5 EASY WAYS TO NOURISH YOUR MIND & BODY THIS FEB
After a month of resolutions, new beginnings and change, February is here to provide a moment of relief from the hustle, bustle and general madness of January! Interestingly, the name ‘February’ is derived from the Latin word ‘februa’ which means ‘to cleanse’; another variation of the term is ‘februum’ which translates to ‘purification’. Therefore, February signifies a time to breathe, to reconnect and to refocus.
Valentine’s Day is a key event this month, reminding us to celebrate the love we have for others and for ourselves. February is all about nourishment; being mindful of your inner self and where you direct your time and energy is key to restoring emotional balance and nourishing both your mind and body. Read on for five easy ways to bring purity and clarity into your life this month so you can reconnect with your inner self!
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1 - Journaling
Finding time to journal is an easy way of reconnecting with your emotions by just letting your thoughts flow freely. Often we tend to suppress certain emotions as we keep ourselves busy with everyday life, so it’s important to acknowledge anything hanging around in the back of your mind and put it down on paper. Reflecting on your day, writing poetry, filling in a diary entry - anything that helps you check in on yourself and become more aware of your own feelings can work to help your mind to feel grounded and connected. The more you can jot down, the more you get to know yourself and what really matters to you.
2 - Get creative
Expressing creativity in any form is one of the best ways to slow down, switch off and relax. Drawing, doodling, painting, colouring, collaging; physical creativity through the medium of art really helps to unlock the imaginative and visual parts of your brain. Talent and skill don’t matter: art therapy is about the process, not the result! Art continues to be recognised for its valuable role in improving mental health, as it encourages a therapeutic release of creativity; an outlet to express thoughts, feelings and observations without words. Find a quiet space, grab some pens, highlighters, paints - anything goes - and take a moment to be creative without any boundaries.
3 - Social media break
This one is definitely easier said than done, thanks to the demanding nature of social media and the important role it plays in our daily lives. It’s incredibly easy to find ourselves addicted to checking our phones without realising and spending way too much time mindlessly scrolling with no purpose. The problem with social media and news platforms in disrupting our inner balance is that they further disconnect us from ourselves by forcing us to interact with the lives of other people. Being able to manage time spent online is a good way to restore mental balance and maintain a healthy relationship with yourself. An effective way of achieving this is by using the ‘screen time’ function on Apple devices which allows you to set time limits on certain apps such as socials. In effect, this makes the itch less easy to scratch, and just like an itch, if you leave it alone it will go away! The more you can resist the temptation, the easier it will get to make it a habit. Another way to detach yourself from your phone is to physically leave it behind when you leave the house, or even when you leave the room. It’s much easier to forget about checking your phone for a period of time when it’s not next to you.
4 - Yoga
Practicing yoga can really help to achieve mental clarity, allowing you to build self-awareness and harmony between the mind and body. Because yoga incorporates elements of mediation and guided breathing, it works to create a sense of balance and helps the mind to stay present and centred. There are endless apps and YouTube tutorials available for any level of yoga to provide you with an easy step-by-step guide from experienced yogis. Set aside half an hour every other day (or more regularly!) to build yoga into your routine and sustain the benefits.
Recommended apps:
Glo, Down Dog
Recommended people/youtubers:
SarahBethYoga, Madfit, YogawithAdriene
5 - Make space
Creating space physically has a direct effect on productivity and energy levels; an organised workspace mirrors an uncluttered headspace. Investing time and effort into your space - whether it’s your bedroom, your office, your kitchen - is so important, because these spaces are your sanctuary. The atmosphere of your immediate environment can make or break your mood, motivation and mentality. Physical clutter can trigger a circle of anxiety and stress, which is difficult to break, as well as providing distraction which can decrease productivity. Recognise what things in your environment are important to you and invest in them; anything unnecessary or inessential can be moved or discarded. With less stuff, you’ll be able to reclaim a sense of balance between your mental and physical space.
Happy February everyone :)
Love,
Hannah x