In our busy lives, with lots going on to take our attention, our own psychological, physical, and spiritual wellbeing can come in last place after everything else, and sometimes not feature at all!

I try to take care of my own wellbeing by remembering to press the ‘PAUSE’ button, thinking of putting a COMMA in a sentence and holding on to that as an acronym to prompt me to:

CONTRIBUTE – join in activities happening locally, (libraries are really good places for information about what’s going on, I am a regular at mine), volunteer to help others, do a pub quizz, maybe donate blood, go litter-picking, consider joining a local singing group (I believe we can mostly all sing well enough, even me!) and singing really helps release repressed emotion……the benefit of contributing in these sorts of ways is that we feel we belong and we matter. This can be SO heart-warming.

OPEN UP : talk to someone trustworthy who feels safe, and cares enough to really listen when it matters. I try to avoid just saying ‘I’m fine!’ when asked how I am, even when that seems the quick and easy response. It is SO good to be fully heard and receive empathy.

MOVE : ideally outdoors, in nature, we can choose to walk, run, take part in a team game, even, when safe, swim outside. And for some of the year, indoor exercise may be the answer. Perhaps dance, do yoga. SO much energy is generated by expending some.

MINDFUL LIVING : we are Human BEINGS and thrive when we learn to BE still, pay attention to the experience of breathing, focusing awareness on the present moment and the extraordinary detail of simple natural things, a leaf, a flower…..this can bring inner peace, which is SO revitalising.

ACT AUTHENTICALLY : self-acceptance and self-compassion are my goals; doing what feels right personally, being genuine and congruent in making choices and taking responsibility for these, is fundamentally important to me. WE are ‘in charge’ of our own individual lives; too often feelings are masked to try to fit in with others needs/expectations. Masking is SO exhausting!