Think Well
Article

Why sitting back and doing nothing may not be the best thing for your wellbeing When you've had a hard week, it can be tempting to come home on a Friday night, kick off your shoes and do as little as possible until Sunday night.

After all, watching the TV for hours and eating a few comforting bars of chocolate can help you to unwind and feel much better in time for next week, surely.

Well, according to one expert, this approach may not be the best thing for your wellbeing at all, as it could actually make you feel worse.

Dr Nick Baylis, wellbeing consultant and former Cambridge University lecturer, told ‘You magazine’ that sitting back and doing nothing is fine when you're just tired, but is not much good if you're feeling blue.

Instead, he advised, what you need to do is get out and do something inspiring to take your mind off your woes.

He runs regular wellbeing weekends and explained that he advises attendees to plan nice things with their free time, such as walks along the coast, or taking a bath with sweet-smelling oils in it.

"Life feels better the more effort we put into it. If we embrace it wholeheartedly and use all our emotions and intellect, our days feel richer and more satisfying," Dr Baylis told the publication.

However, don't feel this means that you'll have to write a military-style timetable for your evenings and weekends - the idea is not to run yourself ragged, but to relax and enjoy what you're doing.

"Try out more sociable activities - surprise yourself and the positive feelings will surely follow," the expert concluded.

Why not switch off the TV and try toasting marshmallows with your partner, or giving them a foot rub, for example? This will ensure that you are engaging with each other instead of ignoring each other as images pass you by on the goggle-box.

Erupting Mind also suggests getting out and doing more as a way of beating stress. It pointed out that people who are interested in more varied things are likely to be happier than those who have few hobbies.

Exploring new interests could have the added benefit of allowing you to spend more time with people who make you happy too, resulting in even more smiles!

So perhaps going for a country walk or looking around an art gallery could be a fun idea this weekend - and it could make sure you're much more prepared to deal with Monday with a smile on your face.