1. Practice Gratitude ??
Write down three things you are grateful for. It might be simple things like “I’m grateful for five minutes when I don’t need to be working”, or it could be something big like “I’m grateful for the fun I had with my daughter playing on the climber.” It works best if you can be really specific. WHY THIS WORKS: our brains are wired to focus on the negative. When we focus on the negative, the circuits in our brain become even more sensitive to things that could be perceived as a problem. By intentionally practicing gratitude, you are rewiring your brain to see more possibility and feel more optimism. (note, it will take time, but studies have shown an improvement in mood in only two weeks of practicing this).
2. Practice Mindfulness ??♂️
Sometimes it can seem like we need to be practicing hours a day (look at the Dali Lama, who practices for 4–5 hours a day), so five minutes feels like nothing. Taking five minutes to focus on your breath, or on the sensations in your body can help you relax, lower your stress hormones in your brain and body, and generally improve your physical and mental health. 5 minutes is enough. One simple breath, every day can even make a difference.
3. Take a walk outside ??♂️
Some studies have shown that by even just looking at photographs of trees, people see improvements in their stress response. Essentially, our brains are wired to feel safe in nature. By making five minutes to gently move, in the presence of trees (whether it’s at a park, or just down a tree lined street), it can improve your mental health by boosting the “feel good” hormones in your body, and reduce the stress hormones. A five minute walk at lunch, when the sun is out, can really help break up a long day, and make the afternoon start off better than if you spent it looking at your phone, in a fluorescent lit room.
Fill out the registration form to receive amazing links, guidelines & newsletters to discover how to start living your full life and reach your full potential. It’s a FREE ! https://mitp.co.za/sunday-booking/
We will show you what you need most to get a custom guide for solutions to your problems: www.mitp.co.za
