As we go through life we adopt habits and get into routines that can become automatic. Does life seem a little flat, same old thing day in day out? What would adding some spice to your life do for you? As the old saying goes: “Variety is the SPICE of life”
I first came across the SPICE model whilst working as a play leader for an inner London charity working with disabled children and their families. This simple and effective model, which was originally used to plan activities for children around their Social, Physical, Intellectual, Creative and Emotional development, will support you to have more balance and control over how you manage your stress levels.
Socialise – setting time aside to see family and friends is one positive step you can take. Another thing you can do is to take up activities that you enjoy. Look around in your local community are there any groups that are running sessions in something you enjoy? This can provide you with an opportunity to increase your circle of support by making new friends and help to increase your confidence.
Physical – spending as little as 20 minutes a day doing some form of exercise will increase your physical wellbeing. Going for a brisk walk, practising yoga or going for a swim are just a few ideas that spring to mind. Then there is your physical environment; living or working in a cramped, cluttered environment can have a negative impact on your wellbeing. Keeping your physical environment tidy and organised can reduce the negative impact on your wellbeing.
Intellectual – stimulate the brain by finding fun and interesting ways of using it. Activities such as reading, Sudoku and taking part in quizzes are just a number of ways to keep the brain cells fresh. Learning new things gives us a feeling of accomplishment and boosts our self-confidence.
Creative – doing something creative is fun and as your work doesn’t have to been seen or heard by anyone unless you choose to, this allows you to have a go and not worry about what other people think. You can draw, paint, use clay to sculpt, one creative activity that has proved to be a creative and positive activity is to write and in particular to write down all the things that have made you feel happy throughout the day before going bed – especially the little things.
Emotional – taking regular time out to calm your mind will have a positive impact on your day to day life. Spending as little as 20 minutes a day practicing meditation or performing deep breathing exercises will be beneficial.
by John Dyter
The Coaching Academy was established in 1999, and is now the world's largest coaching school.
In that time we have trained over 14,000 people to become life coaches.
We are accredited by the International Coach Federation and the Association for Coaching, and we're rated 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot.
