Being outdoors has many benefits to our health. Even in these times of climate crisis, we are blessed in Australia to have some of the most enviable weather on the planet. If you live by a beach, lucky you! It’s been proven that listening to the ocean relaxes the brain and watching the waves can reduce stress levels. Even if you don’t live close to the coast, there are beautiful places all across our wonderful country. Schedule some time to get out into nature and see how your mood improves.

You don’t have to be a marathon runner to know that exercise makes us feel good. It’s like a fast-track to feeling good as all those endorphins kick in and even just a short stroll can work wonders.

If you can commit to just 30 minutes a day, you’ll start feeling the benefits almost immediately, including increased levels of serotonin, the feel good chemical. Regular exercise is also great at helping to keep excess weight off. And obviously THAT is something to be happy about!

If you know me at all, you’ll be aware that I’m into spiritually and healing… but mindfulness is not just for new age, woo woo types! Whether or not you believe in a higher power, God, source etc, there is a diverse body of research that proves mindfulness - being present in the moment - can have a positive effect on our thoughts and feelings.

Reducing fear and pain are just some of the benefits of letting your brain switch off and allowing yourself to simply be.

Ok, I understand that this isn’t always going to be easy. Especially when you’ve been the victim of a crisis. However, if you really dig deep, you’ll find there is always something to be grateful for. No matter how small it may seem. Focusing more on the good (and less on the bad) is a fabulous way to experience more joy and peace in everyday life. The sounds of nature, the kindness of a stranger… it doesn’t have to be anything life changing! Giving thanks for the small things makes you happier and more optimistic.

Research suggests that the average person in Australia spends 5.5 hours staring at a screen every day. That’s 17 years of your life, or 33% of your waking hours, in front of a device! I’m pretty sure that no-one on their deathbed ever regretted NOT spending more time online so why not commit to a specific period of time each week when you go tech free?

You don’t have to swear off social media forever but even 30-60 minutes a day less screen time can do wonders for your mental health.

In our busy lives, we are great at multi-tasking and getting shit done. It’s how we operate, especially in the west, where a person’s worth seems to be determined by their achievements in life. Regardless if you are a parent, a business owner, an employee or even a spouse - we are always doing things for other people, right?

Taking time to do something you love, for no other reason than that, is a really great way to increase your happiness and feel good about yourself.

An awesome way to channel your energy and feel better is by letting your creative juices flow. Spending time “in flow” (eg, a state of mind that occurs when you are totally immersed in an activity) improves your feelings of self-worth and builds self esteem.

Think about ways you can get creative, take up a new hobby or re-organise your home. Whatever you feel inspired to do, make some time to do it. In times of crisis, it’s more important than ever to get into the right mental state to deal with challenges effectively.

After the floods in QLD & NSW, the sense of community coming together was incredible. Strangers helping each other out with no expectation of rewards or repayments. It was massively humbling.

But you don’t have to volunteer your time or go round cleaning people’s houses to help the world! Even making a small change, such as switching from disposable items to reusable, can make a big difference. Do what you can, great or small and just watch how much better you feel about yourself.