Doing small things every day for your wellbeing can help to protect your mental health. Research shows looking after your wellbeing helps you move further away from languishing and closer to flourishing.
I also encourage you to make your own list of things that help you to thrive.
Please note: these are not designed for anyone experiencing distress. If you are in distress, please reach out to a mental health professional or text call 1737 which is FREE in NZ.
1. Do something just for fun
From revisiting an old hobby to getting creative in a way that works for you (painting, dancing etc), remember to take time to do something just for fun.
2. Celebrate YOU
Did you know that you’re special? Well, you are! And you’re allowed to celebrate that fact too. Reflect on all the good parts of who you are by feeling thankful, being proud of your achievements, and setting personal goals. This is wonderful for your wellbeing.
3. Let go of perfectionism
A lot of us put an incredible amount of pressure on ourselves to get everything right. We have expectations of performance that we would never put on anyone else, and if we don’t match up, then the negative feelings creep in. There’s a difference between wanting to do well, and perfectionism, and it’s important to distinguish between the two so you don’t spend too much time dwelling on things that don’t actually require 110%.
4. Practice deep breathing
Breathing can be powerful, especially when it comes to anxiety and mental health. And it offers a really quick, simple way to take control of how you’re feeling. Even just one minute a day of deep breathing can be beneficial to your mental wellbeing, and once you’ve got the hang of it, you can build up from there.
5. Seek out good news
It’s no surprise that being constantly bombarded by bad news every day takes its toll. So to counter that, find ways to consume more good news on a daily basis.
6. Try a sleep meditation
Sleep is important for wellbeing. And meditation can be beneficial, too. So what about sleep meditation? Here’s one you can try.
7. Go for a walk
Walking is free and oh-so-good for your mind and body. When we feel busy and overwhelmed, adding one more thing to the list can be stressful – so here are a few ideas on how to naturally incorporate more walking into your day.
8. Practice gratitude
Our brains are pretty good at focusing on problems – probably because they are hard-wired to try and solve them for us! But all of that ruminating on negative stuff can get a bit tiring. Try switching it up to focus on what you appreciate about life.
9. Spend time in nature
Nature is glorious. And by spending time in it, you can reap all sorts of wonderful benefits, like lowered stress levels, improving your creativity, building relationships with others and even feeling more optimistic about the future.
10. Brighten someone’s day
One way to get the buzz of feel-good hormones oxytocin and serotonin is doing something kind for someone else, be it for a stranger or loved one.
11. Learn something new
Our brains love learning new things! But fear of failure often holds us back. We say ‘give it a go anyway’, and here are some ideas to get you started.
12. Do one thing (DOT)
When everything seems impossible, narrow it down to just doing one thing (DOT) to help move you forward. It’s about achievement in small, bite-sized pieces, in a way that will improve your mental wellbeing in the here and now. I heard a great idea yesterday. “What’s one thing I can do in the next 15 mintues that will make a difference?”
13. Move
Moving your body in a way that feels good to you is another way to protect your mental health. Blast some music in your headphones and get walking to the beat, or find a friend who wants to stretch while having a chat. There are plenty of fun ways to move each day.
14. Connect
As humans, we’re wired for social connection and interaction. Without it, well, life can be a bit sucky. There are many wonderful ways to connect, so just do what works for you. Aim for quality over quantity, and never underestimate the power that comes from connection through giving back.
15. Try box breathing
Box breathing is another technique you could try to help reduce stress and move yourself out of the ‘flight or fight’ mode that many of us find ourselves in on a daily basis.
16. Practice self-kindness
Switching your internal narrative to one of genuine kindness is not easy, but with a little practice, it’s possible – and it feels oh-so-good! It is about putting all self-talk through the ‘friend test’. If you wouldn’t speak a certain way to a friend or family member, then try not to speak that way to yourself.
There is always something you can do to shift your state and most commonly these involve other people which is why when we are in a stressed state we actually get a hit of oxytocin which should drive us towards others rather than away…listen to your body tune into your mind and reach out if you need to.
Ref: groov app