Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Issue 70

wellbeing<br />

RESTRICT<br />

Ditch the damaging alcohol<br />

<strong>and</strong> unhealthy drinks.<br />

Instead, nourish your body<br />

with the things it's crying out<br />

for - vitamins, minerals, <strong>and</strong><br />

everything it needs to function<br />

at its best.<br />

RECONNECT<br />

Reconnecting with the<br />

things that once made<br />

you happy can go a long<br />

way towards helping you<br />

become happier <strong>and</strong><br />

more fulfilled.<br />

It could be an old<br />

hobby, places you<br />

used to visit, or even<br />

re-establishing<br />

faded friendships.<br />

Reintroducing these<br />

things into your life on a<br />

regular basis can build<br />

more time for yourself.<br />

Reconnecting with<br />

nature <strong>and</strong> the outdoors<br />

can also bring its own<br />

benefits, both physically<br />

<strong>and</strong> emotionally.<br />

RESPIRE<br />

When faced with a<br />

threat, your brain alerts<br />

your body to respond<br />

with either a fight or<br />

flight response. When<br />

you take the time<br />

to slow down <strong>and</strong><br />

purposefully breathe<br />

deeply <strong>and</strong> slowly, you<br />

reassure your brain that<br />

everything is under<br />

control. Your brain then<br />

communicates to your<br />

body that it's safe to<br />

relax.<br />

Making breathwork<br />

part of your daily<br />

routine can help you<br />

deal with stress.<br />

RECONCILE<br />

Use the summer<br />

months to reconcile any<br />

damaged relationships<br />

that are worth keeping.<br />

You'll need to be<br />

prepared to be honest,<br />

<strong>and</strong> to hear honest views<br />

coming back. Active<br />

listening will give you a<br />

perspective on how the<br />

other person feels but<br />

make sure your feelings<br />

are heard too.<br />

Acknowledge mistakes,<br />

but also build on the<br />

present <strong>and</strong> look to the<br />

future with optimism.<br />

RE-EMERGE<br />

Here's your chance to<br />

reset <strong>and</strong> to re-emerge as<br />

a better version of yourself.<br />

If trauma or depression is<br />

something that's darkening<br />

your every day, now is the<br />

chance to seek help <strong>and</strong><br />

work through it.<br />

Trauma is stored in the<br />

body, mostly away from<br />

any conscious thoughts. It<br />

affects daily life, <strong>and</strong> is a<br />

heavy burden to carry.<br />

Asking for help isn't a sign<br />

of weakness. In fact, it's a<br />

sign that you're ready to<br />

start a new chapter in your<br />

life - <strong>and</strong> on your terms.<br />

Therapy never promises<br />

to fix you. Instead, it helps<br />

you process things, to<br />

clear some head space,<br />

<strong>and</strong> allows you to reemerge<br />

stronger <strong>and</strong><br />

happier.<br />

25