Having seen first-hand how hard it can be if you’re someone who suffers from mental health struggles, in our busyness of life, it can be all too easy to overlook the significant impact that having meaningful activities or work can have on our mental health.
Whether it’s work, school, hobbies, social gatherings, or community involvement, having things to do and places to go provides structure, purpose, and social interaction—all of which are crucial for our well-being. Let’s face it, we were designed to live in community, and a lack of it can be seriously harmful to our well-being.
As human beings, we were never designed or created to live isolated lives, but rather to live amongst others in small communities, supporting and caring for one another. Humans are inherently social beings, and meaningful social interactions play a crucial role in maintaining mental and emotional well-being. Without regular social engagement, feelings of loneliness and disconnectedness can exacerbate mental health issues and lead to a decline in overall happiness.
We’re really proud to have played our part in helping to establish Chocolate & Co, a community café in York, which opened its doors on 12th September 2023. This unique establishment provides employment and training for individuals facing life challenges such as mental health struggles, focusing on delivering delicious food in a nurturing environment.
We know, through Chocolate & Co, the importance of activity and purpose and that having a daily routine filled with activities and responsibilities helps us structure our time and gives us a sense of purpose and accomplishment.
But for some of us, even getting up in the morning, can feel like too hard a task. When we lack things to do or places to go, our routine can become disorganised or non-existent, and the lack of structure can lead to irregular sleep patterns, disrupted eating habits, and a general sense of aimlessness, which can contribute to feelings of anxiety, depression, or low motivation.
Taking part in activities or social interactions that align with our interests, values, and goals gives us a sense of purpose and meaning in life. Whether it’s work-based, engaging in hobbies, volunteering for a cause, or caring for loved ones, these activities provide a sense of fulfilment and contribute to our sense of identity. Equally, when we step back and don’t engage, our well-being can suffer, leading to increased boredom and restlessness. Boredom, especially when prolonged, can be detrimental to mental health as it can contribute to negative thoughts, low mood, and unhealthy coping behaviours such as overeating, excessive screen time, or substance use. Restlessness, on the other hand, can manifest as anxiety or a constant need for stimulation, which can be exhausting and take its toll on our mental well-being.
One of our team has experienced these feelings for several years as a young person, struggling with social anxiety, which caused him to step back from social interactions, and spend long periods of time in his bedroom. Three attempts at beginning a course at college, caused more stress, as he found it too overwhelming to continue. As the negative aspects of this increased, troubles at home began resulting in him leaving the family home. A period of sofa surfing began, again contributing to his existing mental health further declining until he eventually found himself living in a men’s hostel.
We first met Isaac at the hot chocolate sessions we attend, within the hostels, and it was some months before Isaac came to Chocolate & Co with his job coach Nathan to chat about the possibility of coming to work with us, and in his words:
“It was so nerve-wracking, the day I first came. The noise and levels of activity were loud and incredibly overwhelming at the time, and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to stay. I’m glad I did though, as working here has made such a difference to me. It helps me because I can turn off my mind when I’m at work, and I am now able to chat to the customers, which I would never have done before. I love making the coffees and am actually doing my barista training certificate this weekend, which is really exciting as I could work anywhere with that. Being part of something and having a reason to leave my room has helped, as living in a hostel is really hard as there’s nothing to do. I’m also feeling ready to re-apply for college as I think I’m ready now.”
Our philosophy at Chocolate & Co has kept being purposeful at the centre of all that we do and it’s not just work-based – we also have weekly sporting activities on offer, well-being sessions, and one-to-one counselling for our team members. We believe that by taking steps to fill our lives with something meaningful, amongst a warm and nurturing connection, we can hopefully help mitigate the negative impact of having too much empty time on our mental health and cultivate a sense of fulfilment, resilience, and well-being.
Remember, it’s not just about staying busy, it’s about engaging in activities that nourish our minds, hearts, and souls and being part of something where we are alongside other people.
Three ways you can improve your mental health
1. Identify one goal or activity that sparks your interest and feels comfortable alongside your values, and aspirations. Set a goal of doing one activity consistently for 4 weeks.
2. Set an alarm for the same time each day, and do a period of regular exercise, say taking a walk on a set route at the same time every day for one week.
3. Take one mindfulness practice or relaxation technique and set yourself the task of doing it every night for one week as you prepare for going to bed – it could be listening to a relaxation app on your phone, or reading two pages of a book, or doing some deep breathing exercises, to help manage stress, and to quieten those anxious feelings.