April 7th was World Health Day (check WHO's website). I’d also like to take this opportunity to share a few tips with you on how to improve your physical and mental health. These methods are backed by scientific evidence and have also been tested and approved by a panel consisting of…me. So, follow along!
1 - Reduce stress
There are many sources of stress in our lives. These can include your job, school, family, children, taxes… in short, the list goes on. Some stressful situations are unavoidable, while others are.
When faced with unavoidable stress, deal with the problem as soon as possible so you can get this out of your mind. For anything you can handle or avoid, cut it off immediately! A toxic job? Update your resume and get the f* out. Toxic family members, aunties and uncles? Cut them off (yep, no mercy). Mental load at its peak? Delegate. Ask for help, because there’s no gold medal for suffering. This list isn’t exhaustive, but you get the idea!
Reducing stress also involves the reduction of your screen time: TV, tablet, cell phone…etc.. In order to protect your children, I have included a resource at the end of this article. And for adults and teenagers, consider cutting back on your social media use. Do not hesitate to uninstall these apps from time to time -> I personally went three months without Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, or Messenger, and the benefits were real.
2 - Exercise
Endorphins are your friends! For the sake of your physical and mental health, go outside. Go for a walk. Just 30 minutes a day is enough to recharge and boost your mood. Take some time for yourself, alone, to relax and get some fresh air. There are numerous proven benefits, so for your own good, get moving!
3 - Tidy up and clean your space
See how good you feel when your house is clean? Keep in mind that your surroundings have a direct impact on your well-being. Dishes piling up in the sink, laundry hanging in the living room for five days, bread crumbs on the countertop, unpacked moving boxes… and so on.Step by step, take the time to make your home more livable. You don’t have to do everything at once if it seems too difficult. Adopt one day=one action mantra . And when you clean up, keep things tidy by putting things away as you go.
Bonus: Doomscrolling, why do I do it?
That's a really interesting video. And for those who don't speak English, I've included a summary of the key points in French below. Read my article to become bilingual (follow this link).
Summary of the video in French
Below are the 4 reasons for doomscrolling and how to avoid it.
The real question isn't « why » we do it, it's « what are we avoiding? ». And what would happen if we finally faced it ?
1- Procrastination: the brain looks for an easier alternative rather than starting the task we're supposed to do. Disguised emotions: anxiety, perfectionism, fear. Pro-tip: 1/write down the one thing you're avoiding, 2/break it into the smallest step possible, 3/set a 05minutes timer and just begin!
2- Emotional overwhelm (numb the noise) : After an exhausting day, you don’t feel like thinking about anything, so you scroll through your feed to find an escape from the emotions you can’t or don’t want to face. Pro-tip: 1/ name it, 2/ sit with it, 3/ then do one small confort action (walk, or cry, or stretch, or journal, or eat something warm).
3- Boredom: modern life has conditioned us to fear boredom. But here's the truth, boredom is where creativity begins. Pro-tip: Put down your phone, notice your surroundings, let your thoughts wander or start a low stimulation hobby like drawing, baking, puzzles, and so on. You don’t need to be good at it, just be present.
4- Exhaustion: ask yourself « what do I really need? » Sleep? Silence? Comfort? Pro-tip: replace your scroll with a wind-down ritual: a hot shower, music, a book, or stretching. Give your brain time to truly recharge.
Once you know why you doomscroll, you might actually be able to stop and take back control of your time.
Resources
Growing up well with screens: benchmarks for every age : Screen time recommendations based on children's ages + tips for protecting against cyberbullying and harmful content viewed online.
Final thoughts
It’s so easy it’s almost embarrassing. You already know these simple tips. But there’s obviously a difference between “knowing” and “doing.” So put these principles into practice as soon as possible and notice the changes in your mood, the quality of your sleep, your physical condition, and your life in general.
xo, Mama.
What about you? What do you do to feel good every day? Let us know in the comments section!
Psst, if you liked this post, leave a comment below and share it. Remember, there are plenty more to discover (or rediscover)! kisses
C’est si facile que c’en est embarrassant. Tout est dit. Merci pour tes conseils de Mama!
Je t’en prie ! merci pour ton commentaire et on continue d’appliquer les conseils 😉
Merci pour ces conseils
Je te remercie pour ton retour Nora ! N’hésites pas à partager l’article afin d’aider d’autres personnes autour de toi. xo