The idea of wellness has taken quite a mainstream form lately, but the practice has been around for years. So, what is wellness? Wellness is defined as “the state of being in good health, especially as an actively pursued goal.” The key phrase is “an actively pursued goal”. Wellness is not simply attending a couple yoga sessions or going to the gym as part of your New Year’s Resolution. Wellness is a way of life, a daily practice to stay in a state of good health.
Now, let’s get into an easy way to begin daily practice of mental wellness.
Daily Self Affirmation
Pick a time during the day, preferably in the morning before your day begins. Start with something basic: “today will be great”, “I will have a great day”; whatever motivation that you need. Now, go in front of the mirror, look yourself in the eye and repeat it five times, or until you begin to feel it. Now this isn’t a riddikulus spell (#AllThingsRelatetoHarryPotter), this is you believing in the words that you say to yourself; because they have power.
If you have difficulty finding the words or need outside assistance, I recommend Shine Daily Text. Every day you can receive a text message that features encouragement for the day, plus, an article that relates to the encouragement. I prefer the app because there are reflective questions to answer to start your day on the right foot.
Nightly Reflection and Praise
As you settle in for the night, or before bed, reflect on your day. What made you smile? What made you laugh out loud? Who brightened your day? Acknowledge these moments and appreciate them as you prepare for the next day. This is a great way to lift a mood if it seemed like you had a bad day. Finding the good among the bad takes practice and patience but I believe you can do it!
Meditation
Mediation is a great way to allow your mind to clear and relax. Contrary to TV and movies, it is not just sitting still repeating om. While that can happen, it depends on what you’re comfortable with. There are great apps out there that provide guided mediation, my personal favorite is Calm. The great thing about guided mediation is you can pick a time and stick to it. Don’t want to sit still for 30 minutes, do a 5-minute meditation. It is meant for your daily practice, not others.
Of course, there are more ways to begin your journey of wellness and feel free to research what you think will be best for you. But make the effort and stick to it.
Links:
Shine - https://www.shinetext.com/
Daily Calm - https://www.calm.com/
