I’ve already done my bucket list for travel in 2019, but I had to also include my personal wellbeing bucket list too. My blog talks a lot about travel and adventure, but another passion close to my heart is wellbeing and talking about our mental and physical health.
After going through depression, panic disorder and more over the past five years, I now want to help others who are going through or have been in similar situations. Because of this, I launched THE ANXIETY FIX, a series of blog posts all about mental health and wellbeing.
For the next 12 months I plan on continuing to prioritise my mental health above many other aspects of my life and I want to ensure I continue this good practice for the foreseeable future. Here is my 2019 wellbeing bucket list….
Eat healthily
And I don’t mean diet, I just mean eat healthily. Last year I finally got round to loosing the weight I had gained during my depression the year before. I had put on two stone in four months, stopped exercising and didn’t eat well, but last May I decided for my own mental health and body I wanted to ditch the weight and I lost three stone in four months. Since losing the weight I have felt more confident, happier, full of energy and finally have created a good relationship with food. I have also stopped drinking as much, which has helped with my anxiety and I feel so much better 12 months on. My goal for 2019 is to now find my feet with healthy eating and create a lifestyle habit around eating well.
Find enjoyment in exercising
This year saw me finally get back on the bandwagon with exercise. Ever since I shattered my elbow two years ago I struggled to get back into exercising, and really had doubts if my arms would be able to take the strain of weight training. Alas, they did, and my personal trainer Abi has shown me how strong our bodies are. I train with her once a week, and she really pushes my body, and my mind. I plan on doing more running in 2019, as well as going to the gym more for classes that I enjoy such as boxing or HIIT.
Reserve time to rest
One of the most important lessons I have learned in 2018 was to give myself enough time to rest. Every time I over worked, over-worried or had too much on, I always got ill. It was my bodies way of telling me to slow down for sure, and often I didn’t listen to it until it was too late and then I would have two weeks with a stomach bug or an ear infection. Resting is good for you, and your mind and body. Always being on the go has its benefits, but if you are tired or unwell, that’s no good to anyone. I have been ensuring I reserve time to rest, put my feet up and spend a whole evening doing no studying or blogging. It means my brain gets a night off once a week!
Keep reading books that inspire me
Being dyslexic I was never a big reader, and my dad always used to read to me instead. As I have got older I have begun to realise the potential benefits for my mental health when I read books. It gives me space to tone out, time to be creative, and spend time for me. And I don’t mean just fiction either, one of my favourite books like year was MAD GIRL by Bryony Gordon, a book I really related to! In 2019 I plan on reading another five books, one more than last year and trying to find time to relax whilst doing so, zoning out and finding peace in the calm.
Yoga to your heart’s content
You know…. the benefits I have found include better sleep, more alert at work, I am less stressed and I find life more enjoyable. I have also been enjoying yoga with Arabella so we plan on going to more classes together in 2019, to continue on our journey. Both Arabella and me enjoy the sessions and usually we go to the Stony Stratford Whitespace Yoga to do our classes. You can read more about our visit to Whitespace Yoga here. Simple!
What do you think of my wellbeing bucket list too? And what would be on yours? Let me know in the comments!
