Keeping A Healthy Mind In The Daily Grind
Alarm. Snooze. Get up. Work. Home. Dinner. Bed. Repeat.
In a world where our roles, our tasks, and up to 90% of our thoughts are repeated on a daily basis, what can we do to keep a healthy mind in the daily grind?
- Get Hot + Sweaty
One thing is for sure, when I’m punching out a 6am Crossfit session, the last thing I’m thinking is “will this make my mind healthier?”. But in fact, exercise, and particularly the sweaty stuff is as important to your mental health as dinner is to my two year old Labrador.
Even better if you can do it outdoors. Recent research by the University of British Columbia showed that an average outdoor hike will not only burn between 400-700 calories, but it also improves creativity, complex problem solving, and memory recall, and also decreases obsessive negative thoughts.
- Daydream
“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will get you everywhere”.
In less than a second you could be dancing samba in Brazil, perusing the streets of Paris, or diving with great white sharks. Our imagination holds a doorway to exploration, inspiration and escapism, and is available to us every second of the day. Daydreaming allows us to access the subconscious that is rich with memories, information and dreams and solutions. So put down your smartphone at lunchtime, and let your mind take you on an adventure to…anywhere!
- Connect With How You Want To Feel
Behind all of our behaviour is the drive to feel a certain way. So whether you’re punching out the 9-5 to pay off your home, take an overseas holiday, or put your kids through school, dig a little deeper and you’ll find the pursuit of a feeling will be there. It may be security, adventure, happiness or contribution, and once you identify it, you can get busy on cultivating the same feeling everyday.
- Scan for Daily Positives
Start simply. Write down three things that you’re grateful for each day. People who have a daily gratitude practice consistently show higher happiness levels, are more optimistic and have better relationships.