LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE
Recently I’ve been doing a lot of reading and watching a lot of videos on setting goals and forming good habits. It must be something to do with being in lockdown that makes me look backwards AND forwards with the dawning realisation that as we get older we don't want to waste time! There's a world of opportunities and although I can't do them all, I can have fun, achieve things, create, inspire, motivate - myself as well as others.
There’s a lot of talk on these podcasts and in these books about ‘living your best life’. There are really helpful guidelines and quotes to help people live life to the full in whatever circumstances they find themselves. One speaker talks about her top tips for habits that build healthy minds:
- Keep a journal of things you’re grateful for – a regular practice of 3- 5 things each day. Some are simple, some are special, some are routine. Each day I list different things, from the aroma of fresh coffee to a beautiful sunset to a long hug with a loved one. Or an email from a friend, the wisteria on a neighbour's house .....
- Sleep and the importance of rest. She recommended at least 7 hours a night; and in lockdown for those of us at home, that's easier than ever. I find I am going to bed early, reading and then sleeping long and hard. And gifting myself half an hour (or an hour) after lunch each day to sit and read. It feels very indulgent! Or a bath in the middle of the day. Rest is different things for different people.
- Having a day every week where you don’t do any work, where you rest and do things that will recharge you. For me that's Sunday, a day to potter, avoid technology, eat at leisure ...
- Spend time each day, preferably in the morning, in meditation and prayer. Being mindful, using mindfulness.
- At the end of each day go over the events, conversations, and emotions of the day and leave them behind as you go to sleep. I visualise putting them into a balloon, blowing it up and letting drift away taking all the negative stuff with it.
- Challenge thoughts as they come into your mind, and reject those that aren’t true. I'm having to work quite hard on this one!
What gives your life SPICE?
Spiritual
Physical
Intellectual
Creative
Emotional
