World wellbeing week

Wellbeing is central to all that we do at GW Osteopathy so we’re pleased to be part of #worldwellbeingweek.

This week is a great opportunity to check in with friends, family and colleagues, and for businesses to check that they are doing what they can to look after their employee’s wellbeing – both emotional and physical.

Here are some suggestions to help improve wellbeing.

Socialising

Socialising with others – friends, family, colleagues – has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression, decreasing feelings of loneliness and anxiety. The body releases endorphins, giving a boost of happiness, during positive social contact.

Lunch breaks

It doesn’t matter whether you are working on your feet dealing with patients, pupils or customers, driving around, behind a desk or anywhere else, an increasing number of people are skipping their lunch breaks.

Why does this matter? Taking a good break in the middle of the day increases productivity, gives people a chance to move around and get fresh air, and encourages people to eat nutritious food. Studies have shown that being out in daylight for just 30 minutes improves that night’s sleep – which is a crucial part of anyone’s wellbeing.

Check in with your team and make sure that they know you would like them to take a full lunch break.

Regular exercise

It’s not news to say that regular exercise is key to a healthy lifestyle and plays a significant role in wellbeing through reducing stress and releasing endorphins. It’s also not news to say that finding time to exercise can be difficult.

So, how can you make it easier for yourself to get regular exercise?

  • Create a routine: it’s easier to do things when there’s no decisions to make. If you create a routine which includes regular exercise, such as always going for a run on a Friday morning, you don’t need to make the decision to go for the run and you’re less likely to make other commitments that get in the way.
  • Find an exercise that you enjoy: there is no one-size-fits-all exercise. Some people love to run and some people hate it. Some people like to exercise with a group of like-minded people whilst others prefer the time on their own. Some want to be inside whilst others enjoy the time outside no matter the weather. When you find an exercise that you enjoy it becomes so much easier to keep doing it.
  • Speak to your employer: is there enough flexibility in your working day to include some exercise time in your lunch break? Could you come into work half an hour later to allow time for an early morning work out? Is there a group of people who would be interested in working out together?

Don’t wait for your employees to come to you: start the conversation with them and ask how their working day could be set up to include time for exercise.

Taking action

If you’ve got an ongoing problem or concern that’s been playing on the back of your mind, the best thing that you can do this wellbeing week is take action.

The action doesn’t need to be huge: for example if you’re feeling stressed you could try out a mindfulness app (Headspace comes highly recommended), or if you’re feeling lonely you could start by sending a message to a friend you’d like to see more often.  

Treat physical pain

Taking action isn’t limited to dealing with mental health, but physical health too. You don’t have to put up with ongoing aches and pains, we are well placed to advise you on a treatment and exercise plan to help with all sorts of problems from sciatica and tennis elbow to headaches and vocal problems. Have a look through our services and book online or get in touch with us with any questions that you have.

 

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