Building your house of wellbeing

What is ‘wellbeing’? A simple way of defining wellbeing is about us feeling good and functioning well.

There is a wonderful Māori holistic model we have been using in Aotearoa New Zealand for nearly 40 years – Te Whare Tapa Whā (The House With Four Walls). It is the four cornerstones of Māori health, or wellbeing. Like any house, the four cornerstones are equally essential and should one of them become damaged or weakened, the house becomes unbalanced. If we’re not feeling our best, we can look at these areas and see which ones we can strengthen. • Taha tinana (physical health) • Taha wairua (spiritual health) • Taha whānau (family health) • Taha hinengaro (mental health) Wellbeing is a package. We need to take a holistic approach and ensure we are nurturing the four walls that make up our “house” of wellbeing. As we near the Christmas season and all the challenges it can bring, now more than ever, your “house” is the most important job you should have on your books.

We know you start your day early, and we know you can face any number of challenges before you’ve even reached smoko. Weather conditions, contractors, lack of staff, material supplies, physical fatigue, injuries, calls from the bank and of course the relentless pandemic still doing its rounds. So, ask yourself, if you were to undertake a building inspection on your “house”, would you be able to sign you off? Or would you find cracks in the foundation, leaks in the cladding and a few tiles missing on the roof! Keeping all of these balanced can seem overwhelming, so we wanted to share a few easy ways to boost your health over the Christmas break and beyond to have four strong walls of wellness.

Walking barefoot on the grass Get those thick socks and steel caps off and plant your feet on some fresh green grass. Amazingly it can help prevent insomnia, reduce inflammation, stimulate your organs, and increase the level of endorphins (feel-good hormones). Research also shows that walking barefoot on grass helps to decrease stress levels by 62 percent.

Fishing Yes, I said it. We all know and love it, but did you know you have even more reasons to get out on that boat, stand by a lake, or clamber round the rocks this summer? Simply being on or near water frees up our mind from daily stress and has a calming effect on our brain.

Fishing requires lots of focus and awareness. This takes your mind off internal conflict and stress, similar to meditation. As a result, it helps to reduce anxiety, increases concentration and promote relaxation. And perhaps one of the best benefits is that you get to connect with friends and family over something you all enjoy.

Spring clean… Hold on, don’t stop reading. You might be thinking this is the last thing you want to do, but evidence shows that a clean room improves your mental health.

Like any house, the four cornerstones are equally essential and should one of them become damaged or weakened, the house becomes unbalanced.

Research also shows that walking barefoot on grass helps to decrease stress levels by 62 percent.

By cleaning and decluttering you are also increasing your productivity. Our recommendation is to get in that garage, mancave or family area, throw open the windows, blast those summer tunes, sing like no-one’s listening, and de-clutter.

Try something new Why? I say, why not! New experiences are good for our emotional health. Trying new things gives us a hit of dopamine (feel good chemicals) and makes us feel rewarded. Fear is often the biggest barrier to doing something new. Here are three reasons to try something new these holidays:

1. Time becomes more memorable! By trying new things regularly, time becomes marked by these special times, giving you memories, which will last a lifetime. 2. You could find your passion or a new hobby. It enables you to learn more about yourself, and you might even find your superpower! 3. You experience more of life. Do not limit yourself. Go for it.

If you are adventurous enough, you will come back with new life lessons, friends, and perspectives. Overall, you will become a well-rounded person. As we know, the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago and the second-best time… is today. Go on do something for you and kick start your wellness journey.

ai166785608754_M26. Human Ex_Half page.pdf 1 8/11/22 10:21 AM Lindsey Rayner, Director at Humanex Lindsey has over fifteen years’ experience working with organisations, to help them achieve their goals and aspirations. Her focus is supporting organisations to educate and empower their people to make positive change and create a company culture they are proud of. Lindsey specialises is Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa, which she is a Master Instructor.