Did you know that you have the choice to decide what kind of day (or week) you want to have? It may not be obvious but we all have the power from within to choose how we want to spend our time. We can shift our mindset and choose to have a new perspective. To start, when you wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and consciously make that choice - whatever that is.
To help ensure you confidently start your week off on the right foot, here are our five favorite tips:
Tip 1: Practice Gratitude
Showing gratitude for others and ourselves is scientifically proven to improvise self-esteem, increase mental strength, and improve psychological & physical health. You can get really specific or go broad. You can start small or think about the bigs things in your life. There’s no “right way” to be grateful. Find what works for you.
How? You can create daily gratitude affirmations or journal about the five things you are grateful for each morning.
Tip 2: Get Outside
Being outside in nature resets and refocuses your mind, and improves your mood while easing your anxiety. Nature is what connects us all from the air we breathe to the water we drink. Being in nature can be very healing and helps us tap into our five senses. You can start by heading over to a park near your home, laying out a blanket, and read a book as you’re prompted up against a tree. Notice the sense of ease and calmness you feel when you get outside, in nature.
Tip 3: Set Attainable Goals
These are key for you to feel like you accomplished enough through the day to feel content. Setting goals helps us track our progress and see how far we’ve come. When you can take note of how much you’ve accomplished, you’ll feel proud. You can even build the confidence to try something new because you’ve proven to yourself that you can set and accomplish a specific goal.
Tip 4: Schedule Time to Disconnect
Unplug from electronics for a period of the day, even if it’s just 30 minutes. Stare at the wall if you must, give your brain a break. It’s so important to disconnect so you can connect with yourself. Give yourself some boundaries around screen time or set your phone to airplane mode next time you go on a walk. Free yourself from the distractions of texts, notifications, and Slack updates so that you can reconnect with yourself.
Tip 5: Breathe
Schedule short breaks throughout your day to just breathe. 4-7-8 method (breathe in - hold - let out) is a lifesaver when you encounter any stress throughout the day. Conscious breathing is a free tool that is accessible to everyone. Breathwork has also proven benefits of relieving stress, fear, and anxiety so you feel replenished and at ease. You can find more breathing techniques here.
In closing, remember that we all have internal struggles, and no one is perfect. More often than not our imperfections are what make us beautiful and unique. They are what makes us, us. Create time for yourself to grow and be the best version of you, and the rest will fall into place. If you’re feeling stressed out, sad, or anxious - your gut may be to blame. Check out this article all about stress and the gut connection.