24 Ways To Fabulous - FAST

14 Fun Ways to Feel Fab Fast

Feeling flat, unmotivated, disengaged, anti-social, and without direction? These feelings are common, and don’t mean that you have any kind of mental health problem, but string a number of days like this together and you may be experiencing the early symptoms of mild depression.

Perhaps you feel, instead, that you are constantly moving at a thousand miles an hour, and are concerned that you might burnout, and notice yourself feeling less empathy and patience than usual.

Whether these are early indicators of a mental health problem, or potentially increasing the risk of one developing, studies are showing that engaging in non-professional supportive activities are helpful in the prevention of and recovery from mild to moderate mental health conditions. So here is a list of some of our favourite self-care activities that will boost your self esteem, confidence and make you feel fab!

Jog around the park

Studies show that 30 minutes of moderate exercise, three to five times per week, is just as useful in recovering from mild to moderate depression as anti-depressants.

Volunteer

Helping out others who are doing it tougher than you, and feeling as though you are making a positive difference, can help you feel grateful for your circumstances.

Attend a workshop

Spend the day learning a new skill, whether it be creative or developing the grey matter. Choose something that you are curious about or always wanted to try.

Take a long bath

Nothing particularly magical about the water (unless you are adding magnesium bath salts!), just setting aside 20 minutes for uninterrupted ‘me time’. Maybe you should lock the door.

Sound Bath Meditation

A bath of a different kind! Tibetan singing bowls emit chimes and surprisingly strong vibrations during this meditation session, to ‘clear the energy blockages’ and ‘heal the body’.

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Sleep

In some cases, simply repaying the sleep debt will make a marked difference to mental resilience. Try a sleep program on one of many apps available to help you achieve deep and restorative sleep.

Declutter the garage

Not only can the physical activity feel good, but there is a high chance of achieving mental ‘lightness’ by eliminating clutter from a crowded space. Enjoy the dopamine rush each time a new corner is cleared.

Plan your weekly meals

Nutrition in the diet is much easier to achieve when preparations have been made in advance. Science is linking gut health to mental wellness, and good nutrition plays an important role in health gut microbiota.

Date your kids

Is one or more of your children the source of tension or exhaustion? It’s a tough situation that can leave parent and child feeling helpless, and other children ducking for cover. Take time to schedule one on one ‘dates’ with each child, for as little as an hour, to reconnect outside the home over a treat or enjoyable activity.

Watch the sunrise

There is something magical about the stillness and serenity of this time of day, and a little joy (if not smugness) comes from knowing it is something not many are awake to enjoy.

Upgrade your flight

This treat is often accessible to those who need it most – the flying commuters! Collect those frequent flier points and status credits, and use them once in a while to fly at the pointy end and arrive home more refreshed.

Walk the dog

Interacting with domestic animals, whether dogs, cats, birds, lizards, horses, or whatever takes your personal fancy, has a way of creating mindfulness – being present in the moment – and feelings of unconditional love.

Host a dinner party

Maintaining meaningful social relationships has been shown to increase health and immunity, and prolong life expectancy. Your cooking doesn’t have to be great, but the conversation and laughter should flow.

Snuggle or cuddle

Intimate and loving relationships are good for our health too. But you don’t have to be romantically involved - just giving and receiving a hug from friends, children or our parents promotes the production of feel-good oxytocin.

WORKLIFE | FEBRUARY 2019

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