Your personal wellbeing should never be left as an afterthought. Instead, it should be seen with the same respect as your physical health. Which is why we’re encouraging a 360 on mental wellbeing this year! And the challenge comes at the perfect time, as we’re headed into Spring and lighter days are ahead of us.
When talking holistically, we refer to managing your wellbeing from all perspectives. From your mental to emotional, and physical to social, we want you to feel empowered to take control of all these aspects of your life in a positive way that will uplift you. Holistic wellbeing is the idea of conquering all areas of what makes you, you, and managing them in ways that make you feel good.
So, start to take a holistic approach to wellness. Rather than isolating areas of your life, allow yourself to care for the whole picture, not just an aspect of it. Follow our self-care ideas and discover how you can take control and uplift your wellbeing. Of course, some things work best for some and other things better for others, but with a few tips from us, you might uncover advice that works for you.
Connect Your Mind & Body
Rid yourself of the notion that your mind and your body do not work in conjunction with each other. Although there are different ways to take care of each, there are also ways in which you can take care of both. Exercise is always positive for both your mental wellbeing and your physical health, however, there are sports and challenges you might set yourself that cause stress. Competitive natures can sink in and although you will always benefit from the hit of endorphins, it is good to find ways to relax whilst moving too.
Activities like yoga and stretching are low-impact exercises that help focus your mind and activate your body. Yoga is particularly known for its relaxing nature, with elements like breath-work and meditation closely linked to the sport.
Guilt-Free Self Care
As women, we have busy lives. There are times we are always putting others first, but there is nothing to feel guilty about when it comes to allowing time for yourself too. It’s positive for your emotional and your mental wellbeing to dedicate time for things you enjoy. Whether that’s reading, painting, chilling… whatever makes you happy, set aside some guilt-free time for it. Self-care is as much about caring for your passions as it is about pure relaxation.
Give yourself the freedom to take time alone to commit to things you enjoy. That could be a hobby, or it could be a moment to sit back and put your feet up. Whatever that may be, there is no reason to feel guilty about it. Shake off the weight of feeling as though you have to be productive 100% of the time and allow your body and mind to stop for a moment.
Set Time to Socialise
As much as those moments to yourself are important, so is maintaining connections with those who make you happy. We might think we can all take on the world on our own, but humans are community creatures. And it’s good to remind ourselves that leaning on others is not a weakness. Not only does it help us take on the challenges of life, but it can bring happiness and positive relief from the heavier things we deal with.
Meeting your friends should be about having fun. Find those connections that make you feel good about yourself, share moments with others. Revel in others’ achievements whilst they revel in yours. After all, that’s what makes being human the most amazing thing. So, make sure you put time aside for others. It’ll both help your wellbeing and theirs, and create for a happier, more social lifestyle.
Daily Routines
Finally, build good habits into your everyday routines. That could mean setting your alarm to get up at the same time each day, giving yourself a bedtime, cutting out negative impacts like alcohol or screentime, journalling, exercising… or whatever makes you feel good. If you notice parts of your day that make you unhappy, try cutting them out. And, in the same respect, introduce habits that will help you keep a routine and keep you feeling good.
This sounds an ‘easier said than done’ kind of scenario, and in truth it is. Good habits are not easy to build and bad ones are not easy to cut out. However, with consistency, you might find the effort worth it. By keeping yourself in a routine of good habits, you’ll allow your mind to be clearer, and you’ll allow for more time to focus on the points above like exercise, self-care, and socialising.
