How to Look After Your Wellbeing in a Busy World

As a Wellbeing Coach, I thought it would be helpful to talk more about what wellbeing actually means - and how we can start to take better care of ourselves in the fast-paced world we live in.

So, what is wellbeing?

To me, it means feeling content, healthy, and able to move through our days with ease. It’s more than just feeling happy all the time - it’s about feeling whole, grounded, and supported in ourselves. And while we all have our own interpretation of what wellbeing looks like, I want to focus this post on a more practical question: How can we actually look after our wellbeing in real, everyday life?

We all want to feel well - but modern life can feel relentless. I see it all the time in my own experience and in my work with clients: we’re juggling so much, and often feel burnt out, under pressure, or disconnected from ourselves. But looking after our wellbeing means pausing in the middle of all that, and filling up our own cup. We hear the phrase “fill your own cup first” a lot in the self-care space - and for good reason! If we don’t take the time to nurture ourselves, it becomes harder and harder to enjoy life, let alone keep up with it.

Stress Isn’t the Enemy - But Chronic Stress Is

If we're honest, we’re never going to live a life completely free of stress. And that’s okay. Not all stress is bad - in fact, we need a certain amount of challenge to grow.

But when we’re exposed to constant, low-level stress without breaks, it starts to take a toll - especially on our nervous system. Chronic stress can leave us feeling drained, anxious, and eventually, burnt out. So what can we do?

Here are three main options:

1. Reduce the amount of stress in our lives

2. Build resilience and shift how we respond to stress

3. Take regular time out to restore our energy, regulate our nervous system, and meet our needs

   
   

This post is all about that third option - how to actually take care of yourself.

What Does Self-Care Really Mean?

Taking care of yourself will look different depending on your lifestyle and responsibilities - but one thing that comes up often is time. Or more accurately, feeling like we don’t have enough of it. If it feels hard to take even five minutes for yourself - or if you feel guilty when you do - you’re not alone. I’ve been there too.

Sometimes we spend more time than we realise scrolling on our phones, but feel guilty for taking time to rest or meditate. That’s not a failure - it’s just a pattern. Instead, try taking just 5 minutes of that time and do one small thing for yourself. And start small! It’s about progress, not perfection.

And if guilt, limiting beliefs, or emotional resistance come up - know that’s completely okay too. You don’t have to unpack that alone. Feel free to message me or book a call if you want to explore it more deeply.

How to Tune Into What You Truly Need

Once you’ve carved out some time for yourself, the next question is: what do I actually need right now?

This is where we start to reconnect with ourselves. Instead of automatically doing what we think we should do - we take a moment to ask ourselves what we truly need.

I love this question because it opens the door to a more holistic kind of self-care. Wellbeing isn’t just about physical health - things like eating well or exercising (though of course those things are important!). But sometimes, even after ticking those boxes, we still feel off because we’re not tending to our emotional, mental, or spiritual needs.

For example, going to the gym might be great for our body - but if we’re emotionally overwhelmed or mentally drained, a quiet walk in nature or a heart-to-heart with a friend might be what we actually need that day.

That’s why I encourage you to take a moment to tune in and ask:

“What do I truly need right now?”

Personally, I find it helpful to schedule even a small window of time each day to check in with myself and ask this question. Maybe you need rest? To move your body? Do something that brings you joy or is creative? Connect with someone or process some emotions?

At first, it might feel unfamiliar or even hard to answer - and that’s okay. Reconnecting with ourselves and learning to listen to our intuition takes time. But the more we practice, the easier it gets to notice what we need and to trust those signals. And this can have such a huge positive impact on our wellbeing, as we start to listen to our body, show ourselves compassion and actually nurture our wellbeing in a way that is true to us.

One thing that really helps is to create a list of supportive practices or activities you can turn to in the moment - depending on what kind of support you need. I like to think of it in four areas: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual (but many of these will overlap and benefit more than one area!). That way, if you're feeling off, overwhelmed, or unsure, you’ve already got a toolkit to lean on, instead of starting from scratch.

Here’s a quick example of some ideas to get you started:

Physical Wellbeing

• Batch cook nourishing meals

• Exercise in a way that you enjoy - dancing, walking in nature, pilates etc

• Rest or try a yoga nidra session

• Get to bed earlier and create a calming night routine

Mental Wellbeing

• Take a screen break

• Do something creative

• Meditate

• Learn something new

• Practice mindfulness

  
  

Emotional Wellbeing

• Talk to a friend, coach, or therapist

• Journal how you’re feeling

• Try guided EFT (tapping)

• Offer yourself compassion and self-love -you're doing amazingly!

  
  

Spiritual Wellbeing

• Connect with nature

• Reflect, pray, or meditate

• Listen to uplifting music

• Do something that makes your soul feel ALIVE or lights you up!

  
  

Write your own list, add to it often, and don’t filter your ideas! It’s your wellbeing - no one else’s.

So the next time life feels overwhelming, take even a few minutes to pause. Ask yourself how you’re really feeling - and what you truly need in that moment. Then give yourself permission to meet that need.

This simple practice has changed my life, and I hope it supports you too. Remember, you deserve to take time for yourself, to rest, to play, to feel joy. Your wellbeing is not a luxury - it’s a necessity.

And if you’d like support or want to explore this more deeply, you’re always welcome to message me or book a free call here. I’d love to connect with you.

Sending you love on your wellbeing journey,

Ashley x