5 steps towards health & happiness.

What’s the cocktail for total happiness? The answer is...

...I don’t know!

How can anyone know what will make you totally happy? BUT, there are so many ways that you can try and support yourself in becoming a happier, healthier person. And if you don’t try them, how will you know what works for you?

Do you want to feel happy? Do you feel lost? Do you feel disconnected from yourself? Do you feel stressed, overwhelmed and anxious?

I’ve been there and I see you!

Why is it that we leave it to the point that we hit rock bottom, before we take action and do anything proactive?

I’ve heard people say that, before they hit rock bottom, they didn’t believe in mental health!

Mental health is often misunderstood, and a lot of people aren’t totally sure on what it actually is. Mental health is a scale and it’s something that we all have, it’s not something that appears when we are feeling in a negative way. And depending where we are on the mental health scale, this effects how we handle and view life. The best way we can improve our mental health is to focus on self-care and building resilience.

So, how can you start looking after yourself?

1) Start a journal

This was something that helped me massively when I first began struggling with anxious and overwhelming feelings. Buy a new journal, as I would say handwriting is much better than typing, and it definitely doesn’t have to be expensive. Start writing in it each morning or before you go to bed, to just let out whatever it is you need to let out! Try not to filter yourself, knowing that this is only for you, and no one else will read it.

2) Practice yoga

Yoga allows you time to take a step back, calm and ground. Go to an actual in person class at a yoga studio if you can! If you’re new to yoga, you can contact the studio to see what’s most suitable for beginners. Because I teach at both gyms and studios, I feel that going to an actual studio is more beneficial if you want to experience a more authentic yoga class, and be surrounded by likeminded people. Or you can try 1:1 yoga if you’d prefer a private class.

3) Practice breathwork

Now, we all breathe all day everyday, but the benefits of breathwork are still not really known in the western world, and is only more recently making itself known in the UK. Just practicing 5 or 10 minutes a day will make a difference to how you feel. You can search and download free apps to give it a go on your own at home, or you may be able to find local breath coaches that offer workshops. You can start by practicing now! Simply notice if you’re breathing through your nose or mouth. Does the air feel cool or hot? Are you breathing into your chest, ribs or belly? Take a big inhale in through the nose and then blow it out the mouth as long as you can. Relax your shoulders, sit up a little taller, and smile.

4) Take a walk in nature

This seems like such a simple one, and that’s because it is! Not only are you getting your body moving, you’re connecting to the earth. It is so important to get out in the daylight and this is a natural happy boost! Try and go earphoneless, and focus on being as present as you can. Notice the sounds, colours and smells. Focus on the ground beneath you, the sky and soak it all in.

5) Spend time with positive, loving people

Some of us have a lot of people in our lives, and who you surround yourself with really does impact your mental state. We all have times when we are going through something, so I don't mean people that are positive all the time and don't talk about anything negative. I mean, people you can trust, who don't speak badly of others, are non-judgmental, who uplift, support and only want the best for you.

Take a moment to think about who you are with when you are feeling most like you. And think about who you are with when you find yourself feeling anxious or stressed out. We can sometimes people please and go along with the crowd, so that we don’t make others feel awkward or bad, but if we are acting in a way that goes against what we believe in, this is ultimately going to have a bad impact on our mental health. Focus your energy and time on people that uplift and support you.

These aren’t guaranteed steps to happiness, but they are things I do most days in order to keep my cup filled up, build resilience, and help me deal with life better. I hope this helps you in some way.

Love & Light,

Eden x