Recently I have done 2 things I have never done before. The first was to enroll on our Mindfulness and Managing Stress course (originally I joined the course to experience it from a client’s perspective but then realised how much I really needed it!) and the second thing was to go on a yoga retreat with my sister.
These 2 things combined have started me on a journey of self-discovery which on the one hand is very scary and on the other has been incredibly liberating and life enhancing.
I’ve always been passionate about exercise and nutrition but ‘been too busy’ to meditate or set daily affirmations and heaven knows, writing down daily gratitudes was never going to happen.
The Mindfulness course has taught me the power of being in the moment, of trying to shut out the constant chatter in my head and given me tools to do this – not as simple as it sounds and it does take a lot of practise. The yoga retreat then came at just the right time. 4 days to myself, no pressure, no deadlines, no guilt and a chance to put into practice what I had been learning.
We meditated, did yoga by the pool, practiced relaxation exercises, laughed, cried, ate good food (drank too much wine..) and really talked.
Those 4 days coupled with the mindfulness course have set me on a new path. Each day I am getting up 15 minutes earlier to meditate; I say my affirmations and write down 3 gratitudes at the end of each day. I’m still surprised that I am doing this but actually I am enjoying it and already feeling calmer and happier.
So here are some suggestions for boosting your wellbeing:
Exercise
Whether it is walking on the moor, joining a yoga or Pilates class, dancing or playing tennis – it doesn’t matter what it is, exercise naturally boosts our mood by releasing feel-good endorphins.
Nutrition
More than ever we are realising the importance of food to our mental wellbeing. Dark chocolate, blueberries, pumpkin seeds and so much more can all affect our emotional wellbeing. Look out for our workshops with nutritionist, Ali Morpeth, if you’d like to find out more. https://alimorpeth.com
Nature
Get outside! We are lucky enough to live in such a beautiful part of the world so whatever the weather, don the willies and head for the moors. The sun plays a vital part in providing us with vitamin D which has been shown to help with anxiety and depression, but even when the sun is not shining, being in the fresh air will help to strengthen our immune system, improve our blood pressure and heart rate and is good for our digestive system too.
Meditate
Find five minutes somewhere quiet and comfortable and close your eyes. Focus on your breathing – if your mind starts to wander, gently bring it back to your breathing. Meditation has been shown to reduce stress and improve mental wellbeing.
Set Affirmations
Set out your intentions. What is it that you would like to achieve? Write it down, the date you wish to achieve it by and write it in the present tense for eg. It is June 2020 and I am….
Setting an affirmation helps us to have a more positive outlook, to believe in ourselves and to radiate positive energy. Like tends to attract like so our positivity will attract more positivity. It’s a win win.
So, as a total covert I will now be enrolling on our Mindfulness Resilience Course in November!