A New Normal for Wellbeing

I want to start this post with a "thank you", and it's a very heartfelt thank you to all of you who have kept things as normal as possible during this challenging time. Where would we be without you? But also a "thank you" to all who have stayed home so that we can get back to normal as soon as possible. But what kind of 'normal' do we want?

Birdsong and Honeysuckle

As I write this I'm sitting in the garden in the sunshine surrounded by bird song. A light breeze is rustling the leaves and there are bees buzzing amongst the clover and the honeysuckle. It's peaceful. It's relaxing. It doesn't really seem like work at all. But it wasn't always this way. I opted out of the 9 to 5 for a better quality of life a few years ago. Little did I know then, that a few years later a great many of us would be finding ways to work from home as a mattter of necessity, and that we'd all be rediscovering what's really important.

What Have We Discovered?

I think it's fair to say that the things we miss aren't the material things or status symbols but our friends and family. That we've discovered how important the environment is to us because nature lifts our spirits. That we enjoy having time to prepare good, nutritious meals - even baking our own bread. That our hobbies and creative pursuits give us an opportunity to express who we are. That we love to learn. That our communities matter. And that our well-being matters.

And perhaps more importantly, that these are the things that help us live happy, fufilling lives - even in the most challenging of circumstances.

Risk and Opportunity

A shift is happening. We are already reconsidering our priorities. A recent poll showed that people in the UK now want the government to prioritise well-being over economic growth , during the Coronavirus crisis and after. (Reported in the Guardian 10/5/2020)

But as I sit here I can also hear a lot of cars going by - a lot more than I have recently, and that concerns me. Not just because we're not yet out of lockdown but because us humans are often creatures of habit. I get it. It's the easy option. But it concerns me that we might slip back to the way we were and that we might lose all that we have learned. That is the risk we face unless we make the most of this opportunity.

And I do believe this really is an amazing opportunity; to learn, to prioritise and to take action. Because without action, nothing changes.

Prioritising Well-being

I believe we can create the world we want. Not in a new-agey way but in a very real way through our choices and the decisions we make. And now is a great time to make those decisions - while the things that matter are fresh in our minds.

We can decide to maintain the good relationships we've built with our neighbours. We can decide to make time for our hobbies. We may even decide that our old lifestyle no longer works and commit to making changes that will allow us to live in a way which prioritises what really matters. What the New Normal looks like is really up to each of us.

So I just want to leave you with a few journalling prompts. Grab a pen (and maybe a coffee) and allow yourself a moment to reflect on these questions. And if you want to share your thoughts in the comments below, please do.

*What have you learned from this experience?

*What of your old lifestyle no longer works for you?

*What might a happier and healthier "normal" look like for you?

Bored of Being Bored?

We all know what it's like to be bored. Whether we're at home or at work the days just drag. We flit between one thing and another trying to find something that interests us enough to pass the time. We lose all motivation - even for the things we do enjoy. At the end of the day we slump in front of the TV and hope that tomorrow will be better. And things can feel a bit .. well .. pointless. It's one of those things we probably put up with a lot of the time and accept as just part of life. I mean, we can't have fun all the time - can we?

But did you know that boredom is also bad for your health? In fact, it's been shown that those who "complain of “high levels” of boredom in their lives are at double the risk of dying from from heart disease or a stroke" than others. That's pretty scary! 

There are several reasons for this, including the things we use to try and make life more interesting (such as comfort eating, alcohol or thrill seeking) and the fact that the body responds to boredom in the same way that it does to stress. Boredom raises the level of Cortisol (the stress hormone) in the body just as happens when we are under pressure, leading to typical stress related conditions such as heart problems.

Considering how it affects our motivation and interest in life it's not a surprise to know that it's also linked to low self-esteem and to depression.

As individuals it also impacts our professional or academic performance. For employers it may be seen in employees sickness and absenteeism. And as a society it has implications for our communities as it can be linked to offending and anti-social behaviour. In short, boredom is a huge problem.

So the question is - what do we need to do to be less bored?

I believe the first stage is to acknowledge that we feel that way - particularly if that feeling has been hanging around for a while. It sounds simple, but we can't do anything about a problem until we acknowledge that it exists. Then we need to take an honest look at what is really happening in that moment. What is it that you're doing (or not doing?) that makes you feel bored? What do you turn to when you feel that way? Does that solve the problem or create another? What about those times when you are far from bored and life is fun and interesting. What is different then? What are you doing then or maybe just doing differently? Just asking these questions will help you start to address the problem. It's hard to be bored and curious at the same time.

It can be a good idea to make some notes in a journal to keep track of where, when and how often boredom starts to raise it's ugly head. It'll also help you to start thinking about any changes you might want to make.

And that's where I can help. We rarely like change, even when it's a change for the better, so having someone on your side to support you as you step outside your comfort zone (your rut?) can make a big difference. We can explore what's going on together and find a way forward that works for you. Not only could it help you live a happier life but a healthier one too.

So if you're bored of being bored, get in touch and let's make life more interesting.