The Human Brain is Fascinating

The fact that it is possible to think yourself into crippling chest pain that makes you feel as though you are going to suffocate, while sat at your desk typing away as if all is well is astonishing.

I wish I knew how to harness the power of my anxiety and channel it into productivity and positivity. When I am anxious about something I am able to use my brain to think of a myriad of of scenarios with multiple outcomes both good and bad in the space of a nano- second.

But..

when it comes to engaging my brain for the positive and productive it feels as though some synapses are miss-firing. At the moment I feel like my brain is hard-wired to facilitate the destructive and I need to learn how to flip the switch.

I have tried to create new habits on a number of occasions. For example, in January like most people I thought I would start something new. For me that was Yoga; but those fancy studios full of bendy people speaking a language you don't understand are intimidating. The introverts option? Youtube.

The delightful Adriene Louise, I have linked her channel below, was doing a 30 day yoga challenge for the New Year. This was the perfect opportunity to get into a new healthy habit. I really enjoyed myself and I don't know whether it was a placebo but it was making me feel great.

However, as is usually the case with these January 'New Year New Me' fads I soon fell out of the habit.

The idea of taking 40 mins out of my day to engage muscles that have been neglected in my sedentary office job and reconnecting with my breath is an enticing one. The first to weeks of practicing were great and incredibly relaxing but I found it hard to keep it up.

The classic excuse is life got in the way.

No it did not I am not that busy.

In reality I was favouring less beneficial ways of relaxing when I got home from work, like slobbing out in bed watching far too many episodes of Ru Paul's Drag Race. That's not to say Drag Race isn't amazing and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. I just recognise it is no way as kind to my body and mind as 30 mins of light exercise a day!

More recently I decided to start something else. This time, Couch to 5k.

I completed Week 1 and felt an enormous sense of achievement.

If you know me at all you know I point blank refuse to even run for the bus. But, with this app and a Spotify Playlist on standby I was keen to make Michael Johnson proud.

After just the first week I could already feel the effects of an endorphin kick on my headspace, that and the huge sense of accomplishment I got from simply heading outside and exercising for the first time in forever.

All that being said, It did take me a week to get round to week two, but I did it! I am now back where I was after week one, gearing up to do week 3, after a week's break obviously. Baby steps.

I am trying my best.

Usually I trigger that not so helpful feeling of failure I when I don't mange something. Usually, instead of 'ah never mind I'll try again tomorrow.' I tend to throw my toys out the pram, stick out my bottom lip and cry 'What's the point.' While reverting back to my not so healthy habits I seem to have no problem sticking to.

Not this time!

Week 3 here I come... eventually!

#Anxiety #Mindfulness #mentalhealth #exercise #goodhabits #badhabits #couchto5k #yoga #namaste #RuPaulsDragRace #AdrienLouise #Spotify #positivity #fitness