We’ve all weathered a tough year. Be it at work, in relationships, in our family life and social circles, we’ve all taken a beating, whether we realise it or not. Start the year afresh by following these steps for better social, mental and physical wellness.
1. Exercise and Eat Well
Treat your body right and your mind will benefit. Stress and anxiety can be reduced with regular exercise. Working out releases chemicals in the brain that improve your mood and cognition, too. Both exercise and proper nutrition are also known to curb cravings.
2. Accept Yourself
The only person who can change your life is you. To create that change, you have to like yourself. There will be times in your life where you will face rejection, and there will be people who will not like you or your choices. Don’t worry about what anyone thinks or whether you are doing the right thing. Accepting who you are and loving yourself helps you to move forward in your life.
3. Purge Your Bad Habits
Now is a great time to sit back and reflect on what you’re doing that’s holding you back from living a better, happier life. It may be something obvious, like smoking or drinking, or it may be something more subtle, like binge-watching Netflix every night instead of getting enough sleep. Commit to change and replace the pattern with something healthier.
4. Experience the Joy of Learning
Learning new skills helps us to be more adaptable in new situations. It also encourages us to be more creative and innovative in our thinking, thus preparing us better for unpredictable situations. Each time you learn something new, you gain more knowledge, and with more knowledge comes more confidence.
5. Prioritise Leisure Time
Life is full of demands, but if you don’t take a second to relax you’ll burn out. Listen to music or write a poem, knit a scarf or code an app. Whatever it is you like to do, be sure to dedicate at least 10 minutes a day to it. It’ll give your mind a chance to rest and let your creativity flow.
6. Set Achievable Goals
If you have a daunting task to complete, break it down into smaller, more realistic objectives first. This will help you reduce the stress of thinking about the task in its entirety and set an approachable game plan.
7. Get Good Sleep
Sleep quality is crucial for optimising brain function and mood. Cognitive activities like making decisions, focusing on complex tasks, and using judgement are significantly improved by good sleep, so get sufficient rest.
8. Find Healthy Outlets for Stress
As you continue your journey towards wellness, stress will naturally become easier to handle. But it will still be there. You won’t magically become immune to feeling anxious in some moments. For these moments, you’ll need some healthy coping mechanisms. Breathing exercises are a great way to keep stress levels down in the moment. Take deep, slow and deliberate breaths. This will slow your heart rate and help you achieve a sense of calm.
9. Enjoy the People You Love
Surround yourself with friends and family that you care about, people who uplift and motivate you. Your social networks have a considerable impact on your mental well-being. Plan get-togethers, or just a coffee and a chat. Even if you have a hectic schedule, make time to connect with a quick phone or video call, or even a text message.
10. Live in the Moment
We are often so busy focusing on our pursuit of happiness that we miss the joy of actually living in the moment. We become so consumed with all our problems in the present that we miss the precious beauty of the moment. Sitting on the beach eating an ice-cream with your best friend is a moment of happiness. Appreciating and showing gratitude on a daily basis is experiencing happiness in the moment. Don’t miss these moments because you are too busy looking at “the big picture”.
If you have any wellness tips or advice that worked for you, do share them with us at magnsman@sph.com.sg!
