31 Days of Supporting Your Wellbeing
Week 4: January 22 - 31
Welcome to the compilation of my 31 Days of Supporting Your Wellbeing - Week 4, that I’ve been doing on Notes every day this month!
This piece is a compilation from January 22nd - 31st. Haven’t seen week 1, 2 or 3 ? You can check them out here:
Week 1 31 Days of Supporting Your Wellbeing
Week 2 31 Days of Supporting Your Wellbeing
Week 3 31 Days of Supporting Your Wellbeing
So without further ado, here’s this weeks tasks/aims/goals…whatever you want to call them!
January 22 – do something creative
This is a fun one. At least I think so, because I like to think of myself as a creative person (though I struggle to do crafts. Every year for Christmas or my birthday or anniversary my husband buys me a crafty thing – maybe a crochet kit or a cross stitch kit or a make something out of felt kit (last year was an octopus). And, as much as I’d love to be a natural at crafty stuff…I am just NOT. Though I did love to draw when I was younger – because both my grandpa and aunt on my mom’s side were professional artists. I am okay at drawing.
Anyway, the point of today is give something creative a try – whether it’s crafting or painting, drawing dancing. If there’s something new you’ve always wanted to try – do it! Or if there’s something you’ve done before and you enjoy – do that!
January 23 – what is one small goal or task you can set for yourself today?
All of these little wellbeing tasks should be difficult or complicated. So don’t stress yourself out with any of these things! Like with todays – find a small goal or task to do.
As I said, nothing difficult or complicated. Maybe it’s getting out of bed. Or making a cup of coffee or tea. Or getting outside for some exercise. Or having a shower.
Or maybe it’s something slightly more challenging like finishing some big project – maybe at work, maybe around the home – but taking baby steps to complete it. Break things down into manageable chunks so things aren’t too overwhelming.
Or maybe just set the goal or task. Make the promise with yourself to do XYZ at some point in the future. But try to make a concrete plan and not be wishy-washy or vague, otherwise it might not ever be accomplished. And remember: baby steps, one at a time.
January 24 – be kind
This should be an easy one. But maybe not.
Maybe you’re in a bit of a funk and feeling kind towards others might feel a bit tough or challenging. But that’s okay.
Give it a go anyway. It’ll not only help the person you’re being kind towards feel better, but it’ll also help you feel better – it’s a win-win situation!
And the world can always use more kindness.
As a quote from Bob Kerrey says: unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly and most underrated agent of human change.
Basically, if you want to change the world, you don’t have to do anything huge. Just be kind to others. It’s simple. It doesn’t cost a thing. And it’s powerful secret weapon.
Here’s another quote from Jackie Chan: sometimes it takes only one act of kindness to change a person’s life.
So go on. Change a life. Spread kindness!
January 25 – clean one thing. Throw out one thing
This one is for all the neat freaks and hoarders out there! But this is something that can be incredibly freeing and liberating and a weight off your shoulders – especially throwing something out!
Sometimes life can get busy and things like cleaning can maybe go by the wayside a bit. But this is your chance to rectify that – in one small, manageable way – by cleaning just one thing.
It could be an antique candlestick that could do with a bit of a polish. It could be vacuuming one room in your home (just one!), it could be washing one dish, like a mug, or something bigger like dusting/cleaning a piece of furniture like the kitchen table or the entertainment unit. But just one thing – no more! One thing is do-able, right?
And then you can throw out one thing – Clearing clutter can be very therapeutic and feel great!
January 26 - plan for tomorrow
This is something I do every night.
Well, one aspect anyway, which is I lay out all my clothes for the next day, the night before so I can just grab them and go get changed downstairs without waking up my husband.
That’s my version of planning for tomorrow and it’s very helpful because it’s one less thing for me to make a decision about the next day!
Sometimes I put my breakfast together the night before too. Like oatmeal –some quick oats and anything else I want in there (dried fruit, chia seeds, coconut, cocoa powder etc.), in a little baggie to put in my lunch bag.
Sometimes I also put together my lunch too – especially salad – I put all the ingredients in a Tupperware so I can just grab and go.
Anything you can do the day before means less to do (and less stress!) the next day, and reduce what’s called ‘decision fatigue’.
January 27 – be present
So often, most of us are walking around like zombies.
Distracted zombies a lot of the time (looking at our phones and checking social media every chance we get!). So today’s task/aim/goal is to just BE and take notice of the beautiful things around you that we’re often too busy or distracted to notice and just walk right on by without really pausing and paying attention. We’re on autopilot for a lot of our days – and probably our lives!
Just moving through the world with so much on our minds that we’re kind of moving in a fog.
So pause, take a breath and be present.
Maybe notice something around you (whether you’re inside or out) that you haven’t (or very rarely do).
There are times when I go for a run, that I see things I’ve never seen before even though I run the same routes all the time.
January 28 – compliment someone
Today’s aim is to give someone a compliment. Not just a flippant compliment but a genuine one! I know when I receive compliments from others it really boosts my mood. And I often compliment others on what they’re wearing – saying ‘I love that colour on you’, or I love your top/pants/shoes/hat. Whatever it is.
When I notice that people have had their hair cut, I tell them. I say: oh did you get your hair cut? (or coloured). It looks great!
Something as simple as a compliment can totally change someone’s day because, as the saying goes – we never know what others are dealing with, and so offering a compliment to someone can lift their spirits and show them they’re seen and acknowledged, too.
So today, try to compliment at least one person. Like being kind, it’ll make someone else feel better, and yourself as well (most likely anyway)!
January 29 – make a strengths list
Today’s task is to make a list of your strengths.
What are your strengths? They’re the positive parts of your character, your personality, you. It’s something we don’t often reflect on.
As I said in a previous day of this 31 days of Supporting Your Wellbeing, we human beings are wired to be more negative than positive. It’s part of our ancient biology, this negativity bias.
It helped us to be on alert and aware not traipsing through life la-de-dah and oblivious about what’s going on around us. But this harsh inner critic doesn’t really serve us any more in today’s modern society.
So take a few minutes to think of (a few) your strengths and write them down. They’re part of what make you unique and help you grow and evolve. You’ll most likely realize you’re stronger and have more to offer the world than you think!
January 30 – drink more water
Not to get all doctor-y here, but today’s task is to drink more water. Tea counts too. Maybe coffee, but coffee can be dehydrating. So plain water is best, then tea if you must.
Most of us don’t drink enough water – though from seeing people’s giant Stanley Cups and huge 2 liter water bottles these days it seems like many of us are drinking more than we used to – which is GREAT!
Because we’re…(googling the answer): anywhere from 45-75% water. The average adult is 50-65% with most people averaging around 57-60%. So a large chunk of us is water.
And we need water to survive. We can live a fair amount without food, but not too long without water.
Water helps our bodies run well – everything from our brain to our muscles to…everything! So drink more water (but not too much – which is water intoxication (or hyponatremia) and can be harmful!)
January 31 – create a morning routine
Welcome to the final day of the 31 Days of Supporting Your Wellbeing series! You made it! And hopefully you’ve enjoyed the journey and changed some habits and learned something new about yourself along the way.
Today’s last task is to create a morning routine. Don’t worry if you’re not a morning person! You’re included too! By morning I mean whatever time it is you wake up and start your day. So it doesn’t have to be at 5am.
But create a routine that’ll help start your day off right and help you feel better, less stressed and ready to tackle your day with a smile and your best foot forward.
It might be getting up a little bit earlier to have some time to yourself before your day gets crazy hectic. Or having a good nutritious breakfast. Maybe getting some gentle exercise in too. But find what works for you!
And don’t forget to live with a dose of wonder!
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