How to improve physical and mental wellbeing
No matter who you are, improving your health and mental wellbeing is a worthwhile goal. You’ve probably got a few wellbeing practices already, but there’s no harm in trying out a few new things. For some unique wellness activities, consider a few of these.
1 . Read inspirational books
According to the Reading Agency, ‘Studies have shown that those who read for pleasure have higher levels of self-esteem and a greater ability to cope with difficult situations.’ Their research also showed that, ‘Adults who read for just 30 minutes a week are 20% more likely to report greater life satisfaction.’
When you are choosing books to improve your mental wellbeing, focus on books that will help to inspire you. These might be books about self-help, inspirational true stories, or even poetry. If reading isn’t your thing, there are plenty of self-care podcasts that you can try. Kate shares how to start journalling which is further great activity.
2. Grow your own foods
One Green Planet stated that, ‘Growing your own food allows you to avoid all of the negative repercussions that come along with monocultures, while protecting your health and the environment’s health.’ When you grow your own foods you’ll get more exercise, save money, and source your own nutritious foods. Being outdoors helps us to relax and unwind, and it’s the perfect hobby for the summertime.
When you’re starting out, choose easy vegetables to grow, to build up your confidence. Some of the easiest vegetables to grow include onions and garlic, runner beans, potatoes and bush tomatoes.
3. Meet new people
New social connections are a great way to boost your self-esteem and mental wellbeing, have fun and learn new things. Making new friends is a great way to improve your wellbeing, and have new experiences, and grow your support network. One of the best ways to meet new people is to join classes, courses or groups. Sites like ‘MeetUp’ are a great place to find such groups. Here you can find activity groups, to meet like-minded people. Examples of activities include hiking, writers groups or art classes.
4. Altruistic actions
According to Talkspace, ‘Studies show that any act of altruism is connected to positive physical and mental effects.’ Such effects include less depression, less stress, and even lower blood pressure. To improve your own wellbeing, consider which altruistic actions you could carry out. Charity work is one of the best ways to give back, to find opportunities, check out VolunteerMatch. The website can help you to search for a number of volunteering opportunities, helping you to contribute to local good causes.
5. Positive affirmations
Affirmations can be defined as positive statements which are designed to help you overcome negative thoughts. The idea is to repeat them, or write them down, to improve your positive thinking. Blissful Mind offers the following examples of positive affirmations which can directly impact on mental wellbeing.
- ‘I give myself permission to do what is right for me.
- I am confident in my ability to [fill in the blank].
- What I love about myself is my ability to [fill in the blank]
- I give myself space to grow and learn.’
You can always make up a few positive affirmations of your own. When you train your mind to think more positively, you’ll experience less anxiety.
6. Make your home healthier
When you are thinking about improving your wellbeing, it’s a good idea to focus on the space of your home. There are plenty of ways that you can make your home healthier including:
- Replacing toxic cleaning products with green products.
- Removing the clutter to create a more peaceful space.
- Using natural light to raise your endorphin levels.
- Buy an air purifier to remove harmful chemicals from the air.
- Use a water filter to purify your water. There are many different types of filters, including water filters that remove fluoride, and water filters that remove VOCs.
With adjustments to your home like these, you’ll benefit from a healthier space for you and your family.
7. Show gratitude
According to Harvard Health, ‘In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, improve their health and deal with adversity.’ When you express more gratitude in your everyday life, you’ll soon improve your wellbeing. One of the best ways to express more gratitude is to start a journal. It’s not a difficult process, simply write down one thing in your life that you are grateful for, each day.
8. Be more green
Living a greener lifestyle is one of the best ways to improve your wellbeing. There are so many ways that you can be more sustainable, including:
- Grow your own foods, and recycle food waste for compost.
- Shop for foods that are in season and prioritize organic products.
- Look out for eco-friendly fabrics for clothing and homeware. (A few examples include hemp and organic cotton).
- Support clothing brands that are sustainable, you can check sustainability scores using the app called ‘Good On You’.
- Recycle everything possible, and upcycle your old items to create less waste.
- Sell unwanted goods or donate to charities.
9. Stress coping tactics
When you feel stressed out your health and wellbeing start to suffer. You’ll need a few stress coping tactics, to help you out. There are many activities you can use to reduce stress. Try practices such as meditation, mindfulness and yoga. If these aren’t for you, any kind of exercise is a fantastic stress release. Another great way to combat stress is by getting outdoors and experiencing the natural world.
To conclude
With a few of these tricks up your sleeve you’ll start to see great improvements to your wellbeing routine. To support your journey, there are lots of different self-care applications you can try. To get started, apps like Inner Hour and Meditopia can be useful. You might find it useful to set yourself small wellbeing goals each week. Whether it’s eating more vegetables or improving your fitness regime, small changes can make all the difference.
