by Lynsey Metcalfe, wellbeing coach and master personal trainer
Modern life should be easy. We have better access to the everyday necessities of life than in any other era, we have technology to make our lives easier and more opportunities than ever before. But we are also struggling. Rates of anxiety and depression are soaring and many of us feel like we are barely keeping our heads above water. The most common response I get when I ask someone, ‘how are things?’ is ‘just about surviving’. This is not only worrying on a human level but also leads me to conclude that many of us are simply not able to reach our potential or to be as productive as we would like in or out of the workplace.
What is the answer? We have to look at solutions that do not add additional pressure or require extensive time commitments, as well as appreciating that there is not a one size fits all approach to the problem. Both the causes and the solutions will be as unique as we are. However, what we can do is assess our approach to our health and wellbeing and that of those around us: are we eating the right things for our lifestyle; are we fitting in the right exercise for us at this stage of our lives; are we doing things that will have a positive impact on our mental health, such as drawing better boundaries, asking for help when we need it, working with technology in a healthy way rather than allowing things like social media to make us feel inadequate and stressed; are we supporting our friends and family in an appropriate way and are we drawing on them in return; do we really understand our own triggers, choices, values and dreams?
Sometimes very small changes on a daily basis can have big effects and a shift in thinking can bring great rewards. Modern life can be a challenge, but it does not have to be overwhelming and we should be embracing the ideas and tools that enable us to not only deal with it but to flourish in it.
For more information on our new Modern Life webinar please get in touch.