Since the beginning of 2020, around 83% of Australians have wanted to make their health & wellbeing a priority by exercising and eating right. In April 2020, Google search trends have seen an 80% increase in people searching for ‘healthy foods to eat’ with easy tips and guides as the main reason for people jumping onto Google.

Using the Real Wishes Survey (Feb 2020) to address topical topics that are at the forefront of Australia’s mind, we have gathered top related Google Search Trends to explore search habits and trends throughout the year to date. This has shown that during times of uncertainty that it’s most important to focus on your own mental wellbeing.

If you have not started yet, here are a few easy-to-implement self-care tips to improve your daily wellbeing.

Start a daily yoga practice

There are lots of options available:

  • a short 15-minute session to relax and unwind
  • a sweaty Bikram yoga session to get rid of all the day’s negative energy
  • a digital class during the few minutes of downtime in your day

You’ll be surprised just how much better you will feel after even the easiest yoga class. In fact, a study from the University of New South Wales found it’s a great way to manage your mental health.

Bring in meditation and mindfulness

Just a few minutes every day spend being mindful can have huge benefits to your mental health. Don’t take our word for it – a study on Australian firefighters found that “high levels of mindfulness was associated with decreased depression and anxiety, as well as increased psychological wellbeing.”

Take 10 minutes out of your day to sit calmly, shut your eyes and look inward. Focus on your breathing rather than letting thoughts crowd your mind. If you need a little help to get into the right headspace, there are lots of free mindfulness apps online to walk you through the essentials.

If sitting still isn’t for you, then a walk-in nature or just a brisk wander around your neighbourhood can be incredibly good for your brain. Sunlight and sunshine is great for your health (as long as you are sun-smart) and vitamin D has been proven to strengthen your immune system.

Journaling for mental health

Journaling is a tried-and-true method of getting your thoughts into a manageable format. It can de-clutter your mind, ease the day’s stresses, or just act as an outlet for you to get those invasive thoughts out of your head and onto something you can control: a piece of paper. Even if you end up throwing out what you have written immediately after you have written it, it’s still a ‘freeing’ exercise.

How can you incorporate these wellbeing tips into your daily life?

Here are three helpful ways you can integrate positive wellbeing exercises into your day-to-day:

  • Download apps: fill your smartphone with great mindfulness apps – from personal yoga instructor to journaling prompts, new places to explore in nature, and meditation sessions.
  • Find your ‘accountability buddy’: just like every New Year’s resolution you’ve made, it’s tough to stick with something new – especially something as personal as practising mindfulness. It might be easier if you find a close friend or family member to be accountable to – they can follow up on your journey, and you can come to them if you’re struggling, or if you’re just having a bad mental health day.
  • Join a group: jump online and find a group of like-minded individuals interested in the same mindfulness activities as you. It doesn’t have to be a serious yoga group; maybe you’ll meet local people who just want to explore nature together.

Commit to self-care

We might not be living our normal, everyday lives right now, but that doesn’t mean we can’t commit to greater self-care and better overall wellbeing.

 


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