2020 has been a challenging year for everyone, so understandably looking after your mental health is more important now than ever before. There are so many different ways we can reduce stress and become more mindful, from meditation, regular exercise, eating well and keeping in touch with loved ones, it’s actually much easier than we think.
Learning what works best for you is the best place to start, understanding what helps you de-stress and keeping your mind clear to allow you to be more productive at work and be your best self for your children, family and friends. We’ve made a list of some of the best things you can do to reduce stress and be more mindful.
Routine
Routine is everything when it comes to mindfulness, and keeping calm. A good routine can set you up for a great day, so try waking up early, don’t look at your phone, move your body, meditate and finish off by making a cup of coffee and a nutritious breakfast. If you’re someone who struggles with routine, try planning out your day ahead by writing down what you’d like your routine to look like. Once you have a routine you love, you’ll find your mind will feel much clearer and you’ll be much more productive.
Box it out
If you’ve never tried boxing then now is the time to start, not for the physical aspect but also for the mental aspect. 12RND Fitness, offers boxing and strength workouts, with coach support so they’re perfect for beginners, and those with little to no boxing experience. Their training methods have been designed to maximise results, delivering a functional and highly varied strength program, progressing through sports-specific training cycles that are guaranteed to get you in fighting shape. Your body already knows that it can handle the challenge so you have to learn to trust yourself and prove it to your brain. If you master experiencing discomfort, you’ll be prepared to handle whatever situation is thrown at you in life, helping you cope better in stressful situations.
Communication
Staying connected with our loved ones, no matter where they are in the world, is one of the best things you can do to de-stress and become more mindful. Taking the time to communicate with others can help you remain calm as it is always reassuring to know that everyone goes through challenges. No matter how together some people may seem, you never know what goes on behind closed doors, so a simple message or call can be much more effective than you think. If you’re part of a book club, Mother group or gym class, be mindful when you’re there and take every moment in, as it’s very easy to become overwhelmed, and lost in your own thoughts, so it’s important to always remain present.
Start a hobby
If you find you have some spare time, instead of scrolling mindlessly, instead try filling this time with a new hobby. Especially if you’re someone who has kids, try to refrain from turning on the TV and encourage them to do something new they can learn, like painting, playing an instrument, learning a dance, making pottery, baking and the list goes on. Learning something new is not only great for kids but also adults as it helps with confidence and being more mindful, which comes hand in hand with mindfulness.
12RND Fitness is co-founded by 4x world champion boxer Danny Green, and Australian entrepreneur and exercise scientist Tim West, and they have over 90 clubs and over 14,000 members globally.