Approach to Getting Your Life Back
Overcoming Depression: A self- help guide using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques
The CBT Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Using CBT to Overcome Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Low Self-Esteem and Anger
Taming the Black Dog: How to Beat Depression
Shoot the Damn Dog