Time and Mental Health

Issue 7 Editorial - Claire Watson, Features Editor

There’s no way to welcome in the new year without sounding a little cheesy. At a surface level it’s a made up holiday celebrating a made up concept. Years are simply a way to quantify the Earth and our existences. Though we’re always ageing, birthdays and New Year’s simply add a bit of routine to the chaos that is existence. But, and it's a big but, there is something remarkable about this time of year. 

When you’re struggling with mental illness, New Year’s can feel like less of a celebration and more like an obligation. While trying to look back on the year in fondness it’s easy to become overwhelmed with a sense of regret over missteps and missed opportunities. These calendars, dates and holidays make us feel that time is within our grasp, that if we just stopped for a moment, time would stop with us. 

Then resolutions become a way to gamify time. While they work for some, the overwhelming sense of obligation can send us down a deeper spiral. Do whatever makes you happy. It’s that simple. I know I sound like a broken record, but go into this year prioritising you and your time. Time may be beyond your control, but your life is still on your terms. 

There should be no end goal. When we achieve what we want to achieve, time will continue flowing right past us. It’s not that everything is fake and meaningless, it’s that everything is full of meaning. From bowls of cereal to grand dinners, time and its moments within are precious. Positive nihilism: if nothing matters, then everything is worth celebrating. In times of hardship, when it feels like your world is caving in on itself, remember that there will be moments afterwards. You’ll continue on, and with time, heal.