In the busyness of life, we often feel overwhelmed and anxious. There is pressure to constantly be achieving and striving for more. We are always “on the go” and we rarely appreciate the moments that make up our day. Therefore, it is so important that we allow ourselves moments of grace – moments each day where we reflect, we are present, and we fully enjoy ourselves. These are known as savouring moments.
What is Savouring?
Savouring is the act of stepping outside of an experience to review and really appreciate it. Savouring can boost your mood, relieve anxiety, keep you present in the moment and it allows you to practice gratitude. Many of us feel this pressure to constantly be productive and fill our days, but it is also equally important to allow time for rest and reflection. The act of savouring is such a powerful concept that allows you to appreciate the positive things in your lives. It is the conscious decision to enjoy moments in your life. This could be something as simple as watching a sunset, having a bath or meditating. It could be having a conversation with a loved one or accomplishing that handstand you’ve been practicing.
Whatever it is, it is important that you acknowledge the emotion it presents and let yourself be fully present. The act of savouring is an opportunity to take a moment to truly enjoy what you are doing; acknowledge the emotions you are feeling and be aware of what the moment brings you.
Benefits of Savouring:
Highlights the positives in your life.
Allows you to appreciate the small things.
Boosts happiness – when you experience positive feelings, your body produces serotonin and dopamine which reduce stress and calm our nervous systems.
Makes you feel more grateful and appreciative.
Allows you to be present and achieve more from your day.
Relieves anxiety or stress.
Savouring is that idea of literally “stopping to smell the roses”. It is stopping ourselves from moving through life too quickly and allowing ourselves to notice all the positives. It is the act of bringing ourselves back to ourselves.
Ideas for Savouring:
Have a bubble bath.
Watch the sunset or sunrise.
Read a book in the bath.
Have dinner as a family around the table.
Go for a walk on the beach.
Yoga.
Meditation.
Eat something delicious.
Stop and smell the roses.
Wear a new scent e.g. body lotion, or perfume.
Take a mental photograph of amazing experiences.
Get creative e.g. baking, art, music
Allow yourself to engage all your senses in an activity e.g. when you cook, really smell, see and taste the food.
Outwardly express good feelings e.g. laugh out loud at a tv show or joke
Ruminate on positive feelings and share these! Do not only share your negative thoughts and complaints.
The act of savouring is a mindfulness act. It is the conscious decision to pay attention to your happy situation. When you are experiencing a moment of pleasure, it is important to engage all your senses and fully embrace the moment. By being mindful of every detail, you appreciate the moment more and you engrain the memory in your brain. The bonus of this is that the memory can be recalled at a later stage, and the memory will evoke the same emotion as the experience previously did.
As you can see, the simple act of being present in a moment can have significant positive effects on your mood, your day and your outlook. Next time you wake up, why not challenge yourself to make a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy it in bed, rather than scrolling through social media for 15 minutes and then rushing to get ready. Why not utilise your time in traffic wisely, by actively listening to a podcast or calling a friend to catch-up (if you have Bluetooth)? Why not greet the shop assistant and thank them for their service, instead of being oblivious to their presence? The power of consciously living is so powerful and can be so simple. Do not let life pass you by, savour the moments and reap the rewards.
In this day and age, we are bombarded by so much information about different diet plans and often, unethical ways to drop weight quickly and reach your goals, including miracle weight loss pills, slimming coffees and teas and starvation diets. The amount of pressure is simply overwhelming. If you are feeling swamped by all of the content out there and not sure which way to turn, which diet plan is best for you and how you can reach your goals, the best method for you might be to turn your back on diets completely and consider intuitive eating. In this blog, I explore what intuitive eating means and how you can adapt this way of eating.
What is Intuitive Eating?
Intuitive eating was developed by two dietitians, Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch, in 1995 as a non-diet approach to nutrition where you tune into and rely on your body signals for hunger and cravings to build a healthy and sustainable relationship with food. The basis of intuitive eating is that we are all born intuitive eaters, as we grow older, external pressures such as rules and restrictions around food shape us into building opinions around eating which may impact on the types and amount of food we choose to consume.
Focusing your energy on basing food choice and eating on internal cues like hunger, fullness and satisfaction can really retune your mindset and prevent you from feeling pressure to eat and think a certain way.
Why might Intuitive Eating be a better plan for me?
If you have tried every diet under the sun, and seen good results, but then as soon as you go back to normal eating you end up straight back where you started, this might be the non-diet diet for you. Restrictive diet plans may result in an all-or-nothing mentality where if you’re sticking to the plan you are on track, but as soon as you reach for a chocolate chip cookie, you may as well just eat the whole box!
Meal plans or diets that demonize certain foods and food groups have been found to result in bingeing which, in turn, can throw you off completely and put you in a bad space mentally. Intuitive eating relies on your internal hunger and satiety signals and allows you to eat whatever you like, whenever you like, without feeling guilty. The important part of intuitive eating is to understand your internal cues, make peace with food and honour your hunger levels.
Principles of Intuitive Eating:
Reject the diet mentality
Honour your hunger
Make peace with food
Challenge the food police
Respect your fullness
Discover the satisfaction factor
Respect your body
Incorporate exercise
Honour your health through gentle nutrition
Simply put, intuitive eating is not a free-for-all eating method but rather a guide to understand your body and cues to eating. It is about building a positive, mindful, and healthy relationship with food and your body to reach a place where you are happy and comfortable with food and eating.
While you’re here and we’re on the topic of food, check out these recipes:
It seems that almost every week there’s a new wave of complications to manage in the wake of the coronavirus disruption. We’ve all been put to the test and felt the impact of this change in different ways. For a lot of people, it’s required the ability to face challenges that they never could have imagined just a few short weeks ago. Perhaps one of the worst knock-on effects of this disease is the effect it has had on unemployment and what it’s done to our livelihood.
With the growing unemployment rate, a lot of people have started to feel helpless and hopeless. At WellBe we want to let you know that everything is going to be okay. In the midst of these ongoing anxieties, we’ll give you the tools to help you to maintain a strong mindset and focus on your health. Using this coping guide, you’ll be able to take the necessary steps to come to terms with job loss and figure out your next best move.
6 ways to deal with unemployment
First, keep in mind that this is a chance for you to adapt and overcome this adversity rather simply choosing to throw in the towel. Below we’ll give you the best advice for how to deal with the disappointment of job loss, as well as some handy techniques for maintaining your inner peace and keeping your mental energy strong during this more-than-difficult time.
1. Be mindful and manage your anxiety
Loaded words like “pandemic”, “lockdown”, “unemployment” and “crisis” are a new constant in our everyday lives. These topics are discussed on the news, on the radio, and seem to be the overhanging topic of conversation in most of our daily interactions. As these negative connotations increasingly become a constant presence in our environment, there is much more room for negativity, hopelessness and anxiety to sink in. Especially now, with the added pressure of losing what once seemed like a totally secure job, this type of constant negativity could really hamper your mental health.
Of course, you’re allowed to feel apprehension and greater amounts of stress (that’s only expected), but it’s important not to allow feelings of negativity to become the new norm. Intentionally making the effort to create a healthy, stress-free space and manage your internal anxieties every day is vital. This will also help you achieve a better headspace to make the important decisions about your future and asses the next steps you need to take.
Making a conscious effort to find the good in everyday’s is also an important habit to form. We know that it’s not easy but that’s why we give you access to our helpful, regularly-updated blog. Be sure to check out this handy blog about finding positivity during a pandemic. Soon you’ll be able to look towards the future with a sense of possibility and new opportunity instead of apprehension.
2. Address the ego element
Aside from just the financial burden of job loss, a lot of the anxiety also comes from what we’ve called the ‘ego crisis’. For most people, a high portion of their self-esteem is linked to their own ideas of what defines success and achievement. That means that, for a lot of us, if we’re not breaking our backs to work 80 hour weeks, we’ve failed – but that’s simply not true! Now is the time to really introspect and think about what will give you purpose over the next few weeks. What are your main sources of happiness and in what areas of your life can you find peace and comfort? Is it work? Maybe not. Instead, it could be something that’s usually overlooked – your health, your family and your friends.
Another great way to fight the ego-trap is to also take the time to appreciate your own qualities that you may have never stopped to acknowledge before. That could be your amazing sense of adventure, a strong work ethic or even something as simple as your sense of humour. Acknowledging those things can help you practice self-love and give you better tools to maintain your mental health. If you need a little more guidance, check out this blog for ideal activities that will help you maintain a positive self image.
3. Keep Perspective
Guilt and anxiety are common feelings most people experience when they first lose their job. It’s easy to blame yourself or think that you did something wrong, but it’s time to give that unemployment guilt the axe. Putting the blame on yourself will only make the situation that much harder to deal with.
Please remember that it’s okay to share this struggle with others. It may seem as if the world is collapsing around you, but it’s important to remember that you’re not alone in this. Lean on your friends and family for support. Let them know any troubling feelings or frustrations you are experiencing. Most importantly, keep in mind that none of this is your fault. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, it is predicted that over 1.6 million jobs will be lost in the country in 2020. That number alone provides some perspective as to how far-reaching the consequences of this pandemic are. That’s why you have to keep your head straight and remind yourself that this will not last forever and that a set-back does not mean a game-over.
4. Direct your energy towards healthy living
If you love exercise, put your energy and focus towards developing that passion. Devote some time everyday to trying new routines and find new ways to push yourself. First establish a realistic fitness plan and adapt your training and exercise routine from there. Another helpful tip is to try to use this time to tackle those hard-to-break unhealthy eating habits. Take the plunge – completely clean out those cupboards and chuck away all the harmful sugary foods and snacks. Try to prepare a meal plan to keep yourself on track every day and mix things up by checking out some new, healthy recipes. If you want to try your hand in the kitchen, give this lemon garlic baked salmon recipe a go.
It’s also a great idea to take at least 30 minutes a day to spend on you-time and try to self-reflect. Find a peaceful place and read a book. Being alone in a quiet space is a great way to get in touch with your body and yourself. If something like meditation has never appealed to you, check out these 8 mindful alternatives to meditation.
5. Rethink your goals
This is a chance to reassess your life, your goals and where you’d like to go from here. Be sure not to confuse uncertainty with negativity. Maybe you have a secret knack for management and some killer people skills but human resources is never something you’ve considered before because you were so entrenched in your old job?
There are countless fields and new opportunities, and now you have the ability to actually devote time and energy to learning new skills in a way you never could before. Take some time to figure out your passions. Take a short course or higher certificate online to build on your expertise and work towards a new career pathway. Through sites such as Shaw Academy, Alison and edX, online learning is more accessible and cheaper than it’s ever better before.
6. Spice up your CV
Especially if you have been working full-time for the same company over the last few years, it may have been a while since you dusted off your CV and gave it a revamp. Update your resume with any new valuable skills and experience you’ve picked up over this time. If you’ve created your own business, even better.
Put the knowledge you’ve harnessed to good use. Identify any transferable skills and make yourself as marketable as possible. It could be time to apply your expertise to a different field and try something new. Remember, try to be patient if you don’t get any immediate responses. You’ve got experience and that’s the golden ticket. Everything else just takes time.
WellBe’s got your back
At WellBe it is our personal mission to ensure that our customers receive the care and support we know they deserve. When everything else is going waywards, we know there’s one thing you can control – your health and your wellbeing. Your health is invaluable so now is the time to make lasting changes, one habit at a time.
If you need that extra motivational push, check out our Instagram page – comment, ask questions, let us know how you’re feeling and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. If you’d like some more information about our health hacks, wellness advice and fitness tips, feel free to contact us. We’ve here to share honest knowledge and personal experience about health and forming better habits for life.
This simple recipe is packed full of good-for-you Omega fatty acids which have been linked to a reduction in mental disorders such as depression. Omega-3s have been shown to boost learning and memory as well.
INGREDIENTS
1/3 cup olive oil or butter
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (or juice of 1 lemon)
2 Tbsp crushed garlic
1 Tbsp brown sugar (optional)
4 salmon fillets
Salt and pepper to taste
Lemon slices
2 Tbsp fresh chopped parsley divided
1 tsp dried dill
METHOD
Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 190C. Line a baking tray with foil. In a small saucepan, melt the butter/oil over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant (1-2 minutes). Turn off heat and whisk in lemon juice and brown sugar. Place the salmon onto the lined baking tray and season with salt and pepper. Spoon over the garlic lemon sauce onto the fillets and spread evenly. Sprinkle with parsley and dill and arrange the lemon slices over the salmon. Cover and seal with entire tray with another sheet of foil. Bake until cooked through (about 12-15 minutes). Remove the top foil carefully and place the salmon under the grill for 2-3 minutes to finish. Serve with grilled green vegetables.
A lighter version of the one-pan-wonder packed full of flavour. Black beans are high in magnesium, which relaxes the nervous system and balances stress hormones.
INGREDIENTS
1 bag corn tortilla chips
200g lean ground beef
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 tsp chili powder
4 green onions, thinly sliced
1 large ripe avocado, chopped
1/2 cup shredded cheese of choice
1/3 cup chopped tomato
1/4 cup chopped fresh coriander
Sliced jalapenos to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup Greek yoghurt for serving
METHOD
Preheat oven to 200C. Heat a large greased nonstick pan over medium-high. Add beef. cook 8 minutes, stirring to crumble. Stir in chili powder, beans and green onions; cook 1 minute. Remove pan from heat. Spread tortilla chips over. Line a sheet pan with tin foil and spray lightly with cooking spray. Spread your chips in the pan. Sprinkle half the cheese over the chips. Add the beef mixture next and top with the remaining cheese. Bake for approx. 10 minutes until crisp and cheese is melted. Combine the remaining ingredientsto form a salsa and sprinkle that over. Serve warm with a drizzle of tangy yoghurt.
Working from home can be a challenge. It’s uncomfortable and unfamiliar for many of us – especially when we’ve become so accustomed to the structure of working in an office, as well as the added motivation of having hard-working colleagues all around us. While it may be an adjustment, there’s actually a surprising number of unexpected benefits when it comes to working from home. Working in your own workspace means you have absolute freedom. You can choose the perfect setup that will tailor your space to fit your needs, ensure optimal efficiency and help you maintain your physical health.
That’s why having a keen ability to apply office ergonomics at home can help you maximize your workspace. While many of us are not naturally gifted with a built-in knowledge of design and ergonomics, there are some really simple steps that will put you on the right path. Here we’ll give you a good start with our top-of-the-line tips to utilize your workstation in a way that will be best for your productivity and for your health.
What exactly is office ergonomics?
Don’t let the unfamiliar term fool you, it’s actually a very simple concept which can be executed easily. Basically, it’s all about the science of fitting a workplace to a user’s needs while increasing efficiency and productivity, as well as reducing discomfort in a workspace. Think of ergonomics as ‘comfort design’ or arranging a workspace in a specific way for your particular requirements. It’s about making a space as user-friendly as possible and, at home, that user is you.
Your needs
Because it’s your home office, it’s all about your necessities and your requirements. Creating a positive work environment that will cater to your capabilities and daily work tasks is the ultimate goal. You want to feel comfortable, organized and know that it is truly a productive space.
Equipped for ultimate organization
Different job tasks require different setups. For example, if your work is largely tech-based and involves a lot of graphic design, you may want to opt for a bigger monitor that takes up more desk space so that you can perform tasks with greater ease and speed. If you have a number of different clients, each aligned with a different company and their own varying expectations, you may want to have your calendar and weekly planner front and centre on the desk to refer back to every now and again and make sure you’re up to date with all the different deadlines.
Think about the materials and kind of storage space you need. If you do a lot of office administration and need more space for filing and document storage, that’s an important thing to consider when using the space to fit your own priorities. It’s also really important to focus on small things like adequate lighting or how close your desk is to power outlets and the printer. These small things will make your life a little bit easier, we guarantee it. Also try to check that you have adequate access to WiFi before you choose your workroom so that you aren’t slowed down by slow-loading internet pages and poor connection – that’s enough to make you want to pull your hair out.
Productivity
The holy trinity of productivity is simple: privacy, organization and comfort. Without those three things, your focus can easily be inhibited and you’ll find your motivation waning.
1. Privacy
Above all, it’s important to settle on a place where you can shut out all distractions and focus on the task at hand. Try turning an empty room into a home office. If that’s not an option and you’re going to work in the dining room instead, make sure you inform the rest of the house that this will be your working space for the time being and set personal boundaries during your work hours.
Be sure to identify and cut out all distractions beforehand. Find what derails you and eliminate the causes. For example, if it’s the TV, chores on your to-do list or distractions from your family as they go about their at-home life, understand that this could hinder your work and come up with a solution to minimize the impact.
2. Organization
Create an organizational system. File, colour-code and use sticky notes – whatever works for you. Sometimes, just seeing that things are filed, categorized and in the right place could make you feel less stressed and create a better work environment.
Now that you’ve got your workspace arranged and in order, you can also give these 6 simple office hacks a try in order to increase your productivity and enhance your work drive using these other helpful techniques.
3. Comfort
This is potentially the most important of all three. Not only is comfort essential for your mental function and focus, but also for your physical health. Wherever you set up your home office, try to find a space that offers a comfortable workspace that does not sit your body in an stressful position or one that may be difficult to stay in for a number of hours per day.
An uncomfortable workplace can place strain on your lower back, neck and shoulders. Below we give you our best tips to reduce strain and daily pain by implementing these handy tweaks to your office setup. This is really where the tools of office ergonomics come in. Physical comfort using design is the goal. This can help you decrease the risk of developing strain injuries or any unwanted discomfort from work-related pain.
Reducing pain using ergonomics
Height and desk spacing
Choose a space that has a desk which will be the right height for you and that will allow you to work in a comfortable position. While it may seem super appealing to spend the day in your pajamas working in bed, it’s important to resist that temptation. This can be burdensome on your back and, if you repeatedly maintain the bad posture that comes from working in bed, it can cause prolonged lower back or neck pain.
Ideally, a home office with a sturdy desk and chair is first prize. You’ll need a desk of the right height or otherwise an adjustable chair so that you are able to rest your arms on the table comfortably. A table that is too high or too low can cause discomfort, so try aiming for one that’s about 70cm to 76cm. If you don’t have a home office, however, the height of a typical kitchen or dining room table is about right and can be used to substitute a desk if you’re happy to set up your home office there.
It may also help to place the monitor or laptop directly in front of you on the desk, roughly an arm’s length away. The screen should be at or slightly below eye level to avoid neck tension from straining to see the monitor. If you feel uncomfortable in any way, remember to adjust your environment to suit your body and never the other way around.
Your chair and footrest
According toMayo Clinic, posture is of primary importance. Be sure to choose a chair that allows you to keep your back in an upright position, supports your spinal curves and allows you to rest your feet flat on the floor. If you need to raise your chair in order to accommodate your desk height, then rest your feet comfortably on a footrest to avoid adopting bad posture. If you’re still feeling any discomfort after following these tips, try getting a foam or blow-up backrest to line your chair.
Your keyboard, mouse and phone
Place your mouse and keyboard within easy reach to avoid unnecessary stretching. When using your mouse and keyboard, you should be able to keep your wrists straight, your upper arms close to your body, and your hands at or slightly below the level of your elbows.
Also try to keep key objects such as your phone, calendar and stationery relatively close by to minimize reaching. If you use your phone throughout most of the day to take calls, get yourself a headset or speaker system to avoid cradling the phone between your ear and shoulder and causing neck pain.
Take advantage of your perks
With all the technicalities of creating a perfect, productive workspace, it’s important to still remember to relax and have fun from time to time. While you may miss the comfort and security of an office environment, being at home has its many perks.
Now you’ve got the freedom to use half an hour for yourself during the day and take a quick break from your work to do something fun like try a new peanut butter and rice crispy treat recipe. Maybe even do a quick, no-equipment exercise session. When you work at an office it feels like there’s never enough time for yourself and sometimes the feeling stays with you, even when you get home. Take advantage of being in your own space and in control of your own time. You deserve it.
Another handy tip
Beware of what some people are now calling ‘work creep’. Maximizing productivity and remaining focused is essential, but it’s necessary to set boundaries too. Moving your career into your home space can be an invasive presence in your everyday at-home life.
It’s easy to answer emails, pick up work calls and try to quickly finish drafting that last bit of a brief when your work is always right in front of you. That’s why you have to be strict with yourself by creating designated work hours and practise sticking to them. A healthy working schedule is a large part of maintaining a healthy mind and healthy relationships.
WellBe’s word on the subject
Now that you’ve got your understanding of office ergonomics down, it’s time to get your body and mind functioning at the same optimal level. That means taking a good look at your physical and mental health. At WellBe&Co we want you to have the most focused, motivated outlook possible when it comes to your health – which is why we want to share our 6 steps to establishing a realistic fitness plan. We also break down the key to mental health maintenance by exploring the brain-body connection in this informative blog.
Not only that, but we also provide handy meal ideas, at-home exercises and daily “think well” tidbits of advice on our Instagram page. You’ll get a different one for each day of the lockdown to keep you on-track and excited about your fitness journey.
If that’s not enough and you want to get even more involved, contact us here to start the process of developing your own personalised health and wellness program. We truly do want you to be “Happier. Healthier. Wellthier”.
These days a trip to the grocery store can be more confusing than anything – you’re faced with so many different food options with an array of exciting and appealing claims. Welcome to the “free from” era, a time when food products display more claims and callouts about what they don’t contain compared to what they do. Examples of “free from” claims are gluten-free, free from sugar, free from colourants, and the list goes on. It’s so easy to notice these claims and overlook the entire nutritional profile of a snack food or ready meal.
How to read food labels
Food labels and nutrition tables don’t have to be overwhelming. They can be used as valuable tools to guide us in making the best choice. It’s important to understand how to read and interpret food labels and use them to your benefit. When comparing the nutritional content of food, always look at the nutritional content per 100 g – this helps you compare apples with apples. The serving size is also important to look at as this is the recommended amount that you should have in one sitting.
Health claims like “low in fat” and “fat-free” displayed on packaged foods may lead you to believe that these products are great choices, however, these foods are often loaded with fillers like sugar and carbohydrates to improve taste and texture. The ingredient list displays quantities of ingredients from the highest to the lowest amount. The closer “sugar” is to the top of the ingredient list, the higher the sugar content. Sugar is sometimes listed using other words: cane sugar, fructose, fruit juice concentrate, high-fructose corn syrup, syrup, honey, galactose, lactose, maltose, maltodextrin, rice syrup, corn sweetener and xylitol.
The consumption of excess salt can negatively affect your health as well as result in water retention and bloating. Look out for other names for high sodium ingredients: celery salt, garlic salt, meat/yeast extract, monosodium glutamate, (MSG), onion salt, rock salt, sea salt, sodium, sodium ascorbate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium nitrate/nitrite, stock cubes, vegetable salt.
Avoid food products that have a very long ingredient list of unfamiliar, processed ingredients. Try to choose products with fresh ingredients and minimal additives and preservatives. A shorter shelf life also shows you that a product is a fresher and healthier option.
These past few weeks have changed life as we know it, and this shift is one we’ve all felt, not just in South Africa, but across the world.
While the reality of this situation has been difficult to confront at times, there’s a light in all of this – the unbelievable way that people have responded to this chaos. There have been some incredible developments as people have surprised one another, made real gains with the lessons they’ve learned and formed habits that will last them a lifetime.
Rather than focusing on the things that are out of our control, it’s essential that we keep in mind the progress we’ve made instead. The power of positive thinking is vital, now more than ever. That’s why we at WellBe take some time to discuss the breakthrough habits people have harnessed during these last few weeks and all the small achievements we’ve seen come to light.
The 5 Most Important Lessons We’ve Gained
Even for the ultimate optimist, this pandemic has really put people to the test. Things such as a sense of security and structure in daily routine have most likely been disrupted and scrambled in several different ways. “Normal” may even seem impossible to return to at this point.
We know dramatic shifts like this can be strenuous and unsettling, but amidst this mix of emotions and confusion, we hope you see the good that can be found too.
The lockdown has given everyone an unsuspecting gift in all of this – the gift of time. People have been able to learn lessons that would have otherwise gone unnoticed in the rush of our daily lives. Now, we have no choice but to go back to basics, and to focus on what’s really important – our health, on our healing and our connection to our community and loved ones. Even if that does involve baking banana bread twice a week.
1. Health and lifestyle changes
If there’s one thing we tend to neglect when life gets busy, it’s our health. What we’ve continued to regularly and easily neglect has now been brought front and center, with all this newfound time to dedicate towards our wellbeing. There has been a need for a new list of priorities and personal health seems to be right at the top for many people during this pandemic.
While we never seemed to have a moment to spare before, for better or worse, everything’s changed. And so have people! Amidst all the chaos and distraction, we’ve been given the opportunity to care for our own physical and nutritional health, and we’ve taken that opportunity in stride.
Now, more than ever, people are making the effort to exercise, to try new recipes and to finally sit down and enjoy a hearty meal with their families. Healthy eating has even been shown to improve mood and mental health, which is why it’s a great thing to see during a time like this.
The most challenging part has been the self-discipline that all this requires. Yet people have surprised themselves once again. Throughout the lockdown we’ve seen more dedication than ever before. Everyday people across South Africa get up, get their gym clothes on and commit themselves to a full-blown, at-home exercise routine.
Not only have people started taking the time to learn how to look after their bodies and health, but they’ve enjoyed it too. Self-isolation has allowed us to form a strong foundation for our new routines, so that when the lockdown comes to an end, our healthy habits don’t have to. And if you have put on a few pounds during this lockdown period, then consider yourself one of the lucky ones. The important part of all of this is that we are focusing on our health and feeding our bodies with nutritional goodness, in whatever form that might come in.
2. Mental health and self-love
Self-love is the beginning of every health and fitness journey.
If you don’t feel good about yourself, it’s hard to feel good about the healthy habits that you’re forming – and even harder to make them stick. Luckily, there have been more and more people trying to use these last few weeks to self-reflect, relax and discover the ins-and-outs of maintaining mental health.
Despite the pressure of feeling closed-in and stuck in one space, we’ve seen people adapt remarkably and turn the situation around, instead using this time to care for their own mental health and their own healing.
There have been countless people who have taken to meditation, yoga and practicing healthy sleeping habits in order to rediscover the lessons of self-love that may have been lacking in their daily lives before. After all, number six on the self-care 101 guideline is meditation. The importance of small, daily activities like this is unexpectedly helpful in guiding us on our path to self-improvement.
Sometimes, we tend to see self-care as being selfish, and not as a top priority in our full-of-stress lives – but it’s actually the opposite. It may have taken a pandemic but, finally, we’ve seen people stop, catch their breath and focus on self reflection, mental health and healing.
3. Hygienic habits
It’s taken until now, but we’re finally seeing people become aware and intentional when it comes to personal hygiene. The changes are amazing and daily behaviour has slowly shifted towards enforcing these healthy habits.
People are taking care to sanitize their hands, cough into their elbows and wash their hands properly – something that has been surprisingly lacking before. Hopefully, when all of this is over, some of the hygiene habits we’ve picked up in order to protect ourselves during the pandemic will stay with us.
4. Transforming technology and working from home
Zoom. Netflix Party. Touchless payment systems. The sky’s the limit. Companies and small businesses across the globe have adapted to this new way of functioning, and the developments in every-day technology have showcased some unexpected examples of great innovation.
Who would have predicted that a ten-person video chat with coworkers would become the daily norm? As people have started adjusting to working from home, they’ve become more willing and able to try out different methods of communication and have adapted to new forms of technology. Even some of the elderly folks and grandparents have started to discover the joys of using Facetime (here’s looking at you, gran gran). Universities and schools have made the big leap and committed to transforming their teaching to make lessons available online.
We’ll find ourselves returning to a world more open to alternative approaches to work, learning and communication – and hopefully a bit more tech-savvy too.
5. Connection and community
Throughout South Africa people seem to be focusing on the same fundamental things in their lives – health, family and connection to community.
We’re learning how to stay in touch with their friends and families, no matter what the distance in between us may be. Support networks and connections are becoming more important than they’ve ever been and people are working to help one another through this difficult time like never before.
There’s been an outbreak of support and love. We’ve seen communities come together to help the elderly, kindness shown to the poor and homeless, and our healthcare professionals band together and take this challenge on, despite the risks.
There’s a greater sense of solidarity, community, compassion and kindness – more than we ever stopped to show in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives before.
WellBe’s Two Cents
Here at WellBe&Co we want to keep you connected and in the loop. With regular blog posts and social media updates, we’ll share our top tips for health, wellness and mind-and-body management.
Follow our daily Instagram updates for recipes, daily exercise routines and our “think well” tidbits of advice. We’ve also made this handy coronavirus survival kit with life-saving meals and at-home exercise guides.
Want to get more involved? Contact us here for your own personalised health and wellness program.
April 14, 2020Gemma OberholzerEat WellComments Off on FINDING POSITIVITY DURING A PANDEMIC: HOW LESSONS LEARNED DURING LOCKDOWN HAVE GIVEN US BETTER SKILLS FOR LIFE
By Sarah Braithwaite, Neuroscience-based Life and Integrative Health Coach of MindSight.
An introduction to the article
A holistic perspective on mental health explores the neuroscience of the brain body connection and practical tools to both manage and prevent mental illness. This article discusses the role of dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin in the body, and how tools such as mindfulness, human connection, purposeful living, and nutrition influence one’s state of being. Mental health, is a topic that is finally being deconstructed of its identity around stigmatization, and entering a new paradigm of understanding where people are no longer victims of a diagnosis but instead have tools to proactively manage their environment and alleviate symptoms.
The brain body connection
Recent neuroscientific evidence has made abundantly clear that our previously distorted view that the brain and body are separate entities, is in fact false. According to Dr Tara Swart, Neuroscientist and Coach, the brain and body operate within one system where neurology and physiology are both intrinsically linked. The notion that mental health is only symptomatic of what is happening in the brain, is incorrect, especially since serotonin, a very vital mood stabilizing neurotransmitter, is in fact mostly produced in one’s gut, not one’s brain. Yes, you read correctly – up to as much as 90% of serotonin is produced in the gut. Serotonin generates a sense of wellbeing which is essential to human functionality and can be boosted naturally by the consumption of fruits.
(Check out this blog on effective ways to improve your gut health).
Fascinating research by American stem cell Biologist Dr Bruce Lipton, further endorses the mind-body relationship. His medical research shows that our emotions and thoughts are altering our gene expression within our DNA sequence. New ways of thinking suggest that chronic suffers or borderline persons with depression or anxiety in addition to prescribed medical treatment, should prioritise nutrition, exercise, human connection, mindfulness, and meaning/purpose within their lives. With our perception of stress becoming increasingly challenging to manage, it is imperative for individuals to take ownership of emotional management and mental health before the arrival of a diagnosis.
The happy hormones and their role in mental health
Let us consider the most imperative mental health game players amongst the neurotransmitters, namely serotonin already mentioned, and dopamine and oxytocin. Dopamine relates to the reward centre of the brain as we produce it when something ‘feels good’. Functional, healthy human beings rely on a constant stream of dopamine production. To obtain it sustainably one should be engaging in genuine meaningful and purposeful life activities.
Think about your career, family life, hobbies, passions – do any of these generate a sense of valuable contribution to the world, hold real significance, or feel meaningful to you? For one this may be a high-powered job, and for another a love of gardening. When we are unfulfilled with authentic meaning and purpose, our brain will search for more dopamine in unhealthy ways, which manifests as addiction and/or mental illness.
Research shows that depression is evident in retired business men and women, who’s career-less identity prompts a loss of purpose in the world. Fast ‘dopamine kicks’ are very evident in social media where a single ‘like’ of a picture can cause a cascade of dopamine rushes, however, this is short lived and dangerous to some. Sustainable engagement in meaningful activities is essential to mental health and wellbeing, and because the bulk of one’s time is spent at work or with family, these two areas should be the driving sources.
Oxytocin, is the other important neurotransmitter, produced abundantly during connections – and no, not technology connections, but real human to human connection. This neurotransmitter allows us to trust one another, which is the basis of healthy relationships. Science has shown that for optimal mental health, one should have at least two meaningful connections a day, such as a coffee catch up, a walk and talk with a friend, or a positive conversation with a coworker. As humans we are wired for connection and cannot survive without it. With technology ‘connecting’ us more than ever globally, ironically loneliness is on the rise as becoming one of the biggest contributors to mental and physical health.
Tools such as mindfulness practice, stress management, nutrition, maintaining healthy connections, and meaningful activities, are all imperative in their role of influencing neurotransmitters and biochemistry in the body. How we think, behave, manage emotions, eat, and move all have a huge impact on our production of dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin, and because of the research of epigenetics (mentioned above) we cannot solely blame our genetic history on unwanted outcomes.
Mindfulness for mental health
Mindfulness is a scientifically validated, non-associative religious practice that has transformative effects not only on mental wellbeing, but on immune system regulation and functioning of the brain. Mindfulness can reduce anxiety, and in recent studies demonstrated the successful decline in recurrent depressive episodes of diagnosed patients.
Mindfulness practice brings the central nervous system into homeostasis, improving emotional regulation, and minimizes the prominence of the fear centre of the brain known as the amygdala. Fear, anxiety and stress connected to the amygdala are influential in the delicate balance of ‘threat’ and ‘reward’ in the brain which in turn affects one’s dopamine levels and overall mental state.
Nutritional quality is vitally important to mental health in that the mind gut communication occurs via the vagus nerve, and both overall gut health and the microbiome determine factors that influence mental health outcomes.
Equally important is stress management and exercise in reducing the stress hormone cortisol, and maintaining healthy levels of dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin.
Reference List:
Chopra, D., M.D, Tanzi, R. PH.D. (2015). Super Genes: The hidden keys to total well-being. Penguin Random House UK.
Davidson, R. J., Kabat-Zinn, J., Schumacher, J., Rosenkranz, M., Muller, D., Santorelli, S. F., Urbanowski, F., Harrington, A., Bonus, K., & Sheridan, J. F. (2003). Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation: Psychosomatic Medicine, 65(4), 564–570. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.PSY.0000077505.67574.E3
Lipton, B. H. (2005). The biology of belief: Unleashing the power of consciousness, matter and miracles. Mountain of Love/Elite Books.
Swart, T., Chisholm, K., & Brown, P. (2015). Neuroscience for leadership: Harnessing the brain gain advantage
April 7, 2020Sarah BraithwaiteWork WellComments Off on THE BASICS OF MENTAL HEALTH: EXPLORING THE NEUROSCIENCE OF THE BRAIN BODY CONNECTION (PLUS TOOLS ON HOW TO MANAGE AND PREVENT MENTAL ILLNESS)
With the announcement of the 21-day lockdown in South Africa, which started at midnight the 26th of March 2020, as well as the accepted practise of social distancing and self-isolation, more and more of us are now working from home.
And let’s be honest – working from home is something many of us have been wanting to chat to our bosses about implementing more regularly. But working from home during a global pandemic can have a bit of a strange and uneasy feeling to it.
Some of us are more productive when we work from home. And others? Not so much. And that’s okay. But at the end of the day, your boss (even if you are your own boss) expects you to get the work done. It might feel like the world is coming to a screeching halt, but that doesn’t mean that deadlines don’t exist.
When you’re at work (at the office office), then your coworkers are likely to pose the greatest threat to interrupting your work. They might drop by your desk for a chat, invite you to lunch or even just frustrate you with their annoying desire to always spread the office gossip (I mean, no one really cares that Karen’s shoes don’t match her blouse, Judy).
At your home office, you pretty much become your own worst enemy. That’s because your home is loaded with distractions. And, this one is kinda obvious, no one is watching or micromanaging you. Oh, and also, you don’t have to wear pants.
That’s why we have put together a bunch of effective and simple tips to make working from home productive.
1. Replace the time spent sitting in traffic with exercise
Your morning commute no longer exists – hooray! But that doesn’t mean you should spend that extra hour or so hitting snooze and tangled under the covers. Even if it is really cosy.
Many freelancers and entrepreneurs have said that starting their day with some exercise helps their mind and body align to the day ahead. Exercise will leave you feeling energised, get the blood flowing and help you to focus throughout the day.
When you wake up, go for a walk, put on a yoga YouTube video – click on the link to check out some of our favourites, or burn some calories with an at-home workout routine – no matter what you do, just make sure you get moving.
2. Shower and get out of your PJs
It’s hard to get into work-mode when your outfit screams “bed mode.”
We’re not saying you have to put on a suit and tie, or a pencil skirt and stilettos, but having a shower to freshen up and getting changed into clothes that aren’t your track pants and oversized hoodie is a great way to get your head in the game and start your day.
After you are all fresh and clean, have a nutritious breakfast to kickstart your day and keep your mind focused on the task at hand. These Berry Overnight Oats are a great option to try!
3. Create a dedicated workspace
Now is the time to clear out some space in your house to create a dedicated working area. Instead of copping yourself up on your bed or on the couch, clearly differentiate between spaces of leisure and work in your house. This will help you to get into the right frame of mind.
4. Turn off your social media notifications
Make it hard for yourself to get distracted by social media. Turn off your notifications for Instagram, Facebook and other social media platforms on your phone. Close all social media tabs open on your computer.
5. Work when you are the most productive
Figure out what hours you are most productive and create your work schedule around those times. Some people are more productive in the early hours of the morning or in the evening. Others might prefer to work during regular working hours (8 to 5 sort of thing) to stick to their accustomed routine. Find out what works for you and create your workload to fit into those productive hours.
Expert tip: You can use your slower points of the day to get cracking on easier and possibly more logistical tasks and keep your more complicated work for when you are firing on all cylinders.
6. Create a to-do list at the end of every day for the following day
Before you finally call it a day, create a to-do list of what you need to get done the following day. Make use of digital project management systems like Monday (a super simple project management tool).
7. Create playlists for certain tasks
Listen to music that matches the energy of your projects. For example, video game soundtracks are lyric-free and can help you focus on your work.
Another great example (and one of our personal favourites) is lo-fi hip hop. Take a look at some other examples here.
8. Meal prep
There’s nothing more distracting than trying to find something to eat in a fridge that seems pretty bare. It’s a good idea to prep your meals for the week to minimise time spent in the kitchen when you could be getting important work tasks done. Plus, meal prepping will also help you ensure you stick to a healthy eating plan.
9. Take regular breaks
It’s easy to get sucked into your work and forget to take breaks. This will undoubtedly lead to burnout. Some experts suggest setting a timer on your phone for every 50 minutes. When the timer goes off, get up from your desk, close your eyes and take 10 deep breaths.
You can also use your breaks to complete a chore around the house, go for a walk (if you can leave your home) or even squeeze in a quick 10-minute yoga workout.
10. Focus on one task at a time
Multitasking is not going to help you get your work done. The more you attempt to complete various tasks in parallel, the more energy you have to invest in just tracking your task and keeping things in order. When you focus on one task at a time, you can then redirect your mental and physical energy on being more productive.
Follow these top tips to get your work done effectively while working from home!
