Weekly Wellbeing List; The Best Tool for a Better You by Jeni Howland

The Weekly Wellbeing List is something I implemented diligently during the first lockdown and it remains an essential part of my wellbeing routine, and it couldn’t be simpler.

Like a shopping list, you can likely remember your weekly shopping requirements, but if you go into a shop with a list then you’re less likely to get side-tracked and buy things you don’t really need and also less likely to forget anything you do need. In the same way, your Weekly Wellbeing List will keep you on track and prevent you from being sabotaged by procrastination, forgetfulness, lack of motivation, or “accidentally” forgetting to do the things that you know you need to be doing to be the best version of yourself.

Here’s how to do it:

• Pick your medium – I like a white board and coloured pens, but you might prefer writing on paper, illustrating your ideas, or typing, printing and laminating your list.

• Start with writing out the things you already do that support your wellbeing.

• Then write out the things you know you should do but possibly don’t do enough.

• Then consider what you could be doing that you have never tried before or know nothing about and add those things too.

• Now organise your list – write out what you can do daily, what you might do several times a week, and what you might do weekly. You may add a bonus item that you do “on occasion”.

• Now display your list. Put it on your fridge, on your bathroom mirror, or on your bedroom door. Whatever you do, put it up somewhere you’ll see it every day.

• Keep re-visiting this list and updating it. It is important that it remains current and relevant and you’re not setting yourself up to fail. For example, if you have written “yoga” as something that you should do daily but you are finding you are only fitting it in three times a week, then change the list and move “yoga” into the “several times a week” category.

This seemingly simple and trivial undertaking will make a huge difference, I guarantee it! By considering your wellbeing intentions and making your objectives visible, they will soon become natural habits, like cleaning your teeth.

Not sure what to put on your list? Here’s a list that might spark some ideas for your own Weekly Wellbeing List:

• Aromatherapy

• Breathing exercises

• Create, paint or draw

• Dance

• Exercise

• Enjoy a herbal tea and do nothing else whilst you drink it

• Foot rub – give yourself one

• Gratitude practice

• Have a bath

• Hug a tree

• Indulge in a relaxing massage

• Jogging/running/yomping

• Journaling

• Knitting

• Learn a new skill

• Meditate

• Notice your senses

• Observe nature

• Play a musical instrument

• Positive affirmations

• Prepare healthy meals

• Quiet time

• Read poetry

• See a Natural Health Practitioner

• Sing

• Tend to plants

• Use essential oils

• Volunteer your time to someone else

• Walking

• Extend an ear – check in on a friend

• Yoga

• Zzzzz – take a nap!