TODAY, HIS & HERS FOCUSES ON THE IMPORTANT STUFF, WITH THESE 6 STEPS TO A BETTER SENSE OF WELLBEING…

Your physical and emotional wellbeing are important, and when they’re at their best you’re a much happier and healthier person. It sounds as though it should be easy, but the truth is, achieving better wellbeing isn’t something that’s done overnight.

Improving your mental and physical wellbeing takes time, and there are several factors that can affect you. By making some positive lifestyle changes and taking better care of yourself, you can turn things around and achieve true wellness.

1. Work through your issues

If something is affecting your physically or emotionally, it can impact your wellbeing. Being unhappy with your weight, with your job, your relationship and other elements of your life can all stop you from being truly happy. Sometimes, a life event can cause these issues, such as a bereavement, loneliness or having financial concerns. Identifying the things that are affecting your wellbeing is important to help you move forward and turn things around.

For more serious issues, where you’re relying on crutches like smoking or drinking, you might need some more advanced help. Find out more information about rehabilitation at https://www.rehabclinic.org.uk/treatment/alcohol-rehab/ to see what support is available to you. Tackling your issues is vital for improving your wellbeing.

2. Start eating healthier food

Looking after yourself is important, and the way to start is through eating a more balanced diet. If you eat a lot of processed foods, you should aim to cut them out of your diet and focus more on eating natural, whole foods instead. It’s easier to eat more healthily when you plan your meals and you prep your food, so start your week off by planning what you’re going to eat to help you adopt better habits.

Eating more healthily will improve both your physical and mental state, but that doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself once in a while. ‘Everything in moderation’ as they say, so don’t feel as though you need to be strict with your diet all the time.

3. Get fit

Are you getting enough exercise? It’s surprising how many of us don’t get the physical activity we need to get healthy. Exercise is about more than just losing weight or toning up, and offers many other mental and physical benefits. You should be aiming to complete at least 30 minutes of exercise, five times a week to be healthier.

Some excellent ideas for exercise include going for a run, cycling or long walks. Also, being outdoors greatly enhances your mood. You can also try yoga to help you de-stress or attend fitness classes to add a social element to your fitness. However you choose to get fit, make sure you make it a regular part of your routine.

4. Sleep better

How much sleep do you get at night? Many people fail to get enough, which leads to all sorts of problems with physical and mental wellbeing. You should be getting 7-8 hours of sleep a night, which can be easier said than done if you’re having trouble sleeping. Better sleep quality has several benefits including making you more resilient and helping you stay focused, while your overall mood will also change.

If you’re failing to get your recommended dose of sleep – try to figure out the cause. From too much light in the bedroom to too much caffeine before bed, find ways to improve your sleeping habits to help you get the rest you need.

5. Talk about your problems

Letting your problems build up can take a serious toll on your mental health, eventually leading to physical symptoms. They say that a problem shared is a problem halved, so why not talk to someone about your problems?

If you don’t want to talk to friends or family, there are some excellent ways to get advice online. For more severe problems, it doesn’t hurt to talk to your GP, who can provide you with the help you need.

Why not start by writing your problems down to see if it helps, before you share your concerns with others?

6. Get out more

Loneliness can have a serious effect on your wellbeing, so start surrounding yourself with the people you love to help you feel more confident and happier in yourself. Spend time with positive people and the effects will soon rub off on you.

If your social life isn’t the most active, there are plenty of things you can try to make new friends. There are opportunities to develop friendships all the time, so you need to get out there and make the most of them.

Taking steps to better your wellbeing is a positive lifestyle choice that will leave you feeling much happier and healthier. Make changes today that will improve your tomorrow for a healthier new you, inside and out.

We’re very proud to bring you this feature in association with Serenity Health Group.

Related feature: His & Hers Magazine’s Happiness Hacks.