Whether you’re completely new to the world of wellbeing and self-care or if you’re well experienced in using mindset and wellbeing habits to improve your physical and mental health, we’d like to share some ideas that can be easily worked into a daily routine and part of your everyday wellbeing practice.
You only have to do a quick Google search and you’ll find millions of blogs, videos and wellness gurus claiming they all know what’s best for you! We’ve found that simple, easy to stick to self-care exercises are the easiest to work into to your daily routine and means you’re more likely to keep up with them for longer too.
Try adding just one or two of the ideas below into your day. Try to tag them on to an existing daily routine such as first thing in the morning or after a mid-afternoon cuppa. By tagging new habits on to your existing routine you have an easier way to remember to do them every day and less excuse to forget!
Breathe
Sounds simple enough, but how many times a day are you actually aware of your breathing?
Breathing techniques can be used as part of a medication, a quick way of reducing anxiety or as a method for focusing your concentration.
Simply focusing on your breath, in and out for 10 repetitions and you’ll instantly feel the benefits of calmness and clarity. Try even longer to really get you into a relaxed state, reduce stress and anxiety and even help your concentration levels and productivity throughout the rest of the day.
Meditation
If you’d have told me how beneficial meditation is 10 years ago, I would of never believed you! I thought it was all about chanting, humming and finding peace with the world. Fast forward 10 years and I meditate every day to help me feel calm and grounded. It helps to remind me that there are many things out of my control and that’s ok too, and also allows me to take 10 minutes out of my hectic day, that’s just for me.
There are many reasons people use meditation and lots of different ways to practice it, you’ll find you get something slightly different from each type of meditation you practice.
There are lots of YouTube videos to try, loads of free Apps and plenty of advice online about what time of meditation is right for you and how to practice it. Why not commit to trying out meditating once a day for a week and see how you find its relaxing and focusing methods on your mindset and mental well-being.
Go for a walk
Walking is an easy and free way to get some regular exercise. Whether you get off the bus a stop early on your way into work or have the excuse of walking your dog in the countryside, just 10 minutes of walking per day, counts towards your NHS recommended 150 minutes of weekly exercise and has many health benefits. So go on, stick on some comfy shoes and add an extra 10 minutes’ walk into your daily routine.
Jog on!
You don’t need to be a marathon runner to get your trainers on and head out for a run. There are some great plans out there to get you started, such as the ‘Couch to 5k’ plan, that’s been developed to take complete beginners up to running 5k in just 9 weeks! All you need is a pair of trainers and an open road and you could be on your way to improving your cardiovascular health, aiding weight loss, strengthening your muscles, boosting your metabolism and better mental health. Now how does all that sound for free?!
Simply stretch…
Did you know that stretching can improve your mental and physical health? Just twice a week can see improvements in your flexibility and movement and all you need is some comfy clothes! Even if you haven’t done any exercise for a while, some simple neck rotations, calf stretches, and sideways bends will improve your core strength and help loosen up tight muscles and relieve stress built up in your body.
I’d suggest trying just one or two of the above ideas to start with. See what works well for you and build these into your everyday routine. Start with just a few minutes a day and build up to a suitable level for you and enjoy the peace and improved mental and physical health you’ll feel from all the above suggestions, and even better, they’re all completely free!
Holly