What are your small tips for health and happiness?

[WotWouldCJDo]

Could we have a thread for sharing small and easy ways of lifting ourselves up? Ways of staying physically active, mindful, grateful and connected to others?

For me:

Started drinking a Yakult every morning (strong link between general health and gut bacteria)
Daily multivitamin
Just bought a FitBit - love to see my progress, track runs, etc and it prompts me to try and walk 10k steps a day / move around regularly
Started running outside (I’m rubbish, 2.5 mile is enough for me but the fresh air and daylight is so much better than being in the gym!)
Short, guided meditation sessions with headphones in

I know it sounds a bit naff but just appreciating simple pleasures in life - bubble bath with low lighting / spa music, fresh bedding, scented candles, autumn walks, lovely hearty meals with a glass or two of wine (fair enough not exactly healthy but everything in moderation!).

I’m on the edge but the following are stopping me teetering into the abyss.

Simple habit, a daily 5 minute meditation
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simplehabit.simplehabitapp&hl=en_GB
Yoga with Adriene

Exercise helps, and eating healthy food. Walking every evening and saying hello to everyone we pass by.

Remembering that we are so, so incredibly lucky to live in a generally secure and safe country, where you can (usually) get food, information, medical care, central heating, and so on. We could easily have been born into the middle ages amidst plagues and famines.

Getting outside for half an hour and either walking or jogging.

Candles in the bath

Reading with my kids

Wine 🍷

A daily newspaper delivery. Feels like a little gift every day!

Another who feels getting outside every day makes SUCH a difference.

Ten I think looking for the positives every day. It feels odd at first, I'm sure, but once it becomes habit, it makes SUCH a difference to the way you feel.

Reducing how much time I spend online
Keeping a gratitude journal and finding 3 positive things every day to focus on. This has made a huge difference to my mindset
Getting outside every day
Finding beauty in nature (a little more tricky in winter but the colours of the leaves at the moment are amazing and there have been some lovely sunrises recently)

An hour yoga at 7am every morning except Sunday
Little to no alcohol
Good food (low carbs)
A socially distanced walk with a friend
A supportive dh
Nice candles
Fresh flowers
Cleanish house
Nice bed linen, throws, newly painted rooms
My pets
No money worries
Acceptance of reality and gratitude for each day and what it brings

A five minute yoga using the down dog app.

A few bicep curls or whatever with dumbbells

Morning coffee

Funny Instagram accounts: depop drama, loveofhuns, lad bible, best of grindr

Blackout eye mask for bed time

Podcasts and audiobooks on immediately to combat rumination

When I remember, I find just three, slow, deep breaths helps me come back to myself as opposed to being swept up in thoughts.

A socially distanced walk with a friend

I think this is currently my greatest luxury in life.

I got into such good habits at the start of lockdown, then wobbled a bit and found I was spending weeks at a time indoors, just working, eating, drinking. I put a lot of work recently into exercising, cutting down on alcohol, losing weight but the last few weeks have been a free for all again. Noticed I've spent today wandering around the house snacking and refreshing my phone.

As of Monday I am going to try and get back on the healthy eating and leaving the house at least once a day. I'm going to also start small on my mental health with a daily meditation.

In the spring I found it helpful to have markers in my daily routine (NOT including a glass of wine at 5pm!!) and some markers in my weekly routine like doing some self care on. Sunday.

Strawberry shoelaces from Asda. Fabulous! 25p each or 5 for £1.

Turn the news off! That’s a big one. And generally just less screen time.
Daily multi-vitamins.
Good sleep routine.
Drink water.
Meditate.
Balanced diet.
Time outdoors every day.

Some excellent advice here. I bought this print at the weekend, I think it makes a lot of sense, and is my memento for this year to myself.

I've lost a lot of my earlier mojo, but things I did initially that helped were planning things: we had quite a few holidays cancelled, including kids' school trips, so I had themed food of where we/they were supposed to be, which was quite fun to plan and experiment.

Regular exercise. This is so, so important, especially yoga. I've literally only just started going back to my yoga studio, looks like I'll be back to Zoom (which is fine, I've been doing mainly Zoom even when the studio reopened). Not sure what will happen with my PT, we managed outdoor sessions before he could re-open his gym, perhaps we'll do that again, but we'll be at the mercy of the weather gods. Lots of walks, especially with friends if we'll still be able to do that.

Projects. Managing a bit of decorating was good for the soul. DH and I dashed to B&Q this morning to get more paint in advance of tonight's announcements. Also gardening. Lots and lots of gardening.

DH and I have been WFH since March, I've managed 1 day in the office. I had to cut hours over the summer, hoping won't need to do that again, but it'll depend on what activities we're able to still do as to whether there will be enough work.

Good luck everyone 🍀

Dancing.

• Walking out of doors. Either a good brisk get the blood pumping, or a leisurely stroll, taking in your environment.

• Watching nature

• A conversation with a friend

• Watching comedy programmes

I love dr chatterjee’s podcasts and books-especially feel better in five.

Deep breaths. In for 6, out for 6.
A 6pm cocktail.
Sending nice things to my family (postcards, box of doughnuts, a cake) cheers me up as much as them.
Walking every day.
No phone after 9pm, reading books in bed.
Earrings and lipstick for every damned zoom call.

It’s going to be a long winter but I feel like I’m propping up so many other people (teenage kids, shielding parents) that I need to just keep us all going really. Exhausting but do-able.

Get out of the house daily if you can. Walk somewhere that’s rich in nature. The urban environment is stressful and we need the tranquility of nature to keep us balanced.

Eat well. Have lots of vegetables every day. Soups and stews are really comforting and healthy.
Fruit is good too and we all need lots of vitamin c and d for good immune systems. Get some supplements if you need some.

Get the sleep you need.

Stay away from constant social media and the news.

Keep in touch with family and friends.

If you’re not working, do something mentally stimulating too. A course (lots of free ones), reading, documentaries, Ted talk.

Limit social media and exposure to the news.
Country walks.
Watching the birds on the bird feeder.

Great idea for a thread!

I'm enjoying listening to this book on Audible. It's helping.

I also really rate the Calm app, especially during autumn and winter. I'll listen to a meditation on there a few times a week before sleep with some soothing noise set in the background on the app, usually rain sounds. It helps me sleep well and wake feeling relaxed and happy.

Taking vitamins and a separate high dose vitamin D I got on Amazon, and making sure my iron is up as I get anaemic and tired easily which can make me feel depressed and full of despair.

I try and have small things to look forward to in the coming week - a series I'm watching I'm excited to continue, re-watching a fave film I haven't seen in ages, knitting, an episode of a podcast, buying a new book... although I have to watch that last one. I've bought a few too many books this year.

Thanking people and appreciating them when I am grateful for stuff, complimenting them and also just enjoying a few moments to feel a burst of 'I'm so lucky that I get to...' and then fill in the blank with something you know people would be insanely grateful to have or do. Just reminding myself of stuff as I think as humans we tend to forget some things we have which are awesome, or we play them down in our head.

Trying to have a regular bed time and generally be kind to myself.

Making myself be social even if it's on zoom, via text or whatever. It all helps. In person social is the best kind, though.

These work for me:

Daily meditation. Even just 10 mins a day - and even when it’s hard and boring and my mind just won’t shut up - has an immensely positive effect on my wellbeing.

Writing a gratitude list every night before bed.

Lovely hot bubble baths frequently. I try to have one every evening. Helps me ease out of a busy day and in to a relaxing evening.

Creativity. For me it’s writing, but whatever you do - draw, craft, bake, play an instrument, gardening - doing something creative is such an antidote to stress. We need time to ‘play’ and use our imaginations.

Filling up the bird feeders every day and spending some time watching them. 5 minutes of that and I feel like my head has had a complete reset 😊

Daily chanting and yoga. Music. Regular orders of Elemis skincare funds permitting.