Hey everyone!
Welcome back to my blog. I hope you all had a great week and are not too overwhelmed with schoolwork! To recap my first blog post, I am going to be embarking on a journey to improve my overall well-being. Although I live a healthy lifestyle already, there are always improvements to be made, and I am curious to see if implementing small positive changes in my life targeted at my well-being will improve anything. My first step in this journey is researching tips that have been proven to better the well-being of others.
I began my research through a simple google search. When I typed in, “ways to improve overall well-being”, I was delighted to see the large amount of articles, websites, and videos that showed up. The first website I found seemed to have almost all of the information I needed. This website has an entire page focused on improving well-being, and has links embedded within it that take you to new pages with even more information. As I scrolled through this web page, I came across a section titled: Tips for improving your mental well-being. Below this title were six links, each one focusing on a different aspect of well-being. I decided to click on the links that I was most interested in learning more about, which included: relax and reduce stress, find ways to learn and be creative, and spend time in nature.
Relax and Reduce Stress
As I was reading through the relax and reduce stress portion of the website, I came across a section on mindfulness. This section described mindfulness as a practice that allows individuals to become aware of themselves in the present moment (Mind, 2021). Within this section I found a link that took me to a page on meditation. Through following this link I found that meditation can help in the reduction of stress and the improvement of overall well-being (Mind, 2021). This page recommended the use of the app Headspace, which allows users to participate in guided mediation. I have now downloaded this app on my phone, as mediation will be the first change that I will attempt to incorporate into my life.
Find Ways to Learn and Be Creative
Within this section, it is recommended to use creativity as a tool for improving well-being. The first paragraph in this portion of the site explains that engaging in a creative activity can help an individual distract themselves from any stress or unwanted feelings they may be experiencing (Mind, 2021). Through learning about the benefits of creativity, I have been inspired to get back into painting. I am not a great painter, but it is something that I really enjoy doing. Painting with my watercolour paints is going to be the second step in my well-being journey.
Spend Time in Nature
Spending time in nature has been proven to improve well-being as it allows you to feel connected to the physical world around you as well as helps you to be present in the moment (Mind, 2021). This section of the site suggests taking a walk in a green space, as it allows you to embrace nature and engage in physical activity (Mind, 2021). For my third change that I am going to make in my life, I am going to try to walk outside 3-4 times a week. I am hoping I can eventually get in the habit of walking everyday, however I feel it is best to start smaller.
Yoga
According to the American Osteopathic Association, “The purpose of yoga is to build strength, awareness and harmony in both the mind and body” (2022). Since yoga combines mediation and exercise, it can help individuals relax, focus their attention, reduce stress, and increase physical strength (American Osteopathic Association, 2022).
More information on the benefits of yoga: https://osteopathic.org/what-is-osteopathic-medicine/benefits-of-yoga/#:~:text=Yoga's%20incorporation%20of%20meditation%20and,sharpens%20concentration%2C%E2%80%9D%20says%20Dr.
During COVID, yoga became something that I would do to calm my anxieties and engage in physical activity. I would put a youtube video on the TV and follow along on my yoga mat. A yoga youtuber who I absolutely love is Yoga With Adriene. She posts videos for individuals at all levels of yoga, which is something that I really like. I have not participated in one of these videos in a long time, so for my fourth step of my well-being journey I am going to start doing yoga again by following along with Adriene. For anyone who enjoys yoga, I highly recommend taking a look at her youtube page!
The research I have done this week has made me so excited to delve into this well-being journey. I am looking forward to making all of these changes in my life, and am curious to see if they truly improve my well-being. Next week, I will begin by implementing meditation into my daily life and will be recording how it makes me feel.
References
American Osteopathic Association. (2022). The benefits of yoga.
Mind. (2021). Wellbeing.
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/wellbeing/wellbeing/
Mind. (2021). Complementary and alternative therapies.
Yoga with Adriene. (2022, June 20). 10 minute yoga for beginners [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7rKKpwdXNE
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