What do you do for YOUR wellbeing?

[AgualusasLover]

I’ve been a bit triggered by some stuff today and my usual go tos haven’t helped as much (books and a long bath). In my bath I really couldn’t concentrate on my book as my mind was racing and I was thinking that a whole heap of things are related to this small/insignificant incident today. E.g. I put on an enormous amount of weight and am really quite unhealthy but my emotional eating stems from this. I’m also fully aware, I am in charge of my eating and exercise not these abstract things that upset me.

Reading and writing, submersion in water help me when I am stressed. But I want to start holistically trying to look after myself, rather than responding.

All a bit vague I know and I am generally pretty well
balanced, and don’t really dwell on things so I’ve annoyed myself a bit that I’ve become upset about something that was twenty years ago.

What are your go tos to maintain balance - or when you do get stressed. How can I bring some more balance on an ongoing basis?

It used to be cycling. I remember days when I would think - just get on the bike and keep turning the pedals till you feel better. I pretty much did end up feeling better in the end every time.

Exercise outdoors is baked in to the routine now, and mental health is much better.

So many great ideas, thank you.

Since sleep has come up so often, I actually sleep so badly, I wake many times, though can go back to sleep and recently fall asleep sitting up right at the kitchen table. So this week I am going to get a GP appointment and get the ball rolling on that. Because, as a result I am neither a lark nor an owl so find it hard to fit things in. I would love to swim regularly (I have a pool at the end of the road) but I cannot get up early enough and am knackered after work.

Walking in nature, ideally with a good incline for part of it to get really out of breath. Everyday for at least 30 mins. Helps with sleep too which is the keystone for everything I have realised.

I prioritise myself every day. Gym, walking, coffees out, lovely food, planning things to do. I read a lot, always have something good to watch on tv in the evening for a couple of hours.
I have had a terrible 6 months and have certainly found out who my true friends are.
I have a great dh and we do lots of fun stuff together. I figure I've got 10 good tears left so I'm making the most of it

loving this thread. It has made me realise that I do not prioritise myself at all and I need to do more things for myself.

Running. And strength training. My mind switches off, I can process stuff. And if I’m lucky I get a little gym buzz too.

Streching before bed and first thing in the morning, no alcohol, consistent sleep hours and eat more fermented food.

I do lots of the things already mentioned, particularly exercise and walking, but something else I do is talk to my inner child.

I didn't get much love in my childhood, so I am parenting myself now. I speak to her often during the day, reassuring her we are ok, and I have things under control.

Then in the evening, or if I am upset, I imagine sitting with her at a lake (Llyn Crafnant specifically!) and we chat about what has happened. I am both her and me (of course), but 'she' often has things to say that 'I' am not aware of. Or sometimes we just sit there hugging and I comfort her.

Walking my rescue dog for a few miles every morning whatever the weather (I’m retired so have no time constraints)

Gardening definitely. It’s nurturing and, I think, therapeutic and sometimes a plant that you have lovingly grown from seed dies (fecking rabbits I’m looking at you) and it’s disappointing but you recognise that it’s a minor problem in the grand scheme which is important.
I grow plants to give away.

Baking is very satisfying but again with the occasional reminder that things go wrong and don’t sweat the small stuff.

Always keep in mind that someone somewhere is actually having a terrible day and be grateful for what you have.

Good lord I sound tedious.

A good quality bedtime routine. So I light a candle in our bathroom, have Enya playing quietly and do my skincare. Then I climb into bed with my latest book and often read into the small hours. Our bed is lovely because we have very high thread count cotton bedding and a Hungarian goosedown quilt. Sleep is very, very important for me.

I also find doing embroidery very mindful and soothing.

Lastly, I often take myself off to a few second hand bookshops I know, travel mug full of coffee in hand and contentedly browse, often for hours. Books are almost a religion for me and spending time in bookshops is akin to going to church. It soothes my soul.

Can you try swimming on your days off to start with?

I take multivitamin. Might be a placebo effect but feels like I'm doing something for my health.

Gym, reading, decluttering the house to declutter my mind

I have been a terrible sleeper for as long as I can remember, so when I got my own house, I bought the most expensive and comfortable bedding that I could find, and saved up to have shutters fitted over the windows to keep any light out! It is better, but on the nights where I still struggle, I find taking a melatonin tablet sends me to sleep within half an hour. It saves lying awake in bed for hours!

My biggest thing is alone time. I just need time by myself to relax after work (but I appreciate this isn't an option for everyone). I'll read, write or knit while watching documentaries. I'm also lucky that I have a job where I spend a lot of time by myself, and being outdoors and with more animals than humans helps.

Other than that, I like walking my dogs in very quiet areas, playing the piano, listening to music while doing jobs (and more classical music when I need to calm down), monthly deep tissue massages (I carry a lot of stress in my back and shoulders), gardening when I'm off work, playing the piano and doing things that make me happy. Sometimes it's nice to attend classes or courses in things that I've wanted to learn for a long time (like carriage driving or machine knitting), or to have things booked in advance so that you've got something to look forward to.

Daylight/time outside, exercise, eating fruit and veg and psychoanalytic therapy.

Go to the spa, meet a friend, book a solo holiday if I want time to myself, buy yummy healthy food.