How to do it

Regularly do something that you enjoy, makes you feel good and nourishes you physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually.

It might be reading, going for a walk, listening to some music, meeting a friend. It might also be about choosing not to do something.

What might that be for you? Was there something you used to love to do when you were younger? Is there a hobby you haven’t done for ages? Or perhaps something new you would like to try?

If you have no idea, why not try a few different things over the coming months? It might be about finding something you think you would be good at or doing something you have no idea about. Check in with what feels right for you.

Why it works

It’s so easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and to fill every waking hour with the stuff we have to do. To make a difference to our happiness it’s important to prioritise at least one thing that we love to do.

A core theme at Fresh Air Fridays is “Filling Yourself Up First”. Two simple metaphors describe this idea well; “put your own oxygen mask on first” and “you can’t pour from an empty pot”.

The idea is that you need to take care of yourself to enable you to care for others, which is true when it comes to wellbeing too. If we believe that we must consistently and continuously do for others without resourcing ourselves, the likelihood is that at some point something will give. Whether that’s mental burnout, physical ill health or some other crisis.

Taking care of you is not selfish, it is essential.

Additional resources

• Our blogs including “I have a confession” and “Filling Yourself Up to Lead – Resourcing for Resilience“.

Find out more

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Next tip Gratitude or return to the Total Wellbeing page.