Focus on unexpected approaches to enhance your well-being by embracing novel, unique, and innovative ways to improve your overall sense of well-being. Be curious about different and unique things that you might not have previously considered.
Play Games on Your Smartphone
It is counter to common sentiment, but sometimes, putting your face down and focusing on your phone is a nice way to check out from the world around you for a little while. Instead of scrolling without a goal in mind, do something enjoyable like playing backgammon online.
Your smartphone is portable, and you have it with you at all times. That makes it the perfect tool for you to pull out when you are in a public place and do not want to engage with the people nearby. Perhaps you have had a difficult day at work, or your MBA courses have been particularly challenging. These are both good reasons to look inside yourself and focus on a game on your phone.
Allow Yourself Time on Social Media
So many talking heads and true experts in the field of mental health and wellness recommend digital detoxes for everyone. While this is a good idea, it is also not entirely realistic. This is especially true today, where everything and everyone is online. Things happen in the real world, of course, but information and entertainment operates and spreads in the online sphere, and you surely do not want to miss out.
You can, however, break your own cycle of social media spirals and never-ending doomscrolling. Take steps to mitigate your social media use by setting time limits and schedules on individual apps on your smartphone, as well as setting time limits on websites on all your tech devices.
Call Someone Special
The special people in your life are there for you beyond a DM or a text. They are ready to hear about how you are doing and share their story, as well. Go ahead and pick up your phone to make an actual phone call. Archaic? No, not at all. In fact, talking with people you enjoy spending time with is healing and can contribute to your wellness. In addition, when you talk versus text, the possibility of misconstruing words or tone is almost entirely eliminated, which makes the communication worth the effort.
Beyond that, hearing your loved one’s voice and their laughter interspersed throughout your conversation is endearing and heartwarming. You will feel uplifted when your call is over. And when one of you says, “This was nice, let’s talk again soon,” you really should do just that.
Move Your Body with Intention
Exercise is always a part of any wellness routine, but other types of exercise lie beyond running, spending an hour in the gym, or doing yoga at home. If you have never tried the ancient art of Tai Chi, now is the perfect time to give it a try. Do not shrug it off as non-athletic or too slow. Once you begin, keep practicing and honing your skills every day for at least one month. You will notice a calmer presence of self, more balance, and begin to look forward to it.
Watch this video for a beginner’s guide to Tai Chi.
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Take a Nap
The suggestion to sleep more is definitely not novel in any discussion surrounding wellness. Practically every article mentions receiving the requisite seven to nine hours of quality sleep every night for adults. Of course, this is something to strive for, but what about a nap? They are not only for children.
Consider incorporating a nap into your daily routine, or sneaking it in if you are able to do so. Set yourself up for success by putting on comfortable clothing, lying down in clean and soft bedding, and nestling into a quiet and dimly lit space for approximately 30 minutes. If you sleep any longer than that, you might counteract your efforts and become groggy, or worse, that evening’s sleep may prove elusive, which will set you up for failure the next day. Pro tip: Wear a soft, good-quality sleep mask.
Put Your Finances in Order
Nothing screams stress like out-of-control finances. If you have found your wallet and bank account in a spiral of chaos as of late, it is time to do something about it. The first steps might seem overwhelming, but once you have your money in order and know where it all goes, you will feel a sense of relief and power over knowing what is happening and what to do next.
Start by gathering every piece of financial information. Include bank and credit card statements, pay income, every bill, investments, and retirement accounts. Track everything on a spreadsheet. This process can be lengthy and lead to more stress when you see your expenditures up close, but it is worth it. Knowledge is power, as they say. After you are finished, you can assess your current approach to financial wellness and create a new one that aligns with your spending and saving goals, and avoid unnecessary stress in the future.
Set Healthy Boundaries
Many people have trouble saying no. You might understand. You feel like saying no will disappoint the other person or will make you look bad, as if you are not a team player. Pushing back on others’ overzealous requests of your time and energy can leave you feeling guilty. Now is the time to take care of your wellness by learning how to set healthy boundaries.
Start by thinking about how you feel when certain requests are made. Take your uneasy feelings as a cue that the ask is an overstep. You can tell the other person that you are uncomfortable with their request, but what really works is saying no. Thank them for thinking of you, but state that you are unable to free up any time for their project right now. You can always recommend someone else for the task. Tell a family member that you cannot watch their child again this weekend. When they ask why, tell them you have plans and leave it at that. Be confident and stand up to their pushback. Just as with learning anything new, you will get better over time.
There are a lot of good ideas here that you can incorporate into your daily life. Focus on your wellness by implementing unexpected approaches that will serve you well.
