Taking care of your own well-being is less complicated than you think with these six simple things you can try from home, every day.
At least that’s what Dr. Maurice Duffy, wellness coach, recommends. These tips could be a game-changer in your daily life, the British newspaper reported The Mirror.
Create a “bad day” plan
“Taking care of your mental health should be as important as eating, bathing and sleeping,” said the coach. Yet when you’re having a really bad day, it can be hard to take a step back and figure out how to feel better.
The doctor therefore suggests creating a “bad day plan”, to be produced beforehand, when you are having a good day.
‘It can include things like a pre-written letter of compassion that will give you courage when you’re in trouble, a relaxation activity such as a bath, a plan to reduce your to-do list – what more you can do late. Journaling can also help you understand how you are feeling,” he adds.
Take breaks
“If you’re not able to get a few minutes of rest in a full day, maybe that’s a sign you should take breaks more often,” Duffy says.
“Mindfulness meditation is still a great place to start because it helps bring attention to the present moment and let go of judgment about how you feel,” he adds.
Simple breathing techniques can also help if you don’t know where to start.
Say thank you more often
“It’s been proven that expressing or feeling gratitude can alleviate anxiety and depression,” says Dr.r Alison McClymont, psychologist.
Gratitude is said to reduce stress, lower cortisol levels (our body’s main stress hormone) and increase overall mental well-being.
Gratitude would also be correlated with reduced risk of heart disease and certain cancers as well as with improved symptoms of autoimmune diseases.
Looking on the bright side…really?
We have all been faced, at one time or another, with bad news or the end of a relationship. Although many are told to see the bright side of things, it’s not that simple in reality.
Positive thinking doesn’t work for everyone — it can even exacerbate a problem for some, according to the doctor. If you’re always trying to stay positive or happy, you risk ignoring your important feelings and failing to address their root cause.
“Sometimes it’s best to take a break and be honest with yourself about how you feel, and then come up with a realistic plan to decide what you can do to best ease those feelings,” indicates the coach.
To move!
“30 minutes of exercise can make a huge difference to your health, mindset and well-being,” confirms the Dr Duffy.
The Dr McClymont adds that “physical activity helps fight depression and anxiety. When we exercise, an increase in serotonin and endorphins [hormones du bonheur] creates itself to then free itself from your body.”
Maintain good relationships around you
“Negative relationships are very detrimental to our mental health,” reports Duffy.
Whether it’s a partner, friend, or family member, it’s important that you invest your time in people who make you feel good about yourself.
Taking steps to improve your relationships can develop a positive outlook towards yourself as well as the other people in your life.
To improve your relationships, a rule, advised by the coach, is to try to multiply by five the positive statements compared to the negative statements in your discussions, including in your arguments and disagreements.