We very often hear of the common bad habits that people have. On the other hand, we rarely hear about the good habits that one can have that can actually improve their overall wellbeing.
Here are 10 habits that improve wellbeing that you can easily pick up:
1. Get Enough Sleep
We lead such busy lives that to fit everything into one day we do not leave enough time for us to get a decent night’s sleep. The National Sleep Foundation tells us that adults need between 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night to remain healthy and able to function. Whilst we are asleep our body uses the time to rest, and our mental energy is restored. It is important to prioritise your sleeping habits to lead a healthy life.
2. Take a Walk
We are frequently advised that exercise improves our general wellbeing. Some may think that this means we need to go to the gym or attend fitness classes regularly. However, whilst these things are great for us, going for a 30-minute walk will also do the trick. Apart from the physical benefits that exercise gives us, spending some time outdoors in the fresh air will help you to clear your mind and boost your mood.
3. Take a Break from Social Media
Social media allows us to catch a glimpse into other people’s lives and keep up with our friends and family. However, too much time on social media can negatively affect your mood and lead to decreased self-esteem and insecurities. Try and limit your social media usage or even try and have a social media free day once in a while.
4.Practice Gratitude
Sometimes we do not take the time to sit down and feel grateful for the small things that have gone well in our day. If we look hard enough, even the most difficult of days will have had some positive elements to them, and it is important for us to acknowledge them. Maybe your friend sent you a funny meme, or all the traffic lights were green on your way to work; noticing these small things will boost your mood.
5. Set Goals
We do not need to wait for a new year to set the goals we want to achieve in the coming months! Creating a list of small, achievable goals can help us to keep our motivation levels high and improve our general wellbeing. At times the goals we have for ourselves are lifelong ones that will take years to achieve. Think about how you can break these goals down into smaller, realistic ones so that you will always have something to work towards.
6. Cut Back on Sugar
It is no secret that sugary things are bad for our physical health. What is not as commonly known is that sugar can also increase anxiety levels as well as depressive tendencies. There is no need to cut sugar out of your diet altogether, but just being more mindful of your sugar intake can improve your wellbeing.
7.Meditation and Mindfulness Exercises
Being on the go all the time can make our minds feel extremely tired and we may find it harder to focus on the things that we need to do. A great way to restore mental energy and focus is through meditation and mindfulness exercises. These two techniques are great ways to help us re-focus and bring us back to the here-and-now.
8.Try Something New
There is nothing quite like the adrenaline rush we feel after trying something new for the first time. Maybe you have always wanted to take a dance class, or you have always wanted to go diving – take the plunge to continue expanding your life experiences and you definitely will not regret it! Trying new things helps us to keep our minds sharp and our moods boosted.
9. Connect with Others
There is nothing quite like spending quality time, and connecting with our family and friends. Investing in the relationships that are valuable to us is as important as investing in our professional career. Having fulfilling relationships improves our mental health and can help to combat the stresses that come with everyday life.
10, Plan Something Fun
Having something to look forward to is a great way to boost your mood and improve your overall wellbeing. It doesn’t even have to be something as big as a vacation. Make a plan to go and visit a new restaurant that just opened, or to go and watch a movie that you have been wanting to see. Experiencing positive anticipation can help to keep your mood levels up.
If you think that you can benefit from professional support on this issue you can reach out here.
Lisa Laspina is a Trainee Gestalt Psychotherapist who is currently working with Willingness. She is reading for a Masters in Gestalt Psychotherapy.
References
Sack, D. (n.d.). 4 ways sugar could be harming your mental health … Psychology Today. Retrieved March 5, 2022, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/where-science-meets-the-steps/201309/4-ways-sugar-could-be-harming-your-mental-health
Suni, E. (2021, March 10). How much sleep do we really need? Sleep Foundation. Retrieved March 5, 2022, from https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need