Therapist and wellness consultant Tracy Richardson (MSc) has discovered the magic in taking life at a much slower pace. She shares her top tips with Only Natural...
Sometimes, days go by without checking in with yourself and you end up side-lining your own needs. This can turn into weeks, months, or even years.
But what you don't realise is the profound effect this has on your wellness.
If someone had suggested life in the slow lane before I turned 40, I wouldn't have listened. I would have laughed at the idea.
But you don't know what you don't know.
Now, I am totally aligned with living more slowly. It means I can be present and live in the moment. Slowing down has so many benefits.
Most of the women who contact me are knackered, stressed, overwhelmed and close to burnout.
We're living in a 24-7 society and the demand for our attention is at an all-time high. This makes it harder to switch off and create boundaries.
There is no clear line to define when we're 'on' and when we're unavailable. But making changes to your pace of living can help.
We can all learn to embrace life in a much slower lane.
Here are my top 4 tips for making small changes which can make a big difference:
1 - Prioritise yourself
Rest when you need to, slow down and, where possible, change your schedule to accommodate you.
Imagine you have an off switch, or you could just press pause, to give yourself some breathing space.
Setting loving boundaries about when you are available is key to regaining some balance in your life.
This might mean blocking out time in your schedule, switching your mobile to airplane mode or simply saying 'no'.
2 - Reconnect with nature
Get out into the sunshine and get grounded! It will improve your energy levels.
Being barefoot, in contact with the ground, means you can draw on the subtle, natural electrical charge within the Earth to recharge and renew your energy - a bit like recharging a battery.
According to Nobel prize winner (1965) Richard Feynman, grounding stabilises the electric potential between the body and the Earth, supporting restoration and rejuvenation.
You can also use the sunshine to synchronise your circadian rhythm.
This is your natural light-dark cycle, which influences many of the processes in your body.
Sunlight tells the master clock in your brain what time of day or night it is, and influences the synchronisation of your body processes with your environment.
To reset this clock, make sure you see the sunrise in the morning and the sunset at night. And don't use artificial light at night.
It sounds simple, but it's not necessarily easy.
3 - Nourish your body
Replenish your body with nutrient-dense foods and make sure you're well hydrated. This is a significant part of wellness.
Consuming foods rich in vitamins, minerals and other health-boosting nutrients will give you the fuel you need to take on almost anything.
Drink good quality, chemical-free water (if you can). You are 70% water on a good day so it's important for all your vital functions to stay hydrated.
You can help this along by limiting your consumption of alcohol, coffee and tea, which reduce minerals - especially selenium and zinc - and dehydrate you.
4 - Practise gratitude
Practising gratitude makes you aware of the things that are going well for you.
It's a superb way to tune into your life and support your overall wellness.
At the end of every day, when you get into bed and before you go to sleep, try to think of three things you are grateful for and really feel that gratitude.
Ending your day on a high and saying 'thank you' last thing at night helps to set the stage for calm and restful sleep, along with positive thoughts.
Slowing down
Taking time to step away creates a positive shift in your mental and physical wellness.
By purposefully factoring in activities that help you relax, you will feel recharged and ready to face life's challenges with new vigour.
If nothing changes, then nothing changes.
Recognise the need to make changes, then implement some small, simple steps which are repeatable.
Slowing down isn't selfish, its self-care.
Tracy owns and runs Serendipity Wellness in Warwickshire and is the author of The Little Book of Wellness: An A-Z Guide to Nourish Your Body, Mind + Soul.
She is passionate about working with female bosses and entrepreneurs, who find themselves knackered, stressed, overwhelmed and close to burnout.
She supports them with easy-to-action solutions which simultaneously help to enhance their health, performance and business lives.
Her motto is 'Wellness makes you a well-being'.
Contact tracy@serendipitywellness.co.uk
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