You’re definitely not alone if you’re feeling a bit out of whack at the moment – a lot of our sweet little wellbeing routines are getting all muddled up. All this chaos can cause a funny feeling of upheaval or stress – but we’re here to get you right back on track.
Here’s the best tidbits of advice from some of our mates who’ve reoriented their mental wellbeing after a bit of a whirlwind. For more tips to improve your mental wellbeing, head on over to Queensland Health‘s website. Your perpetually whirring mind will thank you.
Clean your body
“I always find that I need to start really small when my routine’s been thrown out of whack. A shower, or a bath if you’re feeling fancy, will always leave you feeling even just a little better after you’ve had it. It’s the perfect place to start.” – Marie
A good, warm shower can really turn a day around, and is probably one of the easiest forms of self-care. Bonus points if you have some kind of fancy bath or shower product stowed away in the bathroom cupboard.
Meditate…or just ‘be’
“I have such a hard time meditating but I KNOW it’s really good for you so I do try. It’s really hard for me to quiet my mind down, so instead of full-on meditating sometimes I try to just sit or lie down quietly without looking at my phone or laptop. It’s kinda mindful, which usually helps to clear my thoughts a bit.” – Tom
Meditation really does help increase our resilience to stressful periods, amongst a bunch of other good research-backed effects.
Even though it’s really good for us, meditating can be really difficult to do at first. But you don’t have to be an expert to participate in mindfulness activities – and you also don’t need to set aside a huge chunk of time either. The ‘5-4-3-2-1’ technique is a popular one that can take less than a minute.
Clear your space
“I’m one of those people that needs to totally clean out and prepare my space before I start really tackling what’s going on in my brain. I’ve accepted that it’s all a part of my process, and I actually think it helps me start to work through difficult or stressful things I’m going through.” – Ira
I know there’s a saying out there – something like ‘clear space, clear mind’? When your routine has been thrown out of whack, it can be so easy to let your room – or, ahem, entire home – fall into a slight state of…unkemptness. It’s OK! There’s no shame in it. While you’re motivated to get things back on track, now’s a great time to tidy up a little bit. No need to go full spring-clean mode (unless you want to), but a quick clean might just boost your focus.
Treat yaself – or at least, just give yourself a break
“I know everyone’s doing “little treats” at the moment but seriously – do not underestimate the mood-boosting power of a little treat. It doesn’t even have to be something you buy – treat yourself by going on a long walk with your favourite podcast in your headphones. Or swing by the dog park and watch the dogs run around. Instant serotonin.” – Matt
Whether you splurge on that new skincare, or cozy jumper for the winter, or make yourself a totally delish dinner – treating yourself can give you an instant mood lift. Treats don’t have to be expensive – they don’t even have to cost a thing! A treat can just be a nice walk in the park or even just a moment to do nothing at all.
Do a to-do
“I literally cannot function without my to-do list. I make one every day, and I know I’m feeling overwhelmed when I stop making them but still try to get everything done. Getting back in the habit of to-do lists is probably the most important part of my wellbeing routine.” – Essie
The humble to-do list! The heavy lifting my to-do list does in my life on a daily basis is truly remarkable. Getting all your tasks down on paper, then receiving that sweet little mood-boost when you tick something off…it’s just a really underrated wellbeing tool, I reckon. It’s also a great place to start if you’re feeling overwhelmed at the beginning of your routine-recovery.
Check out the Queensland Health website for a treasure trove of information and resources that can help you get on top of your mental wellbeing, so you can be the best you possible.
