A time to reflect and recharge

Just when we thought 2021 was going to be the year we returned to some form of normal, a second wave of Covid-19 put us back in a tailspin and for those of us living in Melbourne, we became the most locked down city in the world.

Having never faced a situation like this, I spent a lot of time reading and learning about the importance of wellbeing for myself, my family, friends and colleagues.?I saw firsthand the impact restrictions had on the people around me, including the small businesses that we support in our local community.?

It has been an incredibly difficult period but I learnt that shifting your mindset can be a powerful tool to improve your wellbeing. So I sat down with professional mindset coach, Ben Crowe of Mojo Crowe , to get his advice on this topic. You can find out more about his tips here .

It’s so easy to get distracted by the things we can’t control. I learnt from speaking with Ben that adopting a performance mindset helps to focus your attention on the things you can control, like the kind of person you want to be. Focusing on the human being rather than the human doing helps you stay positive and impacts the interactions you have with your family, friends, customers or clients.? Remember, it’s our decisions, not our conditions that determine our mindset.?

This year I thought I’d share a few things I have adopted throughout the year to help me feel more positive and able to handle whatever comes my way. I’d love to hear what you do to help you thrive too.

1. Start the day with meditation. I have a busy schedule so I kick-start the day with meditation to remove all the distractions in my mind and just focus on breathing and clearing my thoughts. It takes only 10 minutes a day. I use Calm and love not only the ritual of my ‘time out’ but also the messages that they leave you with on a daily basis. ?If you don’t already meditate I’d encourage you to give it a go - I’m sure you’ll see the benefits quickly.?
2. Practice yoga. I sit in meetings at my desk for long hours so I find if I stretch and work on my flexibility each morning or evening with yoga I am able to relax my mind and body and deal with whatever comes up throughout the day. During lockdown, a couple of my favourite yoga studios, Here Yoga and Willow Urban Retreat yoga turned their practice online and provided plenty of recorded and live classes for us to follow. ? I find that my Vinyasa practice in the morning gives me the energy to take on the day whilst giving my body a complete work out, whilst Yin yoga in the evening is nourishing for the muscles, mind, body and soul.
3. Drink more fruit and vegetables. I am trying to incorporate high energy protein shakes and fruit and vegetable smoothies? into my daily routine. I find the vegetables and fruit in the shakes give me energy without feeling lethargic. My favourite shake recipe? at the moment is a green smoothie (see recipe below)*.? I pop it all in my thermomix that measures, blends and voila!? A nutritious start to the day and doesn’t take too long to make.? If you have a good one, please share it. I’d love to give it a try.
4. Exercise regularly throughout the week. It’s no secret that exercise is a great way to get out in the fresh air to clear your head and keep your body moving. It’s commonly known that raising your levels of serotonin through regular exercise boosts your mood and overall sense of wellbeing. ? I do something every single day…. Personal training (our whole garage is now set up as a gym thanks to covid restrictions), running, spin class or a walk with my dog Charlie Brown or one of the many friends that live in my neighbourhood, and who I don’t see enough of due to work commitments.? Walking and talking I find is an excellent way to multitask and make the exercise enjoyable whilst solving the problems of the world with a girlfriend.
5. Give positive feedback to those around me. Making others feel good just makes me feel good so I make time to give those around me positive feedback and show how grateful I am to have incredible work colleagues, family and friends. ? Smiling, sending a text to let someone know you are thinking of them, or pointing out what you love about someone, are all fairly easy to execute. And these simple random acts of kindness have reciprocal benefits and go someway to improving your own wellbeing.
6. Be kind to myself. If you are not looking after yourself you have no chance of being able to look after those around you. Whether it is a couple of days at a health retreat (when the borders opened I did manage to sneak up to Gaia Retreat for a break and it was just what I needed), a run on the beach, an attempt to surf or stand up paddle board or a family game of backyard cricket, I look for ways to spend time doing things that make me happy.

Take care this Christmas - rest, relax and nourish yourself - it’s been another big year and we all deserve the break. I look forward to connecting again with you in 2022.? It's got a nice ring to it - 2022.? Let’s hope it’s a sign of a more positive year ahead.

* Green smoothie recipe?

• 1 lebanese cucumber
• 60 gm spinach leaves
• 3 sprigs parsley
• 3 sprigs mint
• 1 lemon (flesh only)
• 1cm piece ginger
• 1 green apple
• 1 date (if you want it a little sweet)
• 100gm ice
• 100gm coconut water

Zoom in a blender, pour and enjoy.....? It makes 2 serves so I usually put chia seeds mixed through it, top it with coconut flakes and pop it in the fridge for an afternoon snack.