5 Ways to Wellbeing
Wellbeing is essential for living a fulfilling and balanced life. It encompasses not only physical health but also mental and emotional stability.
In the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, it may seem impossible to find enough time to give to ourselves to boost our sense of wellness and well-being. The truth is, it doesn’t have to be as challenging as you may think and there are ways to incorporate practices and build new habits into your life that will help you build a more balanced lifestyle.
Here are five ways you can achieve and maintain good well-being:
Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness involves being present in the moment and fully engaging with whatever you’re doing. This practice can reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance emotional regulation. Try incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine with activities that resonate with you. Classic mindfulness activities like meditation and breathwork may not be your cup of tea. It’s ok to explore activities that work for you and your lifestyle. Maybe a quick afternoon walk is more to your pace, or drawing in your art journal is preferable over a sound bath. The idea is to find something that works for you and your lifestyle.
2. Engage in Physical Activity
Regular physical activity is crucial for maintaining good physical health and boosting well-being. Exercise releases endorphins, which are natural mood lifters. Find an activity you enjoy, whether it’s walking, yoga, dancing, or playing a sport, and make it a part of your daily routine. If you are a Mum, it can be a little more challenging, specially when your kids are small. As a Mum of 4, this was one area where I struggled. Whenever I could, I tried to include my kids. This meant going for walks, jumping on the trampoline with them and even setting aside a half hour session to rock out to Just Dance! Trust me, just a few dance videos and you will be out of breath and best of all, you just snuck in a fun activity to do with your kiddos - look at you go!
3. Nurture Your Relationships
Strong, healthy relationships are a cornerstone of good well-being.
It’s important to take time to connect with family and friends, strengthen your bonds and engage in meaningful conversations. Building a support network can provide emotional comfort, reduce stress and increase your overall happiness.
If you are unsure where to start, the easiest route are special occasions. Birthdays, anniversaries, special holidays etc.. are a good prompt to schedule time with your most dearest.
While you may not always have the time to catch up with your friends face to face, keep the communication lines open to maintain that connection. It’s ok to face time or - use your phone to actually call them (I know, shock, horror!)
4. Prioritise Self-Care
How many times have you heard this old chestnut?
Prioritising self care can be a challenge, specially when you are time poor or a busy parent. However, you have to realise that even the smallest manageable steps can make a big difference.
This is what I believe the key to success is - creating small, everyday moments that resonate with you. If you sign up to the gym so you can get healthier but then struggle to go, you have done nothing but waste money and added more stress into your life. However, if you know you can do a 30 minute Yoga class on Youtube at home and can commit to it, then congratulations, you just unlocked Level 1 of prioritising self care.
Breaking down the belief that you MUST do certain things in order to prioritise your well-being is simply not true. However, actions that are manageable and make sense to you and your lifestyle ARE the way to nurture yourself to wellness.
5. Maintain a Balanced Diet
No surprises here! What you eat can significantly impact your physical and mental well-being.
Of course, we all know that a balanced diet of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can improve your mood, boost your energy levels, and support overall health.
In today’s economy, it’s becoming harder to get value for money and good, nutritious food has become one of the most expensive items in your shopping cart.
Creating a weekly menu has helped our family be more intentional with our spending. Having a menu and shopping list means that the items I am adding to cart are planned and I am not impulsively adding things as I go. It keeps my shopping budget tight and spending down.
Local markets are great for finding fruit and vegies at a fraction of the cost of the supermarkets. Sure, it means you now have to make two trips to do your shopping but it’s totally worth it if you can save a few dollars
Achieving good wellbeing is a continuos journey that involves making conscious choices to support your mental. physical and emotional health. By practicing mindfulness, staying active, nurturing relationships, prioritising self-care and maintaining a balanced diet, you can create a foundation for a healthier and happier life.