Annually, on the 3rd of January, the International Mind-Body Wellness Day comes up just after the Christmas and New Year’s Day celebrations. Recommitting to loving your body and mind is the aim of the day. This is especially important as the execution of your set plans for the year kicks in.
To face the new year, you will need to take conscious steps to prioritize your healthy well-being. A neglect of holistic care of your mind and body can lead to stress, heightened anxiety, mood swings, weight gain, abnormal sleeping patterns and exposure to chronic illnesses among others.
Living in Nigeria can be stressful on the body and mind. Insecurity, increased crime; high political instability; inflation; corruption; unemployment; corrupt leaders; environmental and health issues are some of the problems facing citizens in Nigeria today. To navigate through the issues that may arise this year in Nigeria, you need to learn to prioritize taking things slowly while you focus on your growth and good vibes only.
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If you are thinking about how to kick start your wellness goals this year, here are six tips that can help your mind and body stay positive for the new year.
Meditation:
A good way to stay focused and reset is by practicing meditation. Meditation is a practice that allows you to focus your mind on a particular object, thought or activity. The goal is to attain a mentally emotionally calm and stable state. Meditation has also been associated with physical healing of illness.
Stay optimistic:
It is common knowledge that the brain naturally remembers negative experiences more than positive ones. Bad news, disappointments, failed businesses, the death of a loved one, financial issues, relationship struggles are examples of negative occurrences that can get the mind to focus on bad stuff. Focusing on any of these can also have negative effects on your body. “For every bad thing in life, there are more good things to tip the balance”. The quote by the American Author, Richelle Mead could not be more apt. The goal for you will be to confront the situation, keep an open mind and change your perspective on how you see the negative.
Desire positive environments:
You are influenced by the people around you and the environment you find yourself in. Surround yourself with people who are excited about you and want the best for you. Make sure you are away from situations where you are not celebrated and if you ever find yourself in one – get out of it. Do not also stay in environments that hinder your mood from glowing. Beyond safety and security, seek environments that are physically and psychologically comfortable. These will help uplift your mind and body.
Share positivity:
It is important that we try to be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud. This way, we share positivity by giving others a chance to shine. A lot of people are going through challenges and most of them keep up appearances. Being sensitive and spotting when individuals who are close to you are not doing well and lending a helping hand without expecting anything in return can go on to fuel good energy in you. This also helps in building genuine relationships on the foundation of respect and generosity that can be really healthy.
Keep a healthy body:
Your physical and emotional health are connected. The mind can affect how the body works and this connection is crucial to your personal joy. Your thoughts, feelings, beliefs and attitudes can affect how your biology functions. The goal for you this year will also be to eat a variety of nutrient rich foods in moderate portions, drink water and stay hydrated, exercise, be active and make sure you relax and get plenty of sleep.
Stay thankful:
It is totally free to be thankful. It costs nothing to review your life and critically identify all the good things that make your life awesome. Identify even the little successes that make you happy about your life. Staying thankful can make you navigate through life’s difficulties easier. Make time to thank yourself, your friends and family. Noting daily those things that make you happy about your life also helps keep your mind and body in a positive place.
