I’m back!
Over the last few months, I’ve been navigating through quite a few life changes, and in doing so, have had to allocate quite a bit of my time to work on staying positive.
But now that I’ve reached the tail end of this crazy time, I’m happy to report that I am happier than I have ever been in my soiree as a proper adult.
After doing a lot of self-reflection and discovery, I’ve formulated a list of the five habits that have formed what I call my ‘mindfulness routine’.
These are measures that I take pretty much every day to stay positive, focused, and centred on all of my goals, and they’ve all seen me through quite a few trials and tribulations.
Disclaimer: While these tips may help to increase positivity in a general sense, they have not been advised or reviewed by a professional. If you are struggling, please make use of the resources linked below, and/or seek professional advice.
1. Pruning
Over the course of my life, there have been many instances where I’ve made myself stay in situations that I knew weren’t good for me, because, at the time, I thought that the fallout of removing myself from the situation would be worse than the situation itself.
But lately, I’ve realised just how unhealthy that is.
After a whole lot of thinking, I figured out what had been holding me back, and ultimately decided that I needed to do a little bit of pruning.
Since then, I’ve said goodbye to something that had been fueling my panic attacks for quite some time, did quite a bit of ‘unfollowing’ on Instagram, and got rid of a whole lot of junk. And ever since, my mental health has been at an all-time high.
I mean, think about it- all plants need to shed a few leaves in order to grow new ones, and they look a whole lot happier when the deadened stems are pruned.
So clear out your wardrobe, get things in order, and say ‘au revoir’ to negativity.
2. Journalling
Journalling is something that I’ve tried to do for many years, but it wasn’t until the end of last year that I really learned the value of it.
It’s definitely not something that I force myself to do every day (which is a mistake I’ve made many times before), but whenever there’s a pressing issue that I can’t seem to get out of my head, I keep writing until I have nothing left to say about it.
And contrary to popular belief, this pretty much never takes the form of ‘Dear Diary, This is what I did today…’. Sometimes I simply write about a single observation that I made that day. Sometimes I record a profound thought that I have about the world. And sometimes I whip out my inner Lara Jean and write letters to the people I love (or the people that have hurt me).
No matter how you go about it, I highly recommend investing in a journal of your choosing and writing down whatever it is you want to write down. Your subconscious will really thank you for it.
3. Getting Outside
It’s been nearly 21 years in the making, but Claire is ever-so-slowly becoming an outside person.
This month, I’ve been participating in Cancer Council’s ‘March Charge’ initiative, and in doing so, have forced myself to get outside and walk to raise much-needed funds for cancer research.
Exercise is something I’ve struggled with for quite some time, as unless I am COMPLETELY alone and know that nobody will burst into the room at any time, I am way too self-conscious and end up in a full-on state of panic.
But this has progressively changed over the course of this month.
Getting outside and going for walks has helped me to feel a tiny bit more snatched, but it has also helped me to clear my mind of all the worries that accumulate throughout the day- and ever since, my mindset has been considerably more positive.
And hey- last year I walked 2 out of 5 kilometres of The Colour Run before having a panic attack and having to give up, and two days ago I walked 13km and loved every second of it. If that’s not self-growth, I don’t know what is.
4. Houseplants
I have accumulated ten houseplants (and counting) over the last few months, and as crazy as it sounds, I truly believe that they have helped me to stay positive and super productive.
Taking care of indoor plants (especially the rare and finicky ones) takes a whole lot of attention to detail, effort, and patience- but every time a new leaf unfurls, it’s one of the most rewarding feelings on the planet.
I dedicate roughly 10-30 minutes every day to plant care, and whenever I’ve had a rough or stressful day, it really helps me to wind down.
If you struggle to stay positive or your thoughts frequently spiral after a long day, I highly suggest investing in a plant or two.
5. Quiet Time
Taking the time each and every day to do something that you love is probably the most important habit for everyone out there.
Whether you enjoy reading, playing an instrument, or baking, making time for yourself is a really important aspect of a ‘mindful routine’.
In case you weren’t aware, I just so happen to identify as a Christian, so my quiet time consists of doing a bible study, praying, watching YouTube videos, listening to music, or listening to podcasts (basically anything that I feel like doing that day). And since I’ve actually prioritised my time with God instead of leaving it by the wayside, my life has completely changed for the better.
P.s. If you’d like any more details on this, please reach out and I’d be happy to help.
And there you have it!
I’d absolutely love to hear how your mindfulness routine differs from mine, so please feel free to share yours in the comments.
Until next time, 😉
Please click on any of the following links for advice regarding mental health, and access to FREE crisis support.
