With the festive season behind us and the year well underway, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind, which can lead to a slump that you can’t quite find the source of. Whether it’s burnout, overstimulation — or understimulation, there are little things you can do or integrate into your routine to shake things up, pull you back into the present and help you feel better — even if it’s just a little.
And if, like me, you’re not sure where to start, Think Mental Health has put together a list of activities to spark some inspiration. To work on prioritising my wellbeing, I decided to give a few of them a red-hot crack.
Try a dance class
I don’t know about you, but I have two left feet when it comes to dancing. And when it comes to exercise, I prefer a nice, long stroll alone with my favourite playlist.
In an effort to expand my horizons, I signed up for an early morning Zumba class. I’m not sure who I was when I made that decision — one that had me waking up two hours earlier than normal, but apparently I was eager to get started on my wellness journey.
I have to admit, forcing myself out of bed at the crack of dawn had me a little grumpy — until I got my body moving, at which point I found it surprisingly refreshing.
Overall, it was actually a lot of fun. I would recommend bringing a friend for support if you’re feeling nervous, but moving my body and stepping outside my comfort zone was, unexpectedly, a great way to spend an hour. I’ll definitely be back.
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Plan a board game night
At first, it was a little difficult to convince my mates to put their phones away and immerse themselves in a good old-fashioned games night. But with the promise of snacks and immaculate vibes, they were (reluctantly) in.
I dusted off my old board games and we were completely transported. Something about the lack of tech — and the absolute need to stay focused and present helped us connect (and discover a few hidden competitive streaks).
Plus, it’s a pretty cost-effective way to spend an evening.
Try a new recipe
Sometimes we’re so focused on digging into a delicious meal that we forget the fun in putting it together. Now, that’s a great metaphor for life — but even more real when it comes to cooking.
You could pick a dish you love but have never thought about recreating at home. Or you can finally make the delicious-looking recipe you’d forgotten you’d saved to your phone last year. Either way — when you’re doing this, I highly advise you keep the stakes as low as possible. Which I didn’t do.
I thought a dinner party would be the best time for me to try this one — and for some reason I (incorrectly) assumed spanakopita would be pretty simple to make.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved the recipe and the fact that my friends were raving about it, but by attempting to greet and entertain, while trying to create this dish — I was wearing too many hats.
In the end, the spanakopita was a hit and had me feeling very accomplished. But next time I will allow myself more time to enjoy the process of putting it together when the stakes aren’t so high.
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Explore a de-stress activity before bed
I’ve heard that screen time late at night can interrupt your natural sleep cycle, affecting your overall mental wellbeing. So, I decided to ditch the phone to avoid scrolling on TikTok and opted to read a book instead. Who is she?
While I found reading a book was a relaxing way to end what had been a busy day, I did find myself losing track of time and staying up later than I should have on a work night (whoops). Nonetheless, I personally found this was a great way to unwind before bed.
So there you have it. My review on just some of the activities you can try to help you feel okay day-to-day.
Just remember we are all different, and the things that work for others may be different to what works for you. You can find the entire list of activities here.