You Are Doing Great, Keep Going
To acknowledge this month’s World Mental Health Day, health and fitness expert, Clare Stobart shares her top tips for happiness and positivity
Boost your mood - don’t underestimate the power of exercise. Even on the days when you feel low on energy and running on empty, pushing yourself to do a workout will totally reenergise you and boost your mood. And it doesn’t stop there, the endorphins exercise release, also improve your concentration levels, memory and your ability to focus.
Enjoy Mother Nature - absorbing natural surroundings is great for your physical and mental health. A brisk walk works by increasing happiness and lowering anxiety.
Nourish - not only does your body rely on the food you consume, so does your soul. Leading a healthy lifestyle is sure to keep your mind clear and your body happy. By eating a balanced diet and limiting your alcohol intake not only will your body benefit physically, it puts you on the path to you looking and feeling your best. Nutritious smoothies, juices and meals ensure your body and mind are getting everything they need. Green Diesel at April’s Kitchen is my favourite!
Gratitude - Positive thoughts create positive things. Be thankful for all of the things you have. The benefits of practicing gratitude are nearly endless, especially when it comes to our happiness. Taking time to notice and reflect upon the things we are thankful for leads to us experiencing more positive emotions, feeling more alive, sleeping better, expressing more compassion and kindness, and even giving us a stronger immune system.
Clear your mind - write it all down. Whether you’re writing prompts to remind you of the things you need to do, or mentally downloading your day, by putting pen to paper you are able to cleanse your mind ready to start tomorrow afresh. There are plenty of journals out there to choose from, but a favourite of mine is the Wellness Journal from Papier as it allows you to log your daily fitness journey too.
Balance - Find time for what is important to you. Whether that is spending time with friends and family, reading a good book or having time to yourself, finding a work/life balance helps you avoid any potential burnout.
Create and Play - I like to play in the gym by monkeying around on the monkey bars. Brene Brown, author of The Gifts of Imperfection highlights the need for adults to make time in their lives to create and play, which in turn makes us happy!
Switch off - technology, TV, social media - switch it all off. Have some down time. Somewhat different to “me time”, down time can also be used a space for meditation. Block out some time each week to turn off devices and just be.
Happiness - “Happiness is a state of activity” Aristotle. To stay active is essential for happiness. By exercising the body and the mind, we ensure we are giving ourselves the best start to the day. Positive affirmations are a great way of weaving happiness into your life. One of my favourite ways to start the day is by saying this “I am well. I am strong. I am healthy.”
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