A Wellbeing Invitation for January
A simple Occupational Therapy inspired monthly prescription of activities intended to support wellbeing that you are invited to spend as little, or as often as you like on.
1. Appraise your daily life
Take some time over the next month to observe a few average days, perhaps a work day and a weekend day. What beings you joy, what depletes you? what can stay, what can go? What do you need more of. Plan how you add them into your day. Simple everyday actions can make life more meaningful. Read more on the topic here.
Join Joy clubs 'Hopes and Values' session to explore this in more depth.
I’ve included a picture here of Nancy Mitford as my own inspiration for how I intend to look sitting down and appraising my days, and that I want to bring a bit more writing into my days.
2. Take (back) up a hobby
Taking up or starting back with a hobby is a great way to ease anxiety or stress. From your daily life appraisal you may have noticed there are not enough things that bring you joy within your day. Pleasurable pastimes can be a good way to calm down an overactive mind, alleviate anxiety and lower panic symptoms. Are there any hobbies that you have left by the wayside that you could reintroduce into your week?
Question the barriers. Space? Time? Finances? How could you adjust and adapt the hobby around the challenges so you get to experience the pleasure of them.
Can’t think of any? Have a look at this list. Or feel free to copy me, I’m beginning to practice the piano again, I’ve found an online sheet music app to inspire me and make me get my monies worth…. and one of my goals this year is to improve my posture and mine went down hill when I stopped playing the piano and horse riding at 16 (which will be happening too later in the year).
3. Mindful Eating
Mindful eating is an approach to eating that can complement any eating pattern. Research has shown that mindful eating can lead to greater psychological wellbeing, increased pleasure when eating, and body satisfaction.
Take time over one meal a day. Bring your attention to the tastes, textures, colours, sounds and movements you notice.Follow a guided meditation if this is helpful, you'll find an audio and video recordings linked below.
Or a full practice with a tea meditation:
