Following on from the previous article which included hints and tips for keeping physically active and healthy, I have decided to write a little article about keeping our inner-self healthy and in tip-top condition. (Ok truth…I was REMINDED to write an article….and suddenly I was like…oh wow what do I write about? Are students even reading this? How can little old me inspire our students to keep fit and healthy? I’m chomping a biccie as I write this is that even healthy?! Ahh!)
However, when started to think and put pen to paper I decided yes…students WILL read this. Let’s start with some positivity. But …oh wow this is such a HUGE area. Where to start?
So…I munched through my biccie and started to rummage through emails and articles that have hit my inbox or social media pages and ironically started to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information that I found….and I headed for the biccie tin again!
So why don’t we keep this simple? Step away from the chocolate digestives… lets’ draw inspiration from my own ‘inbox’ of ideas and let you know how I have over the years kept a decent level of health and focus on my own mental health and wellbeing.
I’m a tutor here at Accountancy learning and yes even me, a humble tutor must spend time focusing on myself. We’re all the same after all aren’t we? If you’re fed up with all the wellbeing / mental health articles out there…perhaps read on out of curiosity, a little window so to speak as to how one of your tutors stays fit, healthy with a focus on their own wellbeing. This month’s article focuses on music.
Focus music
Whilst writing this article I am listening to focus music; I cannot emphasise enough how important music has been to my life, and I have found especially during the pandemic that music has played such a key role in keeping my spirits high.
Students heading into our weekly drop-in sessions tend to pop headphones in to help focus (I love that one of our students used to listen to the Lion King sound track over and over…can’t beat a bit of Hakuna Matata!) so I know music is also very important to our students.
Here are some AMAZING podcasts and items that I listen to – perhaps you can share some of your own ideas on our social media pages?
Peaky blinders fan? You’ll love this Cillian Murphy’s limited edition
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0012700
Iggy Pop fan? Iggy has his own show on BBC 6 music. Iggy Confidential, slow Sundays
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00175nh
You’ve probably head of the legendary John Peel, his daughter Hannah Peel released a journey in sound playlist, highly recommend
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00175n3
Radio 1 chilled sounds
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0016945
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0016p4v
As I write this article, 6 Music celebrates twenty-five years of Radiohead’s OK Computer, with music from 1997.
BBC 6 music
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0017632
Radiohead Glastonbury 1997
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000klmj
Also, while I’m sure not everyone will agree – but I simply love Sophie Ellis Bexter and her weekly ‘Kitchen Discos’ have really helped me to dance around my own kitchen! Staying in really is the new going out!!
Sophie Ellis Bextor – Kitchen Disco
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0016ysr
Rest and music for sleep
I don’t feel like I need to write allot here on the importance of rest and sleep, simply put if you aren’t sleeping well this can have such a huge impact on so many other aspects of your life and you all know this. Our bodies need to sleep (so no late-night TV watching before that exam!).
So, what can we do If we aren’t sleeping well? Firstly, try to identify what is keeping you awake at night…perhaps your room is too hot? It’s important to sleep in quite a cool room. Perhaps you struggle to nod off? My husband and I have a rule…. don’t take our mobile phones into our bedroom or any IT equipment that could be distracting and wake us up…and read at least 6 pages. Trust me the 6 pages rule always works…I’m out like a light before I each reach 3 pages!
So, grab a book and start reading! Also, if you’ve had a particularly busy day and your mind is super active, a ‘sleepy’ podcast and music can also help, see below several links.
The night Tracks mix – I call this the sleepy podcast 30-minute sessions ideal to help you nod off to sleep (trust me this works!)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m00093d4
Music and Meditation – guided meditation podcasts
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0c59c1p
Radio 1 Power down playlist
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0016hnq
Radio 1 wind down
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0015ctc
BBC 6 Music Nemone slow Sunday a mediative playlist with one of my favorite guest contributors Nemone
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00175np
I hope this helps…music is very important to my health and wellbeing so I hope that by sharing some of my favourite podcasts and shows that I listen to can help you to focus your mind.
