10 practical tips to strengthen your daily well-being

Injecting a few simple daily habits into your life can help boost your mood, reduce anxiety and help you feel less stressed.

These habits can be like stepping stones; each one you embrace builds your resilience and inner strength, bringing you a step closer to stronger emotional well-being.

10 tips to improve daily well-being

Here are my top 10 tips to improve your daily well-being.

1. Have a morning routine

Start the day with a morning routine, whether that involves getting up at the same time each day, doing exercise first thing, a daily meditation or writing your diary. A morning routine gives certainty, is energising and so is a positive start to the day.

2. Be in the present

It’s very easy to be caught up in your head with what is bothering you but this only makes you feel worse. So focus on being in the present and on what you are currently doing. Here are some simple tools to help you bring yourself back to the present:

• The senses 5-4-3-2-1 technique (name five things you see, four things you can hear, three things you can touch, two you can smell and one you can taste).
• Just simply change your position, stretch your body, do some breathing exercises or go outside in nature.

3. Prioritise self-care

A daily dose of self-care can work wonders. Whether it is having a bath, reading a good book, doing some yoga/meditation or going for a walk or run, be kind to yourself and give yourself time each day to relax, do some exercise and recharge as this will have a positive effect on your wellbeing. 

4. Get quality sleep

Keep good sleep hygiene by having a bedtime routine. Go to bed and wake up at the same time, avoid large meals, caffeine and alcohol before bed, turn off your phone at least an hour before bed and do some relaxation before bed. Feeling well-rested each day will lift your mood. 

5. Positive affirmations

Daily positive affirmations can be powerful. Use a different one each day. Set up positive affirmation alerts on your phone or stick post-its around your computer or on your desk. Believe your own words! 

6. Connect and give back

Connect with others that make you feel good; even if it is just a quick phone call or meeting for a coffee, connect daily with those that matter and are important to you. Do a daily act of kindness and give back to others.

7. Start a journal

A daily journal is good for organising ideas, for to-do lists, writing down worries, goals, your purpose and what you are grateful for. Try writing a few lines each day and see how it makes you feel. Look back on your week and see the progress you have made.

8. Eat healthy and well-balanced meals

What you eat can make a huge difference to your general mood and well-being so eat foods that boost your energy (protein-rich) rather than foods that give you a dip in energy (sugar-rich). Eat breakfast daily and drink plenty of water as even mild dehydration can affect your mood. 

9. Challenge your negative thoughts

Often negative thoughts feed stress and anxiety so challenge these thoughts and replace them with positive ones instead. Forgive yourself if annoyed about something; we all make mistakes so accept, acknowledge and turn it into a positive by learning from it. 

10. Time-out from your phone

Being on your phone takes you away from the present and excessive use can negatively impact your mood. So have ‘no phone’ periods during the day, turn it off or put it on silent to reduce the distractions from it, reduce how much news you watch on it and reduce social media scrolling.