The A – Z of Wellbeing – O

It’s time once again for the A-Z of wellbeing. this month I’m exploring the letter O. Let’s take a look and see.

O

Observe – Look around you, inside or outside. What do you see? Go for a walk and you probably see a lot of people with their phones in their hands, texting or calling people, listening to music or podcasts and not noticing the world go by. Perhaps this is you and you can’t seem to put your phone down. If you are out walking, try to observe the world around you. Take notice of the beautiful surroundings. If you aren’t sure where to begin (I know that may sound strange but if you are someone who always has to be talking or listening or doing something on your phone then you are likely distracted from noticing what’s around you) then go through your senses. What can you see? What can you smell? What can you hear? What can you touch? What can you taste? Take notice of what is in front of you and enjoy the moment you are in. You may be surprised by the results of your observations. This is also a great tool to help you calm down when you are feeling anxious or panicked. Instead of looking for one of each aim for 5 things you can see, 4 things you can hear, 3 things you can touch, 2 things you can smell and 1 thing you can taste. It will help you to be in the moment and calm you down.

Obstacles – No matter what we do in life, there will always be obstacles that prevent us from moving forward in the way we hoped. But obstacles can be overcome. Think about what you want and where you need to go. Can you go around the obstruction or do you have to tackle it head on? Is there someone who can help? If you want something you usually have to work hard for it, so don’t give up at the first hurdle. Push on as you never know what is just around the corner. Never be afraid to take a different route to realise your dreams.

Open – Be as open as you can about your mental health with your nearest and dearest. Everyone wants to make sure you are well and will want to help when times get tough. So please, please speak to your family and friends about how you are feeling. We all deserve happiness and wellness. Start conversations with your friends and family, chat to them and discuss mental health and wellbeing when you can. It should not be something we shy away from. Don’t take ‘fine’ as an answer to the question ‘how are you?’. Let’s start being open and honest about how we really feel. If you feel sad and frustrated or angry then say it. If you know why then you can say that too. If you don’t know then a conversation may help you to explore the reasons why.

Order – We all like some kind of order, whether it’s tidying and cleaning or ensuring our paperwork is filed away. Day to day we don’t think about it and just get on with it. But are you someone who strives for perfection? Do you perhaps spend too much time cleaning and won’t settle for good enough? Do you clean daily or more? Are all your surfaces clean and free of clutter? If order to you means stressing out over how clean your house is, then maybe you need to take a moment and look around you. Will anyone care if you haven’t vacuumed today or that you haven’t washed the floor? If you aren’t living in a hovel, then give yourself a break.

Outdoors – Fresh air, life, freedom, nature. Being outside is truly therapeutic. The best advice I can give is for you to go outside daily and spend time breathing it all in. Go for a walk, have your morning cuppa, do yoga, cycle, run, play games in the park, run around with your dogs, learn about nature, watch the world go by as you sit on a bench. There are so many things you can do outside that are good for your mental health, so switch the tv off and go explore. Even if the weather is terrible, just go for a quick 10-15 minutes walk and breathe in some fresh air, you will feel so much better for it. Why not find local forest walks or footpaths to follow. Explore your surroundings. You never know what you may discover.

There are likely many more words you can think of in relation to wellbeing. Hopefully the above has given you something to think about.

Have a great week, take care and look after you.

Love Emma xx