Pavelka

ustainable change. Taking the time to pay attention to each of the four elements gives the ability to take a step back and remove oneself from daily noise. Whether the busyness of work, the pang of cravings or the hype from society, there are continual intrusions that stop you from connecting back to yourself. The four elements provide focus on what small steps can be taken to feel better each day and as a whole. EAT

For too long, the concept of gaining control over what we eat has been enforced by dieting fads, notions of calorie-counting and promises of ‘low fat’. Such restrictive, short-term diets have disconnected us from what food really is – a strong relationship to the self and a key element of overall wellbeing. Throughout the day, our moments for eating – especially in busy lifestyles – are in danger of being reduced to a quick fix or a box ticked. Guilt, craving and frustration are possible results of a negative relationship with food. Instead, changing the beliefs and behaviours of eating create opportunities to use the relationship with food to feel good in a continual and sustainable way. SWEAT

Of course it is important to exercise for overall wellbeing – and it can be equally important to pay attention to your body outside of exercise. Paying attention to the body throughout the day and recognising how it is feeling – even in small windows of time – set the tone for how you care for yourself. When feeling under pressure or stressed, taking the effort to get out of your head and into your body gives a boost to your wellbeing. It’s not only about having a walk or going to the gym, it’s about self-compassion and making yourself and your feeling the priority. THINK

Nutrition and exercise are seen as keys to wellbeing, but the prime state of how you feel comes from thinking and awareness. Mindfulness of how you are feeling and what you are thinking is so simple yet so powerful. Noticing the impact that people, places and things have on you leads to the knowledge of how you might be able to transform these aspects through emotional thinking. Simple actions from putting pen to paper and putting your thoughts into words, or pausing to turn the volume down on everything except your breath – a little self-awareness goes a long way to changing how you feel. With consideration taken to how you think, you have the ability to plan a day that is not only about what you do, but how you feel about it. CONNECT

As well as connecting to the self, being with our loved ones is an assumed goal. Yet understanding and enjoying the realisation of that goal is equally as important. Connecting with and helping others, whether colleagues at work or family at home, means understanding how you can be supportive and when to step up to help. The impact is that it creates a positive environment that benefits both your work life and your home life as you build trusting relationships. From pausing the daily routine in order to open up lines of communication, sharing more with more people in your life creates a more meaningful experience. What that means is down to the individual, but whether it’s getting outdoors and into nature, being part of the world, or being in love, going beyond simply your own issues adds perspective to the moment. Defining what is greater than you – which is different for everyone – can be the greatest connection you can experience.