Aibu to ask for your favourite activities or items which contribute to your happiness, health and wellbeing?

[yellowpolkadots101]

Approaching 30 and I have been dealing with a bad period of anxiety over the last 12 months, I have really been trying to improve my general happiness, health and wellbeing and thought I would share my activities etc to help others!

I will start:

1. I treated myself to an essential oil diffuser with a kit of essential oils and each night I diffuse oils such as lavender to relax and keep calm.
2. My showers now consist of putting the plug in and dropping a few drops of peppermint and eucalyptus... which is heaven! I feel like I am in a spa.
3. With the help of mumsnetters I created a happy cheery spotify playlist, I try and play this most mornings on the way to work...lots of solo karaoke sessions are carried out!
4. I invested in some natural sets of shampoo and conditioner that smell lush and it feels like a treat washing my hair. (I use maui if anyone is interested, purchased from boots!)
5. I used to be so poor with my skincare and now I am obsessed! Spf 40 every day and I have started cleaning and moisturising my skin with natural oils (such as coconut oil, sweet almond, pomegranate oil!)
6. Calamine tea before bed, I purchased a delicious twinings pack with spiced apple, vanilla and passionflowets... yum!

Things I would like to improve on...

1. I am quite lazy and really need to start doing more exercise!
2. Eating healthier and less sugary snacks and desserts
3. Looking for inspiration from this thread!

Thank you for reading and looking forward to seeing your responses =)

I love this thread, I've made some of these exact same changes. I have a small baby so I don't always manage to fit this stuff in, but I love:

• Roll-ons with my favourite essential oil mixes I can apply and sniff if stressed during the day.
• Daily yoga (yogastudio app is great) - even just sun salutations if no time for anything else.
• Mindfulness/breathing exercises (with app)
• Reading books instead of mindless phone browsing
• Gardening (even just 5 minutes tending plants with morning coffee)
• A few minutes facial massage as part of skincare routine
• Dry brushing skin
• Nutribullet for morning smoothies and juices
• Having healthy but appealing snacks available (e.g. bought nuts/seeds/fruit in bulk to make own mixes, make homemade popcorn, bake and freeze healthy homemade muffins/cookies/cake portions etc).
• Using pedometer to motivate me to walk more

For me the most successful things are about creating new daily habits and routines, rather than occasional treats.

• exercise, gives me such a rush and improves my mood for the whole day if I do it in the morning
• green tea in the morning, I drink a cup before I do anything else and have some ‘me time’, I have chamomile or other caffeine free tea in the evening for the same reason.
• skin care, one of the only things I spend money on myself on, the routine makes me feel human

Magnesium is said to help with anxiety. I get mine by adding almond butter to smoothies. You can also slice up an apple and dip in!

This is such a lovely thread - I've nabbed a couple of ideas from here already :)

My things:

• I'm another one with a yoga app (I use DDP Yoga). I find even 20 minutes of a morning while the DC are sat eating their breakfast just gives me a real spring in my step for the rest of the day. On nursery days when I can do a full hour I feel like a superhero. I find this is the key for me - if I do this I'm a bit more mindful about what I'm eating, which also makes me feel better / healthier and it has done amazing things for low-level back pain and period pain.
• I have an adult colouring book and my own set of coloured pencils for when I'm sitting with the kids doing their craft / colouring. I find it oddly satisfying and it helps me be in the moment with them rather than thinking 'ugh, I could be on MN / unloading the washing machine / whatever right now'.
• A massive cup of ginger and green tea in the morning when I start the day.
• An even bigger cup of lovely coffee which I save until nap time. The first fifteen minutes of nap time, whatever else is going on with work (I freelance at home), housework or whatever is firmly sat, enjoying the coffee (and usually surfing here!). I've been trying to cut caffeine because it affects my sleep and makes me jittery, so I'm making sure what I have counts!

I bought a puzzle roll. I love a jigsaw puzzle and it means I can pack it away and just get it out when the kids are in bed.

• Knitting. I love having a couple of projects on the go and making something, either for my DD, as a gift or for myself. It's hard to think about much else when you're knitting, especially a more complicated pattern and it's really satisfying having something you've made yourself. I prefer to buy wool from a little independent shop a bit further away from where I live - it's more expensive but the wool is much nicer and feels lovely.
• A big mug of good coffee. I've discovered a favourite coffee shop during maternity leave and I love going there with my DD and friends. I've started buying more expensive filter coffee which have made my mornings at work just a bit brighter.
• I joined the WI a few years ago and I love it. I go to the meetings once a month, the craft club every week and the odd special event/outing too. I've made some wonderful friends and it's wonderful to be in a supportive, uplifting atmosphere with a group of women who are willing to listen and offer advice.

I love doing my voluteering with girl guides. Always gives me something to learn about and get invovled and it's a nice topic of conversation with other people also volunteering. Also I've been kayaking for the last 2 years now out at sea but in the pool in winter months and your area might do it on a river or loch if you're not near the sea. I love having cosy jammie nights with my fiance and watch Netflix. Also spending time with my friends not necessarily drinking even board game nights or watching TV together e.g. GoT and Eurovision

Audible. There's something really soothing about being read to. Or, I'm just lazy. Either way, works for me

I have an hour to myself before the morning and afternoon school runs as I work in a school at lunchtime.
I Mumsnet or potter about and I value this alone time so much.Ive always enjoyed my own company,its nice to relax alone imo.

Sorry that was meant to be an hour after the morning school run not before

• Cleaning my house and making it nice and cosy
• Working on my allotment
• Gardening
• ASMR videos to help me sleep
• Parkrun on Saturday mornings

Following

Oh and my annual weekend away alone - I love this time!

Oh and volunteering - i do 3 hours a week giving support to people with terminal illnesses

Walking the dog , Pilates and Body Pump , relaxing with a glass of wine , cooking .

Watching episodes of Bob Ross, the Joy of Painting on you tube. The original asmr!

Walking dogs
Swimming
Mindfulness
Reading

I’m working up to making the walking into running

I also love a peaceful cup of tea in a clean and tidy house. A jobs rota has improved my life massively

Sleep, walking in parks or countryside, watching and listening to nature( especially birds and birdsong) going to galleries, listening to music( ranging from pop to opera), not drinking, smoking or eating too much rubbish...

Walking my dogs. No matter how tired, stressed or grumpy I am, you can just walk it off. It's very good for the soul. And seeing my dogs tails wagging non stop makes me happy.

And being the first home from work and having a quiet cup of tea while the house is still before everyone else gets in. Bliss.

I am an avid knitter and crocheted
I go to knit and natter every monday, work know not to roster me on a monday
I am very lucky to live 10 minutes from the beach, an hours walk with my gorgeous pups, always clears my head
Gin!!
A hot bath and a good book

Running, swimming and learning the piano.

Gardening is my number one thing to do, I love it. From planning what to plant to weeding or even sweeping the patio.
ASMR videos on YouTube
I find doing play doh with my son quite relaxing too

My bikes. Road & mountain bike.

Also my Brompton which means I don’t get stressed waiting for a connection, instead of having to take 2 trains home from work i just get the first one then jump on my Brompton and cycle home

Forgot one other. Sitting down and reading my psychologies magazine. Just reading about retreats and spas has a relaxing effect on me