Hello friends,

As we all return to work this January to start a new exciting decade, I decided to participate in the challenge RED JANUARY 2020 (https://redtogether.co.uk/).  This is a UK based charity, with the mission to encourage people to exercise more to help combat mental health issues.  

My contribution is to RUN EVERY DAY in January, no matter what the weather may be, to help raise awareness and funds for mental illness support (The weather can be very cold and windy in Scotland).  Mental health is a growing concern around the world, affecting all age groups and all genders. 

Why I am running for mental health

I was in the tech industry for a long time, often being at the forefront of observing and learning new technologies, including social media.  The internet and social media are one of the biggest change factors in how we live our lives today. I believe social media can be a great place to learn, share stories and connect people around the world.  However, new studies are showing the links between social media usage and the rising mental health issues especially affecting the younger generation. Mental health problems are on the increase. A UK parliamentary report has suggested that young people who are heavy users of social media have much greater mental health issues than those who are lighter users.  

My present job is running an ethical, organic skincare company, and we have noticed that many many younger customers are suffering from bad acne caused by stress, depression and anxiety. Using high-quality natural skincare products helps a lot, but it is equally important to address how you feel on the inside too.  Further research is highlighting that the inflammatory response on the skin is linked with anxiety and depression. Having suffered stress acne in the past, I can relate to how bad skin affects self-esteem. 

There are many ways to tackle depression and stress but for me, I find running to be very effective.  Whenever I get stressed or anxious about something, I usually go for a run. Mindfulness and meditation are, of course, effective too but sometimes just moving the physical body can be a quick fix.

We can all relate to emotional challenges in life, and these challenges can help us grow and learn, as long as we know how to manage stress and tension.

I would like to raise money for a charity called Support in Mind Scotland. They are a national charity that works to improve the wellbeing and the quality of life of people affected by severe mental illness. They do fantastic work in all sorts of areas covering a wide variety of communities across Scotland.
https://www.supportinmindscotland.org.uk

My promise to you

No matter what the weather may be, or how tired I may feel, I promise to run every day.  I will update my progress via social media so I have nowhere to hide lol.

Please sponsor me on this challenge.  Any contribution is very appreciated

Thank you,
Love Rosa