Using Positive Psychology to boost Resilience – Part 2
In part 1, I introduced the concept of positive psychology.
Positive psychologists say that it takes 21 days to re-program the brain. They also say that doing the following activities every day can allow you to see the positive in your life rather than looking for negatives, to reduce stress and anxiety.
- Write down 3 things you are grateful for in your life.
- Write a diary entry about 1 good thing that has happened to you over the last 24 hours.
- Exercise – its boosts your mood and reduces stress.
- Meditation helps you stop over thinking!
- Random acts of kindness – do at least one kind act a week, even if its just sending a text to say thank you.
- Share your joys and foibles with the ones you love.
Finally I would like to remind you that the treatments we offer at Vitality Therapy also help reduce anxiety and stress, click here to book.
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Do you go home being mentally exhausted but physically full of beans?
I know when I worked in IT I would often leave the office mentally very tired and depending upon how trying the day had been somtimes I was just mentally exhausted but often I was not physically tired. The simplest solution to this conundrum is to go down the gym and burn of the excess physical energy and going to the gym also helps to switch off from work. However there are times when we are injured or feeling run down when this is not possible, so then what can you do? Recently I have seen a few people in clinic who are in this situation. This means they are stuggling to switch off from work and relax. So I wanted to share a few tips on how to handle this if it happens to you. Depending upon the injury you can:
- Start taking the stairs at work - even if you can't walk up all the flights of stairs for example if you are based on the top floor, you can walk up some flights and take the lift for the rest.
- Go swimming instead of going to the gym.
- Get of the train or tube one stop earlier and walk the rest of the way (this obviously depends upon your commute).
- Go for a walk in park or any type of greenery.
- A lot of museams in London have a late night opening, so why not go walk around a museam.
- If you have a garden, do some gardening.

Ten tips for surviving Chronic Fatigue or ME
We call all feel tired after a long day at work. For some people a good nights sleep doesn't refresh them and they end up feeling tired all the time. They may then receive a diagnosis from their GP of Chronic Fatigue or ME. So if you know anyone who has received this diagnosis here are some tips:
- Accept - make peace with your current limitations; it may require you to adjust your lifestyle and to get others to help care for you.
- Look externally - get support from others and see a doctor or a therapist.
- Fix your diet - we all know the importance of a healthy diet, but it is paramount when you are tired and take you may require supplements.
- Look within - meditate and look within to find the lessons from your current situation and illness.
- Examine the past - look for unresolved issues, traumas or behavioural patterns that aren't serving you well.
- Grieve - spend time grieving over any past hurts and broken dreams and then let them go.
- Get back into the world - when you have the energy, get out and meet people or do some volunteer work.
- Make changes - introduce new behaviours, think positively and keep a gratitude diary.
- Look into the future - set goals for where you want to be in 10 years time, find your passion and take small steps to get there.
- Keep learning - read about what may help your condition and make small changes to your daily routine.

Eating to help reduce anxiety
We can all feel anxious from time to time. While individuals with anxiety disorders require therapy and/or medication, for individuals with milder cases of anxiety changed to your diet may help. 1. Omega-3 Increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish. Omega-3 acids protect you against inflammation and have been show to improve your overall mood and ability to cope with stress. Click here for more information. This study shows a 20% reduction in anxiety levels amongst medical students taking omega-3. While this study shows how omega-3 acts as an anti-depressant. 2. Drink chamomile tea. See studies for evidence of how it helps with anxiety. 3. Eat dark chocolate. There's actually a chemical reason called anandamide, a neurotransmitter produced in your brain that temporarily blocks feelings of pain and depression. It's a derivative of the Sanskrit word "bliss," and one of the great things about chocolate is that it not only produces this compound, it also contains other chemicals that prolong the "feel-good" aspects of anandamide. In addition there is a scientific study which shows that it helps you feel calm - so eat dark chocolate without feeling guilty! See scientific study for evidence. 4. Protein snacks. If like me you are the king of person who needs snacks between meals, then choose a high protein snack like an organic egg, cheese or macadamia nuts as these will stabilise your blood sugar level which means your energy levels don't slump and your mood doesn't either. 5. Eat bananas. Bananas contain dopamine, a natural reward chemical that boosts your mood. They're also rich in B vitamins, including vitamin B6, which help soothe your nervous system, and magnesium, another nutrient associated with positive mood.

