BECOMING AWARE of how your choices thus far have impacted your health is the basis of these 5 simple strategies that will improve your wellbeing.
Building awareness allows us to begin to enact change which has the power to
transform our lives and go from surviving to thriving! It is often not until we are faced with a health challenge or crisis that we begin to consider how we’ve chosen to live our lives.
I invite you to take some time to reflect why you’ve chose to read this today.
~ What has brought you here?
~ Are you looking for some guidance in order to enact change in your life and find a way to feel better?
~ Do you think that deep down, you know that simple changes could make a
huge difference in your life?
Implementing the strategies within these pages has been the basis with which I have
transformed my wellbeing and I am so glad to be here to share them with you.
My hope is that as you consider them for yourself, that they may a starting point for you so that you, too, can begin deeply nurturing yourself.
Enjoy the journey home to wellbeing. It is so worthwhile because: Your Wellbeing Matters.
Strategy 1: Cut yourself some Slack
(self-love and acceptance)
I truly believe that everyone is doing the best they can in any given moment, with the knowledge that they have at that time.
We really are our own worst critics. We have been conditioned to do all we can to prove our worth when the truth is: you are inherently worthy. You do not need to be anyone other than your own precious self.
This is a judgement free space.
No matter where you’ve come from and what you’ve been through up to this point, you are capable of moving forward in a way that serves you now.
Life is so much more joyful when we practice self-love and acceptance.
Start to become aware of your self-talk and catch yourself when you notice that you are speaking to yourself in a negative way. The ‘I should have…”, “You’re just not _ enough,’ You’re so …,.’ statements that we toss our way daily without a second thought need to stop. They do nothing but bring us down.
As an alternative, consider the way you would speak to a dear friend or a young child. You would encourage them, offer them love and support. You can do the same for yourself.
Life affirming statements such as, “Never mind, I’ll do better next time,’ or “Hey, you! Amazing effort.’. or ‘What can I learn from this?’, “You are looking fabulous today!’ may seem corny and silly to say to yourself but they will build you up and make you feel great about yourself.
In time, your self-love muscle will grow and you will appreciate yourself more and more.
Loving and accepting yourself as you are, is the first step in improving our wellbeing because everything else flows from there. So, cut yourself some slack and become your own best friend. Not only will you instantly improve your own wellbeing, but you will also notice that as you start to deeply respect yourself, others will follow suit and begin to show you more respect too.
Strategy 2: Practice Gratitude
Attitude is everything.
Adopting an attitude of gratitude will change your life.
It is a change of perspective that can transform the darkest day into a day that allows you to see
the light at the end of the tunnel.
Consider this. You’ve had a bad day and are feeling sad, lonely, angry or frustrated. Allow yourself to feel the emotion and then let it go. Consider how you would prefer to feel about your day. Then take a moment to think about what you appreciate about your day, something that you are grateful for. As you focus on that, you refocus and begin to feel uplifted and glad for that person/thing.
It may be a kind word from a colleague, your child’s smile or a walk in the sunshine.
This strategy can lift your spirits instantly and even help you to re-frame the most difficult or challenging situations.
Why not give it a try right now?
Either with a pen and paper, verbally to your partner, a friend or even just in your mind:
Consider 3 things that you are grateful for in this moment.
These could be anything such as the sun on your face, a meal you’ve just enjoyed or the company of a pet or good friend.
Nothing is off limits.
I wonder whether you’ll be able to stop at just 3 things? I personally, love to keep a gratitude journal and list 7 things every morning. Sometimes they are brief and at other times I get into detail and fill pages and pages. I also love to consider what I have been most grateful for at night, just before I close my eyes to go to sleep. This is especially powerful when I have had a challenging day and am ruminating about it – coming to a place of gratitude allows me that re-frame and makes me realise that there is always something I have learned or can appreciate and I am able to drift off to sleep with a sense of peace rather that in angst.
Practicing gratitude daily, whether just for yourself or with your family is truly a beautiful thing to do. It enriches every aspect of your life. It is all about mastering the art of appreciation.
You will find it very hard not to smile when you are grateful.
Strategy 3: Follow your Bliss
(do what brings you joy)
What makes you happy?
What really lights you up, makes you feel at ease and most yourself?
Do you have things that you do that just make you lose track of time? Give it some thought.
Make yourself a ‘Bliss List’.
You may not be able to come up with much to begin with but stick with it. Add to your list when things come to you. Maybe it’s having a cup of tea in the sunshine by yourself, going for a walk in nature, writing in your journal, drawing, making or listening to music, dancing or playing with your dog.
My third strategy to improve your wellbeing is to choose just one thing from your ‘Bliss List’ every day and have fun doing it.
Notice the expansion you feel in the moments you spend doing that thing!
Don’t wait for a day off or the weekend to do the things you love.
Do something you love every, single day.
Whether you do it first thing in the morning, on your break at work or last thing at night.
Make it a ritual and enjoy every precious moment.
Strategy 4:
Hit the OFF button
(Play)
You may be aware of the research regarding concerns about the effects of screen time and the impact it has on the development of children. Guidelines around screen time were introduced in Australia in 2018 to address the concerns of educators and families. They recommend no more than 2 hours of sedentary recreational screen time per day for kids aged 5-17. There is no doubt most kids spend much more time than this engaging in time on phones, iPads, game consoles and TV.
The reason I raise this here, is that it is just as valid to consider the effect of screen time on adults. It is becoming an increasing challenge for all of us to switch off our tech and remember how to engage in activities that don’t involve screens. Especially if we work on computers as part of our work day.
Do you know how to switch off and engage in play?
I encourage you to consider putting your screens aside at a certain time each day, having a tech free day each week or month or simply finding ways to balance screen time with other things.
It is so vital that as people who are trying to regain wellbeing, we find balance.
Whether it is spending time with family and friends over a meal or having a games night (and by this I mean playing good old fashioned card or board games), getting outdoors or moving our bodies in ways we enjoy,
it is so important to just have some fun – and PLAY!
Not only do we get a break from technology, we get to practice the art of face to face interaction which builds our ability to engage in healthy, reciprocal relationships. We also get to enjoy so much more of what life has to offer and that can, surely, only be a good thing!
Strategy 5: Take it Easy
(making rest and relaxation a priority)
Ask yourself this: Is it really worth sacrificing my wellbeing by endlessly striving, pushing and pulling? Must I work myself into a state of exhaustion every day, just to get back up and do it all again the next day? Is there any quality of life in this?
Please don’t misunderstand.
I don’t think there is anything wrong with snuggling down into bed at the end of the day, looking forward to a rejuvenating sleep, in utter contentment of a day well lived.
I am referring to the indoctrination of busy that so many of us have fallen for. Spending our days endlessly ‘doing’ and thinking that this is just how life must be. Despite the fact that many of us end up exhausted and often burnt out over time, with our physical and mental health seriously impacted.
My final strategy is to challenge that false belief and ask you to create more time and space to simply be. To rest. To take time to relax and just ‘be’. To work on slowing down and literally smelling the roses. Or the lavender, lemon myrtle or eucalyptus.
Try this exercise: Take a deep breath in to the count of 4 and then breathe out for a count of 4.
Repeat several times. Now, take your time and notice.
What are 5 things you can see, 4 things you can hear, 3 things you can smell,
2 things you can touch and 1 thing you can taste?
Now, how do you feel after doing this?
I hope that you feel calm, curious and present.
If feels pretty good doesn’t it?
Taking time to stop and reset during the day has the potential to recharge and rejuvenate, particularly on days when you have a lot to get through. I have found is that it has made me more productive, patient and simple increased my quality of life and hope that this will be your experience too.
I hope that the strategies covered here have given you some food for thought on how you can improve your wellbeing with a few simple changes that you can implement a little at a time, every day.
.
May you discover that: self-love and acceptance, gratitude, following your bliss, making more time for play and simply being can transform your life and your wellbeing in wonderful ways.
Wellbeing is your natural state and your body, mind and spirit are always seeking to return you to it.
Enjoy the journey.
To your wellbeing always,
Katrin
Your Wellbeing Matters Coaching 