There is no denying that a lot is going on in Australia and around the world. It is very easy to be exposed to negative vibes....all you have to do is turn on the news. Which leads me to the first hot tip.
1. Listen to and surround yourself with positive like minded people and role models
It may sound a little extreme to some, however limiting your exposure to mainstream media is very liberating and freeing. This is a quick way to strip a bunch of negativity from your life.
This is super important when looking at your morning routine. Do you start your day watching a good ol version of the 'morning show'? Starting the morning on a positive note helps to set the right vibes and mindset for the day.
Choose books, audio books, podcasts and youtube role models that are positive sources of personal growth and development. One of our biggest influences has undoubtedly been Tony Robbins. The people and role models you surround yourself with or listen to daily have a huge impact on your mindset and well being. Find people who align and resinate with your goals and personality.
2. Exercise Daily
Everyday set time aside to exercise. Start somewhere and be consistent, whether that is 15 minutes everyday or 45 minutes.
Not having time is never a valid reason to avoid exercise. We can all cram a short intense session in to our busy days.
Physical activity has a huge impact on your mental state and well being. Even after the first few sessions you start to feel a shift in your mindset and mental state.
A gym membership is not essential either. There are plenty of substantial exercises that can be done using body weight alone. Take a walk/jog, watch a YouTube body weight session, find free body weight workout guides on the web. Purchase a kettle bell or set of dumbbells and you have more then enough equipment to add some variation to your daily physical activity.
Just get it done!
3. Journal Before Bed
Everyday we all deal with a swag of situations and emotions, it is important to find a healthy outlet and way to express yourself. Journaling is a powerful tool for managing mental health, as it can help by:
Reducing stress
Managing anxiety
Coping with depression
Set aside a few minutes everyday to journal, as once again consistency is key. Having a consistent time and place to journal maybe helpful. It is the last thing I do each night, my journal and pen sits on my bedside table to give me the reminder and to make it an easy process.
It is a relaxing process, where you can dump the days highs and lows. Hit eject on the flowing thoughts, to aid sleep.
Your journal can be just that, your very own and you may choose to never share it with anyone. Which is perfectly fine. It is your outlet and tool. Use it how you feel fit. Go with the flow. Write or draw whatever feels fit on the day. You may structure your journal with prompts or be very unstructured. The beauty is it is your process and whatever works best for you.
Sometimes a nice pen or personalised journal cover may enhance the enjoyment and pride in the process. As you go into your own world and unravel the days chapters.
4. Pursue a hobby
Hitting pause on work, duties and responsibilities by pursing a hobby is essential in building a positive mindset. It is an opportunity to enhance your quality of life and health.
Through engaging in a hobby for a few hours each week, you can reduce stress and the risk of depression and dementia. Benefits of hobbies can be; physical, mental, emotional, social, self-improvement and enhanced skills.
Each week I set aside sometime in the veggie garden. This is a great escape that benefits both my own well-being and helps nourish our family with the produce grown. Sometimes it is a theory session to learn about what seasonal crops to plant and new techniques to try. It is all enjoyable and also flows into my love and passion for cooking.
We are also lucky enough to be pursuing our passion for leather work in our small business.
5. Prioritise sleep
We all have a magical number of hours we run on optimally and research suggests between 7 and 9 hours sleep each night. It is easy to cut ourselves short in this domain, as we just have one more thing to do, or get stuck scrolling for a few more minutes (...hours) on social media.
It especially challenging having a young family, as babies and toddlers greatly impact on sleep habits and the quality of the parents sleep for obvious reasons. This ongoing battle makes this point even more key to maintaining a positive mindset.
Sleep helps:
Improve memory and mood
physical recovery and repair
support brain development, cardiac function and metabolism
support learning, productivity and concentration
boost immune function
keep emotions in check
Set a constant bedtime and routine that promotes good sleep habits. Set an alarm 1 hour before your set bedtime to notify you to cease screen time. Ditch the computer, Ipad or phone and pick up a journal, read a paperback book or meditate to wind down.
On that note, I'm wrapping this up and signing out for night ;-)
Conclusion:
These are all implemented tips we have employed to help us build and maintain our positive mindset in a whirlwind first year of being self-employed.
No matter your circumstance these tips are very helpful and can help shape each and everyday.
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