Guten tag! This post is coming to you from Germany.
This month the A-Z of Wellbeing is looking at the letter S. There are a multitude of words I could use so here are just a few which may resonate with you.
S
Scaffolds – we all know some scaffolds. I’m not talking about the building variety, instead think of those friends who really support you and have your back. In times of need they are there holding you up and getting you through the day. These are the people you can count on throughout life and who you want to be in your life.
Sad – It’s ok to be sad. Sadness is an emotion which we’ve all experienced. We can feel sad for many reasons, such as watching the news or a movie or through the loss of a friend or relative. Sometimes we may not understand why we feel sad but we just do. When sadness hits us, instead of trying to stifle it away, feel it, let it wash over you and go through it. The emotion can last for minutes, hours or weeks and days. Be kind to yourself and do what you need to do. If you find yourself feeling sad for a long period of time, speak to your doctor and talk things through.
Self care – I speak about this a lot in my posts. It’s about giving yourself the time and space to look after you. What do you need from yourself today? Is it 10 minutes to sit down and read or perhaps it’s a 2 hour walk. What can you do today to make yourself feel great? We all need a little love for ourselves but too often we forgo it as we treat it as a luxury. We put our kids/partners/friends/family ahead of our own needs and neglect ourselves. When we should really be looking inward and deciding what will benefit me which in turn will help others. Give yourself 30 minutes which can be spread throughout the day if you need and do something you love, will be good for you and will give you a boost.
Smile – how often in a day do you smile? Smiling is a stress reliever, it gives you a wee boost of dopamine and serotonin helping to reduce your stress levels. Have you ever received a smile from a stranger as you’ve walked down the street or been in a supermarket? How did it make you feel? What makes you smile? If it’s looking at cute wee kitten videos on YouTube then watch them, if it’s listening to your partners terrible jokes then ask them to tell you more! Make someone’s day and smile. Pass one on today.
Senses – most days you’ll use your five senses without giving them much thought. But if you spend time focusing on one or all you will really start to notice the world around you. For example, when you step outside your home, look around and name 5 things you can see. Maybe it’s a bird sitting on the fence or a man walking a dog, or you look up to the sky and notice the clouds. Really take your time to notice and acknowledge what is there. Do the same for sounds – what can you hear, maybe there are a lot of different noises and you have to pick them apart, or you may hear just one sound at that moment in time. Once again really pay attention to it. Do the same for smells, taste and touch. For taste, be really mindful with a meal you are eating, with each mouthful notice what flavours are coming through. Slow your eating right down and enjoy. Use your senses mindfully and watch as the world opens up to you.
Stress – we all get stressed from time to time, it could be preparing for relatives coming to stay, workload or just dealing with an everyday commute. But if you find stress is starting to build up and coping is becoming more and more difficult. Then that is a sign to ask for help. Speak to your friends or your manager and let them know how you are feeling and what is causing your stress to build. Don’t feel like you have to accept it and cope with stress. Yes it is part of everyday life but if it is making you ill or overwhelming you, now is the time to seek help. Look after yourself as you know what stress levels are acceptable and what is pushing you too much. Ask for help when you need it and don’t feel bad for doing so.
Thank you for reading and hope this has given you some food for thought. Have a great week and look after you.
Love Emma xx
Wellbeing with Relaxing Lavender 