Practicing self-care is so important to maintain good mental health, particularly at Christmas when so much energy is spent on giving to others. Remind yourself of ways to look after yourself, all to the tune of this festive song! On the 10th Day of Christmas, my self-love gave to me…

Ten Lords-a-Leaping – Jump out of your comfort zone and switch up routines. Routines are as much about comfort as they are about efficiency. Small shake-ups ensure you see different sights and meet new people, which create more interesting days and make bigger changes seem less daunting.

Nine Ladies Dancing – Get a hobby and connect with people who share your interests. Being good at something and learning new skills builds confidence and is very rewarding. Check out meetup.com for hundreds of interest groups and clubs in Perth.

Eight Maids-a-Milking – Practice mindfulness to focus your attention and calm your mind. Some techniques can be done in the office such as squeezing and clenching your hands into a fist several times, then releasing, closing your eyes, and paying close attention to how your hands feel.

Seven Swans-a-Swimming – Exercise makes you feel good because it releases chemicals like endorphins and serotonin that improve your mood. It can get you out in the world, helps reduce feelings of loneliness and puts you in touch with other people.

Six Geese-a-Laying – Try to maintain a regular sleeping pattern by going to bed and waking up at roughly the same time every day. Go to bed only when you feel tired enough to sleep and then get up at your usual time. You may spend less time in bed, but you will spend more of the time asleep.

Five Gold Rings – Christmas is traditionally a time of giving, which can put a strain on those families who can least afford it. Avoid a financial hangover by preparing and sticking to a budget, shopping around for the best deals and avoiding paying on credit cards and “buy now pay later” schemes.

Four Calling Birds – Haven’t spoken lately to someone special? Give them a call to say hi, send them a text about how much they mean to you or spend time with your loved ones.

Three French Hens – Our fun furry friends can give us lots of joy. If you have a pet, give them some love, maybe take them out for a walk or just give them a cuddle.

Two Turtle Doves – Find your inner peace with some meditation practice – it’s a wonderful way to destress. Try the Buddhist Society for free meditation classes bswa.org or smilingmind.com.au for a free mobile phone app.

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree – The psychological benefits of connecting with nature are well known but in such a beautiful part of the world, it can be difficult to know where to go! Check out trailswa.com.au for lots of inspiration.

If you need to talk, remember that there is always someone there on 13 11 14.

Written by Kat Holeyman

Image Credit: Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash