5 ways to feel better right now

The news is grim, the times are tumultuous, there’s a dominant narrative of lack.

Your wellbeing and resilience matters.

Here’s 5 ways to feel better TODAY.

1.     Turn off the news. It doesn’t make you an uncaring person. Just someone who wants to settle your nervous system. You can always go back to it, it won’t have gone anywhere.

2.     Take a walk. Get your heart rate up. Take a moment to look at the sky or a leaf.

3.     Give. Donate to a cause you’re passionate about. Collect food or bathroom products for your local food bank. Clear out some clothes for a charity shop. Send a card to someone you appreciate and tell them why. Call on a neighbour. Giving to someone else takes us out of our own heads for a while and it feels really, really good.

4.     Breathe. Close your eyes and focus on your breath for a few minutes. In, out. It’s a bit boring isn’t it? Lots of other thoughts will probably crowd into your mind. Just gently focus on your breath each time you notice your mind has wandered. Your body may start to feel calm. Enjoy the feelings. Open your eyes when you’re ready. Notice how you feel. Bit sharper mentally? Bit more relaxed? Great, try it again tomorrow.

5.     Write a gratitude list. What are you grateful for right now – find 3 things, go! Big, small, doesn’t matter. 3 things you’re thankful for. Can you find 5? Maybe even 10? Great. Notice how you feel as you spend a few moments thinking about those things you’re grateful for.

Do these simple 5 things each day for the next week. Notice what starts to shift.

P.S and NB this is not denial, fake positivity or gaslighting. No, dialling up our self-care doesn’t solve the systemic and structural issues that our society is facing. (I deal with those in my other posts and you are more than welcome to join me in campaigning, speaking up and using our privilege in myriad ways to enact change). No, doing these 5 things doesn’t necessarily change your daily circumstances, AND you are more equipped to navigate these challenges if you’re resourcing yourself every day.

Over to you:

Will you give these 5 practices a go? Let me know how you get on!

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