You might have heard me write about 'deep health' before; the idea that our health doesn't fit into one box and is uniquely individual to you. In fact, our health is a complex tapestry woven from the threads of our physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and even environmental well-being.
Think about it: you might be crushing your gym routine and eating a rainbow of fruits and veggies, but if your stress levels are through the roof and you’re constantly feeling overwhelmed, your overall health takes a hit. That’s because these aspects are interconnected, impacting each other in ways we often don’t realize.
But you know I love to take big ideas and boil them down into something simple you can actually try in your life today. So that's what we're going to do today.
Here are some ways to tap into your deep health. Pick one you like the sound of, or that feels exciting and have a little test-run with it this week:
Thirty seconds of breathing:
Start your day with a few minutes of mindful breathing. It helps calm the nervous system and fosters a sense of peace. Doesn't have to be in a calm quiet environment (in fact, I use to practice a quick, easy version of this regularly on the way to work!). One easy way in: breathe in for 4 and out for 4, slow and smoothly through the nose.
Get outside:
Spending time in nature has been proven to boost mood and reduce stress. So, ditch the screens for a while and go for a walk in the park, or just sit under a tree and soak up the sunshine. In fact, if you can't escape the screens, find a nature picture to look at - look out the window regularly, pin a picture up on your desk, or set one as the background on your screen.
Write it out:
Yes, I guess this could called journalling, but really let's think about what's actually doable here. Ditch the idea of what it 'should' look like. Let it be a voice note, a scrappy bit of paper on terrible handwriting, the back of a shopping list, something you never need read or look at again, allow terrible spelling or no punctuation, type it out in a word document or a note on your phone, include the swear words... it doesn't matter. What matters is that it comes out of you. Take some time to write down your thoughts, feelings, and aspirations. This self-reflection helps you understand yourself better and gain clarity on what truly matters.
Get playful:
Find activities that ignite your passion, whether it’s painting, playing music, or volunteering. These activities bring joy and purpose, enriching your life beyond the physical. Something whimsical, wild, for-the-fun-of-it, without it needing to be good or perfect. Be the silly straw you wish to see in the world.
Talk:
Strong relationships are essential for our emotional well-being. It doesn't matter who you have about you: therapist, colleagues, friends, counsellor, family, acquaintances, hairdressers, they all can be fun, true connections. Share a little, listen to them, ask a question, have a laugh.
Are there other ways to look after your deep health?
Of course there are.
Countless ways.
You don't have to do any of the above.
But sometimes we just need an idea of where to start, start again, or try something new for this season.
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