Love yourself! Our top self-care tips
Photo by Emily Rudolph on Unsplash
Self-Care September is in full swing, so we’re looking at all of the different ways we can look after our mind and body. Investing in ‘me-time’ is key to self-care. Here are some top tips on how to give yourselves some much-needed TLC...
Get moving
Exercise is a fantastic way to look after your mind and body. Aside from getting fit, toning up and improving your general health, exercise leaves you feeling great too, because it releases serotonin, the “feel good” hormone.
Exercising doesn’t have to be a chore. If you’re not fond of the gym, try to think of more creative ways to get moving. Walking the dog, running with the pram, hiking, swimming and even cleaning the house are all great ways to burn calories and get those endorphins flowing.
Struggling to get started? There are lots of natural energy boosters available to help give you the helping hand you need. For example, Guarana is a natural energiser available in lots of different forms from chewing gum to capsules. You could also add some Matcha Green Tea Energy Blend into your morning smoothie for an extra energy boost!
Start your morning with nature
Whether you choose to sip your morning coffee outside, or simply go on a brisk walk with the dog, refresh your senses and start your day breathing in some fresh air and soaking up some natural light. Sunlight helps our bodies to make Vitamin D, which is essential for absorbing calcium and protecting bones.
Have a screen detox
Have you ever considered how much time you spend looking at screens? It’s probably way more than you realise! Sometimes, we can even be using more than one screen at once - it’s madness!
Give your eyes and mind a break with a digital detox. Try reading a good old-fashioned book, meeting up with friends or taking a nice relaxing soak in the bath instead of fixing your eyes on screens all evening.
You should certainly try to avoid looking at screens just before bed if you want to get a good night’s sleep. Exposure to the blue light they emit can interfere with the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin, throwing your body clock out of rhythm.
Swap those bad foods for something good!
Now we all love an indulgent treat every once in a while, but if you want to really look after yourself, you need to start thinking about food a little differently.
Food is simply fuel for your body to function, and if we don’t give it what it needs, it won’t function properly. Try making a food diary to see where you could make some improvements. Do you have a mid-morning sugary snack? Try swapping it for some sweet fruit instead. Drink too much coffee? Try enjoying some hot water and lemon to aid digestion and lower your caffeine intake.
Improving your diet isn’t a dark art - small changes here and there can make a world of difference. You can also supplement your diet with vitamins if you want to ensure you’re getting your daily dose of goodness.
Practice your sun salutations
Yoga is a fantastic way to gain focus and take a break from the grind of daily life. It can be as relaxing or as strenuous as you want, but there’s nothing quite like that serene post-yoga feeling. Try taking a class for expert tuition or following some online courses. From improving your flexibility to increasing blood flow, it offers a variety of benefits to your body and mind.
Don’t forget to drink water!
It’s no mystery that water is good for us, so why don’t we drink enough? It’s easy to forget to drink the recommended 2 litres a day whilst we’re running around busy with work, children and chores. But if you do start drinking more water, you’re sure to feel better.
Drinking more will help to prevent dehydration, boost your metabolic rate and also improve brain function. Top tip: invest in a nice new water bottle so you can drink on-the-go and fill up from the tap instead of buying bottled water every day.
Take a small snooze
Forget about the housework and put your feet up. Sleep has such a profound effect on your health and mindset. Catching 40 winks can help to refresh, re-energise and re-balance you - so enjoy that post Sunday dinner snooze!
Struggle to get to sleep? Check out our natural sleep aids to help relax you and catch some zzzs.
If you have any top tips for self-care let us know over on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.