In a modern and fast-paced society, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and no longer in control of your thoughts, actions, and outlook on the world. Looking after yourself mentally and physically can seem an impossible task alongside balancing the stresses that life demands. However, there are a multitude of activities and habits that you can incorporate into your daily life that can help to make a significant difference to your wellbeing.
Your Body
We all know that it is recommended to drink at least two liters of water, to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night, and to engage in some form of physical activity every day. However, remembering and fulfilling these recommendations each day does not always happen alongside working 9-5, looking after children or keeping the household functioning.
Keeping a bottle of water at your desk or in your bag means that you have a physical reminder to keep hydrated and you do not need to wait until you find a shop or coffee shop to hydrate. If you don’t like tap water, switch from tea/coffee to herbal teas instead. A cup of chamomile tea is refreshing and will help you to relax in the evening.
Another good idea is to add some freshly squeezed fruit juice to a glass of water. This can make it more palatable.
If you cannot walk to work or to school, you could leave public transport at an earlier stop and park your car a certain distance away from your destination. This means you will do some form of physical activity each day by having to walk the remainder of your journey.
Try cycling to work if the distance is too far to walk. If you catch the train to work, you can take your bike with you and cycle some of the way.
Your Mind
There are many ways to reduce stress and free the mind of pointless anxieties and worries.
Hitting both your daily quota of physical activity and encouraging a calmer mind, yoga is renowned for its destressing benefits on the busy brain. Yoga forces you to take time out of the day for yourself and focus on the vital functions that your body performs each day, such as breathing. Just as yoga is a form of meditation that encourages you to relax, you can work towards keeping your calm even under high-pressure situations by maintaining a positive mindset.
Meditation is another useful tool if you struggle to keep stress and anxiety at bay. Practice sitting down in a quiet place and emptying your mind of clutter. Picture somewhere you love, a place where you feel happiest, such as the beach or the mountains. Imagine you are there, allow the physical sensations to wash over your body. Each time the present intrudes, push it away and start again. If you’re not sure where to start with meditation, check out some YouTube videos for a guide.
Your Surroundings
Coming home from work to a tidy house, a well-stocked fridge with nourishing food and limited technology can help your brain to feel more at ease. Without clothes piled up on the floor or dirty plates stacked up in the kitchen, you are less likely to be distracted. Spend a day decluttering your home and removing anything that causes you anxiety. Try to create at least one clutter-free room in the house, preferably your bedroom. This can be your calm space where you go to relax.
You are also less likely to reach for ready-made food if your kitchen is stocked and clean. You can fill yourself with nutrients that will feed your brain instead of unhealthy food that will give you short-term bursts of happiness. These factors help to promote a better sleep at night, especially if you switch off and disconnect from the online world at least a few hours before you head to bed. Sleeping well will make sure that you are well-rested and help to ensure that your brain is not put under any unnecessary pressure the next day.
Your Friends
Being social is good for our emotional wellbeing, but some friends cause us more harm than good. Toxic friends take but don’t give anything back. They suck our emotional energy and leave us feeling exhausted after a conversation. For your own wellbeing, it’s better to slowly withdraw from people like this. Cut them out of your life if they don’t offer value or cause you grief. It might seem harsh, but it’s for the greater good!
It might not always be possible to include every suggestion into your routine but ensuring that you take time out of your day to breathe, reflect and follow some of these ideas will help you work towards maintaining a better and healthier you!
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