Our guide to 'Building your own Wellbeing Hub'

In an age of technology, it seems near impossible to turn our brains off and relax. Even in a deep slumber, our dreams remind us of never ending to do lists. We go to sleep with our smartphones and wake up with them. We carry our laptops into every crevice of our homes so that we can send emails while cooking or join google meets while braiding our hair (maybe I am the only one guilty of that). In an ever changing world,our individual worlds can only mirror its speed. Every week, many of us feel like we are chasing our own tails.

This constant need to complete our never ending to-do lists can make slowing down sound almost abnormal. Even pausing to look after yourself might not seem like the most attractive thing. Essentially, it is not a priority that we have been conditioned to have. Instead, we have been conditioned to present day wellbeing being sold to us by way of consumerism.

Well-being is in purchasing more beauty products, more gym clothes, and more vitamins. Our capitalistic world is conditioning us that wellness comes at a cost - one that we cannot afford. Wellbeing is an apple pay tap away. Constantly interchanged with wellness, well-being is painted as local run clubs, fully-booked pilates classes, and an over-priced but delicious salad from Farmer J. Traditionally, well-being is defined as “the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy”. In today's day and age, well-being feels like more of a buzzword than anything else. What is more harmful is that this picturesque image of well-being being sold to us is not that accessible for many freelancing creatives.

This blog post aims to strip down well-being and teach ourppls that wellness begins with you, at home (r wherever home is to you). We hope the guide below assists you in both building and maintaining a wellbeing hub for yourself.

1. Have an outlet

It can be hard processing your own emotions making it a challenge to navigate both losses and successes. Find (or create) an outlet to offload, process, and better understand your feelings. Journalling can be very helpful outlet, and if you don't like writing then try recording voice or video notes. Having a space to speak freely is what is key here therefore your outlet doesn’t have to only exist privately, feel free to reach out to a friend or family member. 

2. Look after your body

The rumours are true, the frequency of body movement influences our overall wellbeing and health. Be conscious of your current diet. We are not encouraging you to modify it but to be aware of what is going in your body ; both the good and bad stuff.  Alongside this awareness, engage in a form of movement. Now, you don’t have to become a gym influencer but implement a daily routine that allows you to stretch your body. If you can't afford a gym membership, research what your local community centre have on offer.

3. Study your relationship with yourself

Understanding that wellbeing begins with you requires an understanding of the relationship you have with yourself. How do you see yourself? What brings you joy? What drains you? What thoughts about yourself dominate your brain? Are they positive or negative? The level at which you understand yourself will help you improve your personal fortress of wellbeing.

4. What is your own idea of well-being?

So in understanding your relationship with yourself, you are able to understand your own definition of well-being because you now recognise your personal needs. Your new-found idea of wellness might not be running 5km once a week but instead having yoghurt bowls Monday - Thursday with Friday being plantain pancake day. It is imperative that you are kind to yourself on this journey of well-being.

5. Slow down

Nothing will change until you slow down and realise what patterns need destroying. The wellbeing hub you need to build and maintain is within your own body. It is your nervous system. It is your diet. It is your quality of sleep. This might all sound too simple, but how could your well-being hub not start with you?

So, when will you start?