How To Change Your Mood In A Week

With one in five adults admitting to feeling depressed or anxious as a result of the pandemic* , writer Kim Willis decided to try some natural remedies to lift her spirits

- Kim Willis

My husband has always joked that while his cup is bone-dry, mine is flooding the room. I’m an optimist. Gaz, 39, is a pessimist (‘realist’ is his preferred term), and we meet in the middle. But the last year has taken a toll, and optimism no longer comes so easily. I can’t sugar-coat it – I am struggling.

Lockdown joined forces with winter last year to leave me feeling lower than I ever have. I lost enthusiasm for Zoom calls. I know yoga and meditation are good for me, but I could barely drag myself to my mat. Even now, as we begin to emerge further out of lockdown, I’m not feeling the best version of myself.

So, in desperate need of good vibes, I challenged myself to try some easy, natural, free ways to boost my wellbeing in just one week. Here’s how I got on.

‘THE LAST YEAR HAS TAKEN A TOLL’

Awe walk

I am devoted to walking 10,000 steps a day, but there’s a difference between a walk and an ‘awe walk’. During an awe walk, you mindfully observe what you see, hear and feel. In an awe-walk study, participants experienced a growing sens of wonder and felt more connected to the world than those who ‘just’ went walking. Awe walks are the difference between walking with your chin down and your head lost in thought or with your chin up, your senses engaged.

I set off early, and as the sun rises, I lap up the ocean of pink, red and orange clouds on the horizon. It’s a blustery morning, but I savour the sound of the wind as it whips past my ears. Even the squelch of mud beneath my boots feels special. All day, I feel calmer and happier. While people who quip ‘chin up’, seem insensitive and dismissive, maybe there’s truth in the old adage, after all!