As many of us have been adapting to working from home and/or learning how to properly home school, it has become increasingly easier to forget to enjoy some time for ourselves. So, in this month’s post, we are providing you with 4 ways to help you unwind and indulge in some ‘Me Time’.
- Meditate
Many of us are not utilising the spare time that we have in our day effectively. We have become reliant on scrolling through endless social media posts as a method of fulfilling our free-time. However, by doing this, we are neither improving ourselves nor allowing our minds to hit that reset button and rest. Therefore, it is important that we try to use our spare time to focus on improving our own wellbeing. Whether it is five minutes or an hour, meditation is proven to improve focus, self-compassion, mood, immune function and quality of sleep. Trying to take time at the start or end of your day to focus on meditation practices such as breathing and stillness will help your mind detach from any stresses that you may have. This will enable you to hit that reset button you need to re-energise and reinvigorate your mind!
2. Outdoor walks
Whilst gyms are still closed and social distancing is essential, outdoor walks in nature are a great alternative to working out in a gym. Looking at nature has a powerful effect on the brain for both adults and children. Studies have shown that being in nature reduces stress, depression and anxiety. Exercise of any kind enables your body to release endorphins, which improve mood and trigger positive feelings in the body. This can be a beneficial method of getting kids out the house too!
3. Taking up a new hobby
Hobbies force you to take some time for yourself which is essential in these stressful times. If you do not have one or you cannot carry out your hobby due to COVID-19, taking up a new one could be the perfect solution to filling that void. The great thing about picking up a new hobby is that it provides a brilliant outlet for challenging yourself without the negative stress that come from any work-related challenges. Once you get into the flow of your hobby, your worries and stresses may ease. The new challenge can also open your mind to new ways of seeing the world. At Paige and Petrook, we recommend making mini clay-sculptures. You can purchase a slab of clay cheaply on Amazon!
4. Watch a light-hearted TV show/movie.
If you don’t feel like exercising or meditating, watching something that is light hearted can help you unwind too! Doing this may help take your mind off your busy day and, it can provide some much-needed escapism during these tough times. Whatever you enjoy watching that leaves you with that ‘feel good’ feeling will most certainly brighten up your day!
In Summary, it is so important to utilise our spare time in ways that benefit our wellbeing and happiness. These are just a few ways to unwind, relax and take time for ourselves.