7 Tips for Achieving Mind-Body Balance

Health is not merely the absence of diseases; it is a state of optimal well-being and wholeness. This includes the food you eat, the relationships you build, the jobs you fulfill, and your life experiences.

Aiming for balance in your mind, body, and soul is a good place to start. Below are seven ways to help you begin the process.

#1: AVOID SITTING FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME

Given our current situation, many Singaporeans are working from home. Try to stand or walk around while you work. Take a few minutes to refresh your mind and body. Sitting for extended periods of time was linked to diabetes and heart diseases.

#2: READ AND LEARN MORE

Learning does not stop once you get out of school. Open your mind to new possibilities by taking online classes, reading books, watching documentaries, and attending workshops. Cultivate a heart that yearns for lifelong learning.

#3: MEDITATE ON A DAILY BASIS

Meditation improves concentration, memory, mood, sleep, and creativity. All it takes is a few minutes per day to start reaping its benefits. You may even ask your friends to partake in a 30-Day Meditation Challenge with you.

#4: EXERCISE REGULARLY

Apart from meditation, regular exercise offers benefits for both your mind and body. A complete fitness plan includes exercises to develop cardiovascular conditioning, strength training, and flexibility. Get at least 15 to 30 minutes of moderate to fast-paced exercises each day.

#5: DISCONNECT FROM TECHNOLOGY

Our society heavily depends on technology such as laptops and smartphones. Our busy lifestyles glued to our devices can cause detrimental effects on our overall health. Which is why people are tapping into the concept of mindfulness. Try unplugging for the weekend. Start by giving yourself an hour of mindfulness (i.e., no devices allowed).

#6: TAKE A RESTFUL SLEEP

Restful sleep is vital to having energy and optimal well-being. Take a restful sleep of about 7 hours per night. When you are well-rested, you can approach stressful situations in a calmer manner.

#7: CREATE LOVING RELATIONSHIPS

Research showed that a good social network has numerous physical and mental health benefits. Social support can keep you from feeling isolated, inadequate, or lonely. Your friends and family can give you advice on how to manage your problems.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Sources: 1 & 2

 

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6 Ways To Practice Self-Care On A Tight Budget

Looking for ways to prioritize your physical and mental health is paramount during these times. It is easy to think that self-care means giving yourself expensive experiences or tools, but self-care can be free or low-cost. So long as you are more intentional with your choices, you will be able to tap into what your body truly craves for.

#1: PLAN A NATURE WALK

Research has shown that nature helps us cope with stress and pain. We are genetically wired to find natural elements such as plants and water engrossing. Being absorbed with the beauty of natural sceneries can distract us from discomfort and pain.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Nature can help slow down the internal rush that affects our feelings, especially when you are inside your home for too long. Planning a nature walk may help you with that. Get up close and personal with nature by embarking one of the walking or cycling trails in the parks, gardens, and park connectors.

#2: TRY AT-HOME WORKOUTS

Several gyms and fitness studios have postponed their operations last month due to the spike in community cases. When this happens, you can explore different at-home workouts. You can either take online group classes in your favorite fitness center or search thru YouTube and Instagram for free workout videos.

It might take more self-discipline to become your own motivator, but you will have the flexibility to workout whenever you want.

#3: EXAMINE YOUR HABITS

Examine your current and old habits. Evaluate whether these are healthy for you or not. Think about the long-term effects of each habit too. A simple shift in your routine can offer the same pleasure as a new purchase.

For instance, you habitually frequent the nearby Starbucks every morning. Upon evaluating this habit, you realized that you will be able to save more money if you made your own coffee at home. You switched to having your own coffee ritual and enjoyed it a lot.

Bringing awareness into your habits will enable you to see whether you are paying for something that you do not love or need anymore.

#4: MEET WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Self-care does not mean being completely self-sufficient. Instead, staying connected with the people you love will help reduce the loneliness you are feeling from being indoors for a long period of time. Stay connected with your loved ones by hosting Zoom/Skype hangouts or by creating a group chat.

Reintegrating yourself in your community after all the pandemic restrictions can help remind you that leaning on others for support is self-care. Best of all? It does not have to cost anything.

#5: PRACTICE MEDITATION

Many studies have highlighted the benefits of meditation. It helps improve focus, concentration, memory, and reduce stress. Relaxation techniques such as medication can be added to your holistic self-care.

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Try breathing deeply as you follow through a guided meditation video online. You can also download free meditation apps like Calm and Headspace.

#6: SAVE MONEY

You read that right! Apart from working out in your own home or practicing relaxation techniques, you can take care of yourself by saving money. Financial struggles affect our physical and mental health. Not having enough money can affect your ability to pay for important health procedures or nutritious food.

Cushion the stress of financial woes by sticking to your budget and saving money. Sticking to your budget feels better than impulsively purchasing beyond your means.

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How To Efficiently Declutter Your Personal And Financial Life

The perfect time to organize your thoughts, to arrange your bills, and to declutter your home is NOW! Here are five strategies that you can start with:

CLEANSE YOUR PHONE

We are constantly glued to our devices. I do not mean to be a bearer of bad news, but your devices are not entirely sanitary. Various researchers have found Escherichia coli bacteria, Streptococcus, and other pathogens living on mobile phones. It is important to employ measures to keep yourself healthy and to minimize medical bills.

One of the first few things that I do upon coming home from work is to cleanse my phone. I grab a couple of cotton pads and spray it with Isopropyl Alcohol. This helps me disinfect my phone as I am constantly in contact with relatively sickly children. You can adopt this habit too!

FLOSS YOUR PEARLY WHITES

Many experts encourage the importance of flossing in one’s daily grooming routine. A floss is designed to reach between the gums and the teeth. It acts as an efficient tool to lower the risk of gum disease, tooth decay, and periodontal disease.

You do not want to go to a job interview with a flaming bad breath!

PURGE YOUR ITEMS

Are you getting trapped under a mountain of rubbish? Tidy your space by practicing the one-item-in and one-item-out policy. This policy works by bringing a new item in and dropping an old item out. You can either donate, sell, or throw the old item. Doing this regularly will improve both your financial and mental health.

ORGANIZE YOUR BILLS

Never forget where you put the bills or when their due dates are by designating one place for them. You read that right! You have to decide whether you are going to file all your bills in a tangible box or in a computer folder.

Some bills arrive by electronic mail while some arrive by postal mail. Printed bills must be kept in a labeled box. While for virtual storage of bills, make scanned copies of those that arrive in the mail and put them into a labeled folder in your laptop.

EASE YOUR MIND

Create a healthy division between your work and personal life to lessen your stress. For instance, my co-worker does not respond to the client’s calls after 7 PM. You may do the same thing, if necessary. Another way to keep your mind at ease is by not checking your email before you go to sleep.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Image Credits: pixabay.com

It is inevitable to spot a message that will your mind buzzing all throughout the night. Furthermore, it may make you anxious to go to work the next day. Do you want that to happen?

Sources:  1 & 2

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