Kiddipedia
Jaimie Bloch, Australian Clinical Psychologist
When approaching wellbeing, it is important to focus on the mind, body and soul all together. Here are my top tips to help you approach each of these this spring:
- Routine is your best friend: Our brains crave regularity and work best when we have a flexible routine. In its simplest form, a routine should include regular wake and sleep times.
- Incorporate grateful thinking into your day: This last year has paused many of us, which can create a sense of hopelessness. When we feel hopeless it can be hard to remember the things we have going on in our lives or things we are grateful for. When we make time to sit and take note of these great things, it can help us refocus our attention on what is going well in our life and therefore give us a mood boost.
- Move your body: We are all finding ourselves sedentary and not moving much during the day due to the current restrictions, but it is important to keep moving your body. There have been scientifically proven benefits of moving our bodies, even if it is just stretching. If you sit in a chair or lie down all day long your body stops producing feel-good endorphins and hormones. Whether it is stretching, walking or dancing, just activate your muscles in any way that feels good.
- Nourish your immune system: Make sure you are eating well. Our body needs vitamins like vitamin C and vitamin D to help produce feel-good hormones and endorphins that help to keep our immune system strong. Our bodies are just like car engines, and without the fuel of good food and hydration, they won’t be performing at their best. Ways to increase your vitamin intake can be as simple as eating one Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit a day, which contains 100% of your daily vitamin C intake in one tasty little package.
- Surround yourself with positive people: When we are feeling hopeless or unmotivated, borrow someone else’s motivation. This may be talking to friends and family who are positive influences or even listening to an inspiring podcast. Inspiration and the positive mindsets of others can actually influence us and help to rewire our own mindset.
