Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Issue 70

REST We often dream of lazy sunny days, but if you're someone that lives by routine, you may find it somewhat uneasy when you can finally get some time to rest. Summer can offer us a chance to truly reset though <strong>and</strong> one way of making that happen is by getting enough rest. Forget the chores <strong>and</strong> tasks that you've set yourself. Make time to actually switch off, <strong>and</strong> let your mind <strong>and</strong> body rest. It could be lying on a sun bed, or in a hammock in the shade of a tree. Whatever it is, keep things quiet <strong>and</strong> slow. If you can, totally switch off from work. Enjoy a good book instead. RECHARGE Recharging your energy isn't something that happens overnight. If you sleep fewer hours than your body <strong>and</strong> mind needs, especially on a regular basis, this accumulates into what's known as sleep debt. For chronic sleep debt, accumulated over weeks or months, it can take several weeks of consistently good sleep habits to restore your sleep balance. REFLECT Give yourself the space <strong>and</strong> time to truly reflect on where you are in life, <strong>and</strong> where you'd like to go. Accept the difficult things, <strong>and</strong> quietly celebrate the wins. Allow your mind to take you wherever it wants <strong>and</strong> perhaps find a new perspective on life's problems. Allowing your mind to reflect honestly <strong>and</strong> openly will allow it to breathe <strong>and</strong> perform more effectively when you need it most. SUMMERreset Use the healing power of the summer months to restore <strong>and</strong> reset REWIND Take a few moments out of your day to remind yourself of a time when you felt happy. Recall to mind what was happening. Who was there? How did it make you feel? Rewinding to happy moments stimulates the parts of your brain that releases happy hormones <strong>and</strong> reminds us that life can be good. REMOVE DIGITAL MEDIA Digital media is continuously trying to get our attention. Whether it's videos, emails, images, or notifications, they are all designed to take you away from real life <strong>and</strong> engage with them instead. If you have a mobile phone, remove anything that you don't need or use. Turn off non-urgent notifications, <strong>and</strong> if possible, turn your phone off completely for extended lengths of time. Committing to a set period of time without digital media will help you engage with real life <strong>and</strong> will bring about a real sense of calm. 24

wellbeing RESTRICT Ditch the damaging alcohol <strong>and</strong> unhealthy drinks. Instead, nourish your body with the things it's crying out for - vitamins, minerals, <strong>and</strong> everything it needs to function at its best. RECONNECT Reconnecting with the things that once made you happy can go a long way towards helping you become happier <strong>and</strong> more fulfilled. It could be an old hobby, places you used to visit, or even re-establishing faded friendships. Reintroducing these things into your life on a regular basis can build more time for yourself. Reconnecting with nature <strong>and</strong> the outdoors can also bring its own benefits, both physically <strong>and</strong> emotionally. RESPIRE When faced with a threat, your brain alerts your body to respond with either a fight or flight response. When you take the time to slow down <strong>and</strong> purposefully breathe deeply <strong>and</strong> slowly, you reassure your brain that everything is under control. Your brain then communicates to your body that it's safe to relax. Making breathwork part of your daily routine can help you deal with stress. RECONCILE Use the summer months to reconcile any damaged relationships that are worth keeping. You'll need to be prepared to be honest, <strong>and</strong> to hear honest views coming back. Active listening will give you a perspective on how the other person feels but make sure your feelings are heard too. Acknowledge mistakes, but also build on the present <strong>and</strong> look to the future with optimism. RE-EMERGE Here's your chance to reset <strong>and</strong> to re-emerge as a better version of yourself. If trauma or depression is something that's darkening your every day, now is the chance to seek help <strong>and</strong> work through it. Trauma is stored in the body, mostly away from any conscious thoughts. It affects daily life, <strong>and</strong> is a heavy burden to carry. Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness. In fact, it's a sign that you're ready to start a new chapter in your life - <strong>and</strong> on your terms. Therapy never promises to fix you. Instead, it helps you process things, to clear some head space, <strong>and</strong> allows you to reemerge stronger <strong>and</strong> happier. 25