Wellness is all about balance
Posted on 13th May 2021 at 10:31
“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought after another” – William James
Wellness is all about balance. You can have the best diet in the world but if you are stressed you will be out of balance.
A small amount of stress can be beneficial as it motivates us to work harder, get to the gym, meet our deadlines etc BUT too much and long-term stress can manifest as unwanted behaviours and lead to health problems.
Stress comes in many forms, constant worry, anger, depression, eating or drinking too much etc.
After this crazy year we have all had it is more important than ever to look after your mental health and manage your stress levels.
Here are some simple ways to relieve stress and anxiety...
“It’s good to talk” Talking to friends and family about your feelings can help you stay in good mental health. Sometimes just by voicing our feelings when we are feeling troubled can help us to feel better.
Aim for 30 minutes of exercise a day. It can be a brisk walk or some gentle yoga. Movement naturally boosts serotonin levels (feel good hormones) and makes us feel better.
Gratitude. Look for the positives in life and things for which you are grateful. Start each day with 3 things for which you are grateful.
Get outside daily – adequate daylight and fresh air is vital to help reduce stress.
Spend some time outside in nature. This will help to reduce stress, balance your mood and help you to feel more positive.
Walking is known to lower stress and improve mood.
Invest in a sad & bright light therapy lamp in the winter. These lamps mimic natural daylight that our bodies need to help balance and improve our mood.
Do something small for yourself every day – take an exercise class, have a bubble- bath or just watch some trashy tv. Anything that takes your mind off your busy day.
Take some time out in your busy day to just sit and take some deep breathes – this will naturally reduce your stress levels.
Listening to your favourite music can lift your mood.
Essential Oils such as Lavender can help to calm the mind. You can either pat on oil from the bottle or use a rollerball. Apply a small amount to wrists, behind your ears and the nape of neck. This can be applied throughout the day.
Mindfulness/meditation.
Mindfulness and meditation
Mindfulness and meditation are my jam but I totally get that it can appear difficult - but it doesn’t have to be.
Mindfulness is just being fully present in the moment.
It can come in many forms such as sitting in silence, being outside in nature, knitting, reading, or cooking. These will all bring your awareness into the moment and help to calm the mind.
If you would like to try a meditation practice but have no idea where to start, why not try listening to a guided meditation.
Listening to guided meditations were my first steps into mindfulness 20 years ago and it continues to be part of my practice today.
Why not start today and listen to this FREE 20-minute meditation which you can download and listen to right now.
Tagged as: Wellness
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