What is Holistic Well-being and Ways to Achieve it?
Holistic well-being includes body, mind, social, and spirit. The human body is interconnected; our physical body depends on our mental state and vice versa. Your social support influences your mental well-being.
Everything is interconnected. What you think, you start to feel. What you do (or don’t do) affects your thoughts. Therefore, we need to approach our well-being from a holistic perspective.
ASPECTS OF HOLISTIC WELL-BEING:
Physical well-being: The Body is often described as a vessel. Taking care of it is essential to maintain stability, flexibility, and prevention of diseases.
Mental well-being: This includes being mindful of your thoughts, emotions, and which influences your interactions with yourself and others.
Social well-being: Social support is a crucial aspect of our well-being. This aspect includes the connection you have with others, the way you interact, connect and form bonds with others.
Spiritual well-being: This encompasses feeling connected to the inner self and/or believing in a higher power. Spiritual well-being may help us find meaning in life and inspire us to move forward.
WAYS TO ACHIEVE HOLISTIC WELL-BEING
There are multiple ways you can develop holistic well-being. Your aim should be to strengthen the mind-body connection. This will lead you to engage with your inner self and your core.
A healthy mind will lead to a healthy body. Here are some ways you can achieve this:
CREATING POSITIVE DAILY RITUALS
1. Rise and shine
Quite literally, upon waking in the morning, expose your skin to natural light. Even better, go outside for a few minutes. The sun will naturally boost your mood and energy as well as help to regulate your circadian rhythm or sleep/wake cycle, which is a great way to encourage healthy sleep habits.
2. Deep breathing
Conscious, deep abdominal breathing has a multitude of health benefits. It helps to lower blood pressure and heart rate and helps to induce relaxation by decreasing the effects of the stress hormone cortisol. As little as 10 minutes of deep breathing a day has been shown to have a positive impact on health, in particular lowering anxiety.
3. Wholesome breakfast
Nourish your body with some seasonal fruit with muesli and yogurt or wholesome oats with a drizzle of cinnamon and honey or an avocado and egg brekkie. Try to eat in a quiet space, seated comfortably and notice how the food feels in your mouth and as it’s travelling through your body. Think about the smells, textures and taste. How do they make you feel?
4. Take a walk
Preferably out in nature, or even barefoot on grass or by the ocean on the sand. It doesn’t really matter, just get outside! Don’t underestimate the power of a good walk to clear your thoughts, breathe deeply and get your blood and lymph pumping. Ideally, at least 30 minutes a day, but even in chunks of 5-10 minutes of brisk walking can be beneficial.
5. Stretch
Especially if you are feeling stressed or spend many hours a day seated. Stretching can help to reset the body and mind, improve posture and flexibility and stimulates a stagnant circulation to flow freely, oxygenating the muscles which might be feeling tight and achy.
6. Hydrate your cells
Our body is approximately 75% water so keeping hydrated is essential for our skin, mind and body. Dehydration can lead to headaches, constipation, lethargy and dry skin, whilst prolonged dehydration can cause more serious health issues. Drinking water is by far the cheapest and most effective way to increase your fluid intake and adding fruit pieces and fresh herbs can make it much more appealing to the taste buds. Herbal teas can be especially beneficial and make for an enjoyable experience, warm or cold with the added benefits of the herbs. Keeping hydrated keeps your skin cells juicy and plump and contributes to a healthy skin barrier and a more youthful glow.
7. Sleep
End the day by creating a ritual that supports your circadian cycle. Take a bath or have a shower while bringing your attention to the breath. Put your pyjamas on and snuggle up next to your fur baby (if you have one!) and enjoy a chamomile tea (perhaps reflecting on your day) in a quiet and dimly lit space. Spend at least 30 minutes ‘winding down’ before going to sleep. Try to go to sleep at the same time each night and rise at the same time each morning.
Rituals are not tasks or a checklist to put a tick beside. They are about finding fulfilment in the little things in life and to encourage a growth mindset. You can start incorporating them gently or even find moments in your day to create your very own.
8. Journaling
Journaling can be effective for many different reasons and help you reach a wide range of goals. It can help you clear your head, make important connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and even buffer or reduce the effects of mental illness!
THE POWER OF CRYSTALS & STONE HEALING
Over the past few years, New Age wellness trends, using crystals as a form of self-care & protection have particularly risen in popularity, appearing all over Instagram, on the shelves of yoga studios, and perhaps even on your co-worker’s desk.
Crystals and stones are conduits for the healing energy of the earth when used correctly. They emit positive, uplifting, energizing, and calming vibrations that help you achieve a more peaceful mind and a revitalized physical state of being, also by repelling bad energies.
Each crystal has a different effect on the mind and body. Crystals & stones vibrations are said to arise from the unique way their atoms and molecules move and interact, these vibrations and energies can then supposedly affect our human bodies—and minds.
“Our bodies are dynamic, electromagnetic organisms—we have physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual energy flowing through us all the time and crystals and stones are a fun and unique way to help direct and influence that energy towards greater health when used with the “right intention.”
You can then use the crystal and stones in whatever way works for you, such as wearing it as jewellery, placing it on your desk or in a room, or simply holding it in your hand every time you need to be reminded of your intention.
CLEANSING YOUR SPACE WITH HERBS
The process of burning resins or dried sacred herbs often wrapped together in twine is one that has been practised by different cultures and religions for thousands of years.
Smudging your home, office, or even your body is kind of like taking an energetic shower, or perhaps even spending a day in the mountains, spending time breathing in the fresh air and scent of pine, which offers a direct positive effect on reducing stress levels.
Increases your sense of well-being and improves mental focus
Smudging removes the debilitating effects of excess positive ions in the air in a way that’s been described as a natural antidepressant
Clears negative energy
The smoke helps to change the molecular structure of both the air and energy, which produces a cleansing effect.
As the sense of smell is strongly linked to memory and instinct, smudging is very effective for combating feels of anger, fear, anxiety, grief and depression.
“Nature’s antidepressant”
It seems that the negative ions produced from smudging offer serious antidepressant effects – so much so it’s said to be at least as effective as a prescription antidepressant without the side effects.
TIMES TO SMUDGE
To celebrate a new beginning, venture or relationship.
To find closure with an old relationship or chapter in my life.
Moving into a new home or office space.
Before and after guests/ housemates have left my house, especially if there has been some negative events conspire.
In my sacred space when practicing yoga, meditation or any other healing practice.
Whenever I am struggling to let go of something with it be an argument, internal thought or illness.
After returning from a crowded space or situation.
Cleanses objects
Crystals & Stones: - in order for you to get the full benefits from your crystals and stone they require cleansing.
2nd Hand Objects - Clear any negative energies attached to these.