We live in a hectic world and with that comes the tendency to forget about the most important thing - taking care of ourselves. Whether it be mental, physical, or spiritual, ensuring we are giving our bodies and minds love and care is the first step to improving our quality of life.

Not sure where to begin? Here are some simple tips for beginning your wellness journey. 

Treat Your Body Right 

Feeling good starts within- from what you eat and the amount of sleep you get every night to the level of exercise you partake in each week.

Eating Well

Fill your plate with foods that are nutrient dense, anti-inflammatory, and intensely nourishing. Leafy greens, berries, and whole grains are full of fibre to provide you with the energy necessary for your day. Add nuts and olive to a salad or a little snack to get in your monounsaturated fats which play a role in reducing the risk of heart disease. More wonderful foods to incorporate into your diet are fish, yoghurt, tomatoes, and legumes- all proven to reduce the risks of certain cancers and strengthen cardiovascular health. 

Get More Sleep

Develop a routine of going to bed at the same time every night to ensure you’re receiving the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep a night. It’s not always easy to fall asleep with the plethora of distractions at our fingertips, so make an effort to put away devices an hour before bedtime. In addition to the interruptions electronics pose, the blue light from the screens can prevent the hormones that induce sleepiness from being produced. You should also avoid caffeine up to eight hours before your bedtime and engage in exercise throughout the day (not too close to bedtime though!). Practise sleep hygiene, get your beauty rest, and wake up with that refreshed glow.  

Keep fit

Go to the gym as often as possible, and when you can’t (or if the gym isn’t for you) change your daily habits- use the stairs instead of the lift / walk to work once or twice a week. Get those steps in. 

There's evidence that exercising helps improve mood and decrease stress and anxiety with the added benefit of making you look and feel your best.

Respect your body, it does so much for you!

Take Time to Relax 

Avoid the burnout and carve out time everyday to slow down and relax your body and mind. Whether that be taking a nice bath, doing a face mask, or listening to calming music, taking even just 15 minutes to unwind and be still will work wonders to reduce stress and tension built up throughout the day. 

Do Things You Enjoy

We all have those little things that make us happy. Prioritise your happiness and indulge in your hobbies. Write that short story, paint a landscape, be creative and forget about the worries of the world for a moment. A passion and spark for life is so necessary to feeling fulfilled. Don’t let the mundanity of day to day stresses get in the way of that. 

Practice Mindfulness 

Your brain can be trained to think differently, so if you find yourself spiralling into negative thought loops, remember it is very possible to change those thoughts into ones of hope and positivity. Journal out what you’re feeling, sit with those emotions, and examine those thoughts. Why do I feel this way? How can I change my situation? You are so much more powerful than you think. 

Protect Your Energy 

The outside world can definitely be a drain on your energy. Now with social media that can also follow us into our safe spaces as a portal into the loud and chaotic world. Set limits with your social media, cut down the time you spend with people who don’t bring positivity to your life, and surround yourself with uplifting friends. If you’re often feeling drained, that’s a sign to change things up to retain and increase your vitality. 

Hopefully these tips will help you begin an odyssey of self care and wellbeing - start small, be consistent, and remember that you deserve it!