How to look after your wellbeing

What springs to mind when you hear the word wellbeing? You may think of your mental health, the food you eat to nourish your body or perhaps meditative yoga practice. The truth is, it’s a little bit of all of these and so much more. Wellbeing is the state of being comfortable, happy and healthy, something we are all striving for. But how do we achieve this?

There are many ways to look after your wellbeing. We are all different – what works for one may not work for another. We’ve pulled together a few suggestions you can incorporate into your day to day life that will benefit your wellbeing.

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1. Do something you enjoy

We all have those little things which are guaranteed to bring us happiness. The real question is, are we spending enough time doing those things? It can be as simple as reading a chapter of your favourite book on your lunch break, listening to your favourite music or even running yourself a bubble bath. It’s important to do things that make you happy. Making time to do what you love can help you ease your stress and lift your mood.

Why not set aside an hour in each day this week to do something you truly enjoy? No matter what the activity is, we all need to be a little bit kinder to ourselves – and that starts with having some good old-fashioned fun.

2. Tech-free time

If you find that being on your phone or computer a lot is making you feel more busy and stressed, try to take a break. This could be for just an hour or two. Give yourself time to relax and not think about what is going on online.

By making a conscious effort to unplug once in a while, you’ll be able to focus more on the joy of everyday life and be more present when interacting with the people around you.

If you find this difficult, why not try going off grid for a weekend? Join us on a Wild Wellness Retreat, a true digital detox that will give you the opportunity to reconnect with nature and yourself.

Technology isn’t all bad. Apps like Calm are perfect to lend you a helping hand relaxing a busy mind and can relax you into a comfortable sleep.

3. Connect with other people

Evidence shows that connecting with others and forming good relationships – with family, friends and the wider community – are important for mental wellbeing. Building stronger, broader social connections in your life can increase your feelings of happiness and self-worth.

Opening up to a trusted friend or family member can help you feel listened to and supported. Sometimes, just acknowledging your feelings by saying them out loud can also help.

Spending quality time with friends or family can help stop you from feeling lonely and improve your mental health and wellbeing, and can help us feel happier and more secure.

4. Be present

Do your thoughts accompany you from task to task, or does your mind drift, making it challenging to pay attention to conversations or recall what you were just doing?

Your body can physically inhabit a space when your mind is elsewhere. This tuning out might happen more often when you feel bored, stressed, or otherwise preoccupied.

Being present simply means you’re focused and engaged in the here and now, not distracted or mentally absent.

It can be hard sometimes to switch off and be present in the moment. By taking the time to be aware of ourselves and be in the present moment, noticing our own thoughts and feelings, and the world around us, we can gain a better perspective. Sometimes this is known as being more mindful.

We have a trip designed just for this purpose, so if you’re struggling with being present, take a look at our Holistic Wellbeing Retreat and experience yoga sessions and mindful walks to focus your mind on the present.

5. Spend time with animals

Some people find that spending time around animals is a calming experience. Pets are proven to reduce stress and anxiety, and in some homes, loneliness. If you don’t have an animal yourself, why not try pet-sitting or dog walking or feeding birds from your window.

6. Connect with nature

Spending time in nature outdoors can help improve your mood and reduce feelings of stress and anger. We all have different reasons to want to connect with nature – we’re all products of completely individual experiences.

Mind highlights that anxieties around climate change can have a big impact on our wellbeing, and so spending time connecting with nature may be helpful. Why not get involved with conservation activities or campaigns to protect the environment, for example an organised beach clean or trail litter pick?

Our Surf & Yoga Retreat provides the perfect opportunity to play your part in the conservation of the coast. Local instructors are eager to share their knowledge of coastal wildlife and show how you can play your part in protecting beautiful coastal destinations.

7. Think about your diet

There’s a lot of speculation around avoiding or eating certain foods to benefit your mental health, but one of the most important things you can do is eat regular meals and a healthy, balanced diet can help your mood and energy levels.

Healthy doesn’t have to mean boring. Take a look at the delicious brownies from our Wild Wellness Retreat. They’re free of refined sugar, gluten-free, packed with dark chocolate, nuts and fruit – and super tasty!

8. Physical activity

There are many reasons physical activity is good for your body – having a healthy heart and improving your joints is only the tip of the iceberg. Physical activity can also have a hugely beneficial impact on your mental health and wellbeing too. Even a short 10 minute burst of brisk walking increases our mental alertness, energy and positive mood.

9. Mindfulness outdoors

Have you given thought to mindful practices in the outdoors? Mindfulness is a way of paying attention to the present moment; spending time in green spaces has been found to reduce stress, anxiety and depression.

If you’d like a helping hand to truly immerse yourself in nature and appreciate the beauty of nature in the present, our Mindful Walking trip is a great way to introduce you to mindful practices as you enjoy a bracing hike through the Welsh hills and cosy nights in a traditional Welsh inn.

10. Bring nature indoors

No, we don’t mean befriend the local squirrels in the park. Nature has countless benefits. Some of the simplest benefits inside the home can be accomplished by bringing a little bit of nature indoors. Certain plants have been credited with improving indoor air quality, while others are known to be extremely therapeutic.

Its never one size fits all

Even incorporating one of these ideas into your everyday routine can have massive benefits to your wellbeing. The demands of your everyday life can dictate what type of self-care you can get the most benefit from. You’ll need to customise how you take care of your wellbeing with what is currently going on in your life. Don’t wait until you reach your breaking point. The goal is to take steps each day to make sure your wellbeing is looked after.