With summer – and largely good weather – in full swing do you ever feel guilty if all you want to do of an afternoon is to sit inside, put your feet up and watch a good film?
With the longer days and extra sunlight, we often feel as though we have more energy and definitely feel as if we want to make the most of things before autumn hits, and there is always a plethora of summer events, family and friend invitations and array of activities that are outside to enjoy.
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These are all great things, and we know that getting active and moving is good for our physical and mental health, and to be encouraged. But, one thing we don’t talk about much is how everything needs to be in balance – and that includes time inside and out.
We all only have a certain reserve of energy to use in any one day, week or month, and that includes mental and emotional energy not just physical. Every time we interact with other people and go out into the world, we tend to give out energy, so being inside at home is absolutely essential, not just a luxury.
As a child you may have been told by your parents, or teachers that you were “being lazy” for staying inside, or that you “should” get up and out of your room and “do something useful”. This conditioning can carry on into adulthood, and make us feel guilty, so that we make ourselves busy just for the sake of it.
But inside time and activities are not just essential for topping up our energy levels – they also have extra added benefits that you may not have thought of before, and there is lots to try out too!
We hear a lot about too much screen time, but everything needs to be in balance, and if we do keep things in moderation, watching a movie is a great thing to do. Research has shown that it can reduce stress and boost our mood.
If we are feeling anxious, then choosing an old film that is familiar to us, and reminds us of happy, calm times, can help us to feel better.
One study showed that watching a film that documents someone following their dreams can actually inspire us, and can encourage us to start a new hobby or activity as well.
When we see characters in a film that remind us a bit of ourselves, or others, or a situation they are going through aligns with something we have gone through, we can find a space to process what we have been through, get a new perspective on things, or build empathy for others or ourselves.
Storytelling helps us to see things we may never have experienced before or understood. If we watch a movie with someone else, this can also build relationships and help us bond, which is great for our emotional wellbeing.
Cooking and baking
Not only do these activities allow us to be more mindful and to be in the present moment, they also involve planning, being open to new tastes or recipes, as well as creating something for us or someone else to enjoy.
Decorating cakes can help us de-stress, allow us to use our imaginations and use hand-eye co-ordination. Creating a wonderful meal and sitting down to eat also enables us to spend time with those we love and to have a sense of achievement.
The more time we spend cooking food, the more we develop a healthy relationship and interest in what that food can do for us, and the more we are likely to think about what we are buying and eating.
Cooking can help you destress (Photo: 10’000 Hours/Getty/Digital Vision)These may not sound very fun, but they absolutely can be, and can allow us to build other skills at the same time. DIY projects allow us to learn new skills, which is great for us cognitively, to build confidence and also helps us feel a sense of purpose and achievement, giving us a sense of being self-reliant.
Long and complex projects can also help us to develop a sense of patience and attention to detail, which allows for mindfulness and being in the present moment, as does the tactile nature of DIY.
Tidying, sorting and arranging our things is great to help us declutter out minds as well as our physical space. What we simplify around us can help us to feel less stressed and less anxious. If we are able to give some things away to charity or recycling, then we get a sense of wellbeing from supporting others or the environment.
Games and gaming
Gaming tends to get a bad reputation for our wellbeing, but it is all about moderation. Gaming itself – especially active gaming, where you are moving your body playing online tennis or singing, for example – can help our lung capacity and our physical health.
Gaming can support us cognitively with our reaction times and trying to work out solutions to puzzles or challenges, as well as our manual dexterity.
We can also benefit from the social side of gaming with friends, creating experiences and memories together and laughing and having joy.
More traditional board games or card games again allow us to use our imaginations, to have some time away from screens and to have fun with those we love.
Reading
In a world that is full of screens, one of the most wonderful things to do inside is to sit quietly in a cosy corner, open up a book and be transported into a whole new world. This helps us to stay focused and improves concentration, as well as encouraging us to use our imaginations and visualise what we are reading.
It can help us to slow down in a fast world, and to develop patience waiting for the next part of the story to unravel.
Audiobooks are also incredible for our wellbeing, and are something that is easy for us to engage with when there are other jobs to be done at home.
So, the next time, you feel like you just want to refill your energy levels and stay inside, don’t feel guilty about it – just make the most of it instead.
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