Four Simple Tips for Life.

Today I want to think about you and what can you do to look after your self today.

It's a new month and I'm not sure if you stopped putting any of these into place since January but let's visit these basic tips again but in greater detail.

1)?? Take a break.

This doesn't mean take one hour but that would be great or even half an hour, a micro break is good enough this can be at work.

Grab yourself a drink means a micro break away from your desk.

Going to the toilet, I know it's essential, but that also means of micro break. One tip I learned and have not changed is, actually walking to the waiting room and calling the patient in. it's also a break gives you a bit of exercise. My secret is I never learnt how to use the monitor to call patients in.

So, I enjoy the 30 seconds or one minute walk to and from the waiting room.

What other micro brakes can you take?

My resolution for this year is going for a walk for 30 minutes a day.

It always ends up being longer.

And also I need to lose the Christmas weight.

What about a good longer break that would be ideal.

What else can take a break mean?

Let someone else do the work, and you go and rest and do something else?

Just enjoy the time and peace away from it all.

2)?? Spend time in nature.

I heard the birds singing this morning.

Take a micro break in the garden and close your eyes and breath in the fresh air, listen and feel nature.

Go and find the local park or nature reserve or the fields and just take a moment to yourself and notice the beauty and wonder of nature.

Rain is fine, just put your coat and listen to the raindrops and feel the wind. It's beautiful out there, so make the most of it.

Even better for the sunny day.

Come on you can spare 15 for 30 minutes.

And there is scientific evidence that it is good for your mental and physical health.

Maybe you can take someone with you for quick break.

3)?? Listen to music.

What music makes you happy what makes you smile and laugh and want to get up and dance?

Take a challenge to find your top five happy songs; okay, maybe your favourite ten songs that really mean something to you.

Find time to actually listen to the music; maybe dance?

Calming peaceful relaxing music helps your body and mind unwind and sleep at night.

There is plenty online; I found the BBC Sounds App has wonderful selection of happy music and relaxing music.

While driving, are you too busy listen to the worries and voices in your head going over and over everything?

Challenging your brain to different genres of music has proven to prevent cognitive decline.

I tried different genre of music and I must admit that I quite like hip hop now.

But no matter how hard I tried I cannot enjoy my children's favourite, drum and bass. It is unbearable!

What music genre are you going to try this week?

4)?? Get creative.

When did you last have a go at drawing colouring, painting, writing, play musical instrument?

Sadly, many doctors, including myself, have been too busy with life and medical training and CPD, that creativity does not exist in our lives. Thankfully there have been many articles in the BMJ about doctors who are finding their creative side and the benefits.

Creativity can be in cooking, even gardening or poetry.

I have been quite slow in discovering creativity.

I picked up the ukulele and gave it a go.

I quit baking as I only gained weight from trying out my creations.

I am now dabbling in writing and quite enjoy talking to you.

Maybe creativity is a new challenge you could try this year.

Take a break, spend some time in nature, listen to music, get creative.

Simple tips to look after yourself and build into your weekly routine.

New basic things you can try to help improve your mental and physical well-being this year.

There is scientific evidence that all these things work, and prevents mental and physical exhaustion.

Base simple things help energise you and bring you happiness.

So today take a break, spend some time in nature, and listen to music, then get creative.

It doesn't have to take you long; set a time limit of 30 minutes for each activity.

You may find that you then end up spending longer and enjoying the moment.

You deserve it.

If my posts have got your thinking or questions are popping into your head, then message and let’s have a conversation.

Let's talk, here is the link to my diary: https://zcal.co/elizabeth-rozario/Lets-talk

?