Whether you’ve had a stressful month or year or just generally can’t seem to get on top of things and tend to feel a bit run down, take heart because there are plenty of things you can do to help to feel great again. Read on to discover some of my tried and true health and wellbeing advice.
Challenge the chatter
Does this self talk sound familiar? ‘I’m so lazy/unmotivated/useless.’ Don’t assume that you are all those self deprecating terms— lazy, unproductive, unmotivated or not good at something— just because your thoughts are telling you so. Challenge these types of thoughts as they are usually unhealthy thought loops which have no basis in reality. When questioned or challenged, they often crumble even if we are dedicated to upholding them.
When questioned or challenged, they often crumble even if we are dedicated to upholding them.
It’s also vital to remember that there may be a physiological problem that causes you to have little to no energy or clarity, rather than it being a mental or emotional problem or that you are lacking motivation. Be kind to yourself and go to your doctor or naturopath if you catch yourself saying things like ‘I’m lazy’ or your energy and motivation is lacking.
Eat and move
You’ve heard this many times and it’s nothing new but moving your body and the type of food you put in your body significantly affect both physical and mental health. So make sure you incorporate these important facets into your life where you can. Even if you are starting small or want to introduce minor changes into your lifestyle. Bit by bit, you can improve these areas which greatly contribute to your wellbeing.
‘Following a healthy pattern of eating is linked with better stress management,improved sleep quality, increased concentration, and better mental wellbeing in general,’ reports Queensland Health.
Self care audit
Do the self care audit in The New Self Care. Download my book on self care for free and make sure you spend some time reading through it and completing the audit section. It’s worth taking the time to learn a new way of looking after yourself.
Fill the gap
Find new ways of nourishing areas of lack or skills gap areas. My book, The New Self Care, also provides information on how you can address these areas so you can be a whole and nourished being.
Scroll habits
Establish good morning and evening routines so you don’t scroll your life away. On average, as at 2019, people tend to spend about 144 minutes per day on social media. This is not to make you feel judged or shame for your activities but to help you get clarity on where your time and energy is spent and prod you to choose where you really want your time to go.
Instead, you can use what may be habitual scrolling time, to genuinely take care of yourself whether it be in the form of food prep, skin or body care, exercise, meditation or personal development. Or even just some extra and much needed sleep.
Quality fundamentals
It’s worth paying attention to the fundamental needs of your life and what quality they possess. Quality of water, air and sleep are important and contribute to positive health and wellbeing. Seemingly all very basic things but if you make sure you have the right amounts and good quality of water, air and sleep, you are looking after your baseline of health.
Health and wellbeing advice – my favourite resources
Here are some great books that have helped me become my best self:
- Free to Focus by Michael Hyatt
- The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
- Getting Things Done by David Allen
- The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
- Sacred Success by Barbara Huson
- Financial Recovery by Karen McCall
- 168 Hours by Laura Vanderkam
- The Diamond Cutter by Geshe Michael Roach
- Codependent No More by Melody Beattie
- Cellular Awakening by Barbara Wren
- Womb Wisdom by Anaiya and Padma Aon Prakasha
If you don’t know where to start when it comes to taking care of yourself or feel overwhelmed with health and wellbeing advice, please don’t hesitate to book a counselling appointment with me and we can work together to help you become your best self.
