So It’s been a funky couple days for me and I’ve had difficulty maintaining my usual happy-go-lucky persona. In a bid to rid myself of my mood shell, I stepped out to do things to help return me back to my general well being. In accordance with #wellnesswednesday, I have noted down a couple of things I did to bring myself closer to ‘Zen’.
Exercise
I guess I run the risk of sounding like a broken record now but working out has really helped to improve my mood this week. It’s thanks to those endorphins I was rabbiting on about in my last post! There’s nothing like waking up in the morning to a 30 minute Yoga session, or cardio workout. It really does start my day off right. The waking up part is hard but the benefits reaped from making this a routine are well worth it.
Meditation
This one is still so hard for me but I’m learning. I sometimes find it hard to quieten my mind. It just doesn’t stop thinking at times and of course trying to stop your mind from thinking is like trying to stop the wind, it’s impossible but the process can be quietened. To help me with this, I’ve been trying to practice mindfulness, which basically involves observing wandering thoughts as they drift through the mind and being aware of each mental note as it arises. Sounds like a walk in the park till you undertake it. Nonetheless since I started working on this, I’ve noted deeper periods of relaxation, calm and stress relief. I ’m not at the stage where I enjoy the process of meditation yet, but again, I do enjoy the feeling of the calm aftermath, so I’ll continue with this one.
Hanging out
I managed to venture into the Island this weekend. This was a first for me and I am still in shock at the stark contrast between the Mainland and the Island. Everything is different, from the architecture to the cars and the scenery, It’s like having 2 different countries in one city.
I had been to an event on the Island on the Saturday just gone and managed to interact with a couple of friendly faces. We decided to hang out on Sunday and met for brunch at a restaurant with an extortionate price tag. Nonetheless I used my rubbish mood as an excuse to treat myself. The meal tasted great and reminded me of home, but my purse wasn’t a happy bunny. All in all, I was grateful for the relaxed company and the opportunity to make new friends.
My purse is still slightly angry at me this week, so I’m now making up for my overspending from the weekend. Not a bad price to pay for a much needed elevation in well being. Especially as I’ve been a bit of a financial scrooge recently.
Water!
I’m a lover of all things naturally soothing so it should come as no surprise that I loooove water, I always have. Even the sound of heavy rain clattering on rooftops is a delight to my ears. During our most recent trip for the All Comers Competition in Ijebu-Ode, I stood outside under shelter for a good 20 minutes, just watching and listening to the rain fall, it may sound strange but it was so relaxing.
Okay, back to my weekend- The initial plan following the meal with my new acquaintances was to go to the arcade and continue our hang out but that also proved to be pretty expensive quickly, so we made a stop at one of the beaches on the Island instead and gosh it was stunning. The body of water cascading, going for miles and miles until it met the sky and the relaxing sounds of the waves crashing into the rocky edges were all a welcoming sight that helped me regain an element of peace and calm again.
Talking to loved ones
I rounded up my weekend by visiting my extended family members and catching up with friends and family back home. This last little nugget helped to lift my mood as it gave me an opportunity to meet family members I didn’t even know I had. I was also able to take some much needed timeout to re-acquaint myself and keep up to date with the going-ons of my loved ones back home. They might be on another continent but far isn’t so far anymore with the help of technology.
By the time my weekend rounded up, My mind had been able to find an element of its equilibrium again and my moodiness had shifted. Beyond the absence of illness and presence of good physical health, it can be so easy to overlook the other aspects of our lives that encourage a holistic well being and a fulfilling life. I for one, am glad I got the opportunity to practice some well-being this weekend.
What do you do to assist with your general wellness and well being? Feel free to leave a comment below.
