how important is looking after your physical and mental wellbeing?

At polkadotfrog we understand the importance regularly taking care of your mental and physical wellbeing which especially true in our current challenging times.  If you are still working or are currently at home, here are some tips that will help you put yourself back in control and manage stress:

1. Prioritise your health: Eating and drinking healthily undoubtedly improves general health and sleeping patterns, plus taking the time to do some physical exercise that you enjoy can have a positive effect on how you go about your day to day life. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins which trigger a positive feeling in the body that can last up to several hours, plus exercise is a great stress reliever.
2. Manage your time efficiently: Prioritising tasks, whether they be at work or at home will help you to become more productive. Rescheduling commitments and finding the time to get things done will prove to be rewarding – you never know, after a few days of prioritising you may find yourself with more time on your hands!
3. Find the time to relax: Following on from my previous point, once you are able to manage your time efficiently you may find you have extra hours in the day. Use this time to reconnect with yourself and unwind, try switching off from all technology and take a few minutes out of your evening to do some relaxation and meditation exercises which has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety.
4. Get enough sleep: Did you know that consistent sleep deprivation has been linked to cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, a weakened immune system and a poorly functioning cardiovascular system –not to mention not being able to think clearly or rationally! Getting at least 6 hours a night is essential to having a fully functioning brain – not to mention helping you to be more productive at work. Ensure you switch off from technology at least an hour before bed and make sure your bedroom has some relaxing low level lighting that isn’t harsh on the eyes. As tempting as it may be to stay up watching an extra Netflix episode, your wellbeing should come first. Turn it off!
5. Think positively: Do your best to be optimistic about difficult situations as this can help you to perceive stressful predicaments in a calm and rational manner. If something is on your mind, it’s always better to talk it out. Statistically 85% of the things you worry about will never happen anyway!*. Find someone that you can trust to talk to about what’s on your mind as more often than not getting your thoughts out in the open can be an outlet for any worries or stress that you have.

*Source: Don Joseph Goeway: The End of Stress