Move yourself Happy!
We all want to ‘be happy’, it is one of the most pleasurable things we can feel. And in a time of stress can feel almost impossible to reach or fleeting at best.
And stress is one of the most common factors I come across when I’m coaching. This often comes down to how we work, the demands inside and outside our work life, and the daily challenges we experience. And most importantly how we manage these, to balance our stress and our daily lives.
Finding that elusive work-life balance can feel very difficult when workflows so seamlessly over into our lives, even into our living space. Often without a line drawn in the sand where (or when) one starts and the other ends. Whichever you are doing in this new working world - hybrid, remote, in the office, or a combination of any of these it’s become even more important to find ways to improve our wellbeing as we shift between the different areas of our lives.
We all know that one of the biggest (and simplest) ways to improve our mental well-being and boost our mood is exercise.
I think we all know that one of the biggest (and simplest) ways to improve our mental well-being and boost our mood is exercise. Moving our body does so many great things for our entire body, mind, and a general feeling of well-being. From relieving stress to fighting depression. And in this recent shift where our work life is merging with home life how do we find the time to go to the gym four times a week, balance the kids, responsibilities, and work?
The good news is that gaining the benefits of exercise doesn’t mean we have to be the fittest gym bunny. Think back to the lockdowns - we all felt the benefits of being outside, especially when we had no choice but to be at home. Simply going for a walk around your local area, being outside, with a good podcast, the kids or the dog, and the sound of nature can reset our mind and body.
If you’re working at home in your favourite comfy pants and slippers, a boogie around the lounge can be enough to energise the body and mind. Let alone the benefits of music to change your mood. Music can set the tone for your work day, relax, energise or inspire you. You really are in control when it’s your playlist.
Lifting your mood can help you to put perspective on where work fits in your life.
Lifting your mood can help you to put perspective on where work fits in your life, those workaholics among us might find it difficult, but carving out 15 minutes a day (book it in your calendar) to get up and move around. Ideally, getting outside and taking a few breaths, and smiling will revitalise your approach for the rest of the day. Or how about marking the end of your working day with a walk - turning this into your ‘commute’ if you work from home, it’s a circuit breaker to work and home life.
If you can build on these small acts of movement by walking the stairs to the office, making time for a half-hour walk daily. You might even find yourself looking forward to these breaks. And bring a friend along on the journey! A workmate to walk with at lunchtime can mean conversation and movement. Connecting with others in a relaxed way can strengthen your communication, your work relationships, and collaboration beyond popping on the walking shoes for 30 minutes a day.
Taking a few minutes to fit movement into your daily routine will bring you so many benefits. Your mood will lift, your perspective will shift and you might just find yourself enjoying your working day a little more. And you will know you are fighting the detrimental effects of stress and depression. Self-care is not just a catchphrase it is a very real need.
