Happiness Hacks - Go Outside. See Your Mates.

Advice not just for the neurodivergent.

After two weeks of insane busy-ness, I’ve remembered that I’m at my happiest when I’m out in nature, or connecting with people (and preferably both at once). And I haven’t been stepping away from the desk nearly enough recently.

So, if you also need a reminder to back away from the laptop for ten minutes, stick on some shoes and breathe fresh air, this is it.

This is also your nudge to text that mate back who you’ve left on read, pick up the phone, or not cancel that plan you’re feeling too tired to go through with.

My podcast guest last week, Liz Watkin, is a wonder woman of physical activity and adventure. Listening back to our conversation reminded me how alive I become when I’m moving in nature and getting vitamin D on my skin.

Our chat made me realise that it’s been months since I’ve really done any big adventuring in the great outdoors, and I’ve been pretty terrible at keeping in touch with all my amazing friends & family.

A whole combination of recent life events has gotten in the way, and my focus has been pulled towards laptop related activities.

Normally, I’d be beating myself up about not having managed to juggle all my self-enforced deadlines, relationships, my fitness, Italian learning, social events I committed to months ago, alongside my endless quest for self-improvement.

Only a year or two ago, I’d have ignored the facts that I’m still recovering from the broken leg, nursing the dog through his hip replacement, and trying to buy a house.

But through the work I’ve put in over the past 18 months (with an ADHD coach, my ridiculously holistic Personal Trainer, my doctor, my therapist and, also, all by myself), I’ve realised that sometimes it’s impossible to achieve everything, all at once.

It’s OK to not be in the gym 6 times a week. It’s OK to not have climbed every 3000 metre mountain in the Dolomites this summer.

But what’s not OK is sitting, with terrible ADHD posture, alone at a laptop for 14 hours a day and not stepping outside. That isn’t healthy.

My mind will typically tell me that if I can’t do sometimes insanely intensely, there’s no point in doing it. So, this is also my reminder that sometimes, a few hours spent walking gently through the woods with friends, really is the best medicine.

And if that’s not possible, 10 minutes and a phone call will do.

You can thank me later.

Angie

I’d love to hear what you all do to find your happy place. Let me know in the comments what you’re going to do this week to look after your body and mind.

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Next week on the podcast, I’ll be talking to my Personal Trainer, who played a massive part in my journey to finally getting formally diagnosed with ADHD. It’s such a beautiful conversation and I can’t wait to share it with you. Make sure to follow on Spotify (or wherever you get your podcasts) to be notified when it’s out.