On Wednesday 1st February, The Stress Management Society and RESCUE celebrate their second annual Wellbeing Wednesday to encourage everyone to bring a moment of calm into their increasingly challenging lives.
On Wednesday 1st February, The Stress Management Society and RESCUE celebrate their second annual Wellbeing Wednesday to encourage everyone to bring a moment of calm into their increasingly challenging lives.
Wellbeing is expressed as the state of being comfortable, healthy and happy and this year the focus is on the Ultimate Wellbeing Environment – how taking control of our surroundings can positively affect our mood, health and productivity.
Neil Shah, Founder of The Stress Management Society and Author of The 10-Step Stress Solution, has put together some helpful tips to help you enhance your environment:
1. Incorporate physical activity into your day
It’s not rocket science to know why physical activity is important to your wellbeing. It helps boost your energy, health and positivity, so find a way to add a little exercise here and there, whether that is to walk your dog, join a yoga class or get off the bus a stop earlier.
2. Fresh air
We all need a bit of fresh air now and then, but very often this gets forgotten. Take a moment outside, or on your doorstep and breath. It will feel very refreshing, and leave you feeling energised and focused – an instant mood booster.
3. Use background music to up your mood
We have all experienced the way in which a good song can raise our spirits, and studies have found that the improved mood and overall wellbeing created by listening to music results in increased productivity – so we feel happier and get more done!
4. Healthy eating and drinking
Take a step forward to making smarter food decisions. In order to start feeling good, you need to start from within. Cut out the caffeine and refined sugars and opt for the healthier alternatives – complex carbs, fruit and vegetables.
5. Find a furry friend – “pets are good for us”
Pets have been found to reduce heart rate and lower blood pressure by creating a less hostile and more relaxed environment. In addition, pets can act as a social catalyst – encouraging you to get social. If you don’t want the responsibility of owning a pet yourself the addition of a birdfeeder on your windowsill can encourage feathered friends to lighten your day.
6. Let in the light
The wrong kind of lighting can leave you feeling out of sorts, whereas light from a natural source is the best for your overall feeling of wellbeing. Increasing the light in your space encourages both mental and physical benefits, cueing the appropriate reactive responses in our moods, productivity and body patterns. You might find SAD lamps an effective alternative too, especially as the seasons change.
7. Find some quiet space
Meditation is known to increase both mental and physical health. We can use mindfulness to tap into an inner stability and resilience during stressful moments; it encourages better personal and business relationships, and allows people to be more creative, focused and productive. Physically moving to a quieter space can help you to achieve this state, stepping into a stairwell, car park, garden or even just a different room can help.
8. Bring the outside in
Not only can indoor plants brighten up your space and be pleasant to the eye, they are also beneficial to our health. A study found that plants can:
Reduce tension/anxiety by 37%
Reduce depression/dejection by 58%
Reduce anger/hostility by 44%
Reduce fatigue by 38%
9. Keep your surroundings tidy and fuss free
Lots of items around you, paper on your desk, clutter and a full inbox are all things that compete for your attention. A tidy environment means a tidy mind.
10. Feng Shui your health
A few simple adjustments to the layout of your room or office can maximise positive energy and improve how you feel about the space – good quality air, sufficient natural light and a clutter-free space all help.
For more tips about how to implement these principles in your daily lives, follow us on Twitter #wellbeingwednesday, check out our Facebook page or find more information on our website: Stress.org.uk
You can find out more information below:
Click here to read more about Our Ultimate Wellbeing Environment “The Lighthouse”
Click here to read more about how to “Bring The Outside In”
Click here to read more about starting a “Healthy Lifestyle“
Click here to read about the relationship between Music and Wellbeing
Click here to see how to Declutter towards a Positive Wellbeing
Check out our “Change your environment, Change your state” Infographic
Click here
