Looking and feeling great is vital to all
of us. Read on to discover 26 really easy ways to supercharge your health and
wellbeing…
Anxiety busters
Schedule
a daily worry space to allow yourself to think about what’s bothering you
Feeling worried occasionally is normal, but
when it starts to interfere with your everyday life, it’s time to take action.
Try these tips to ease your over-anxiety:
Schedule a daily worry space to allow
yourself to think about what’s bothering you. If you feel anxious at other
times of the day, tell yourself to put it on hold for later and use distraction
– crosswords, Sudoku, backwards counting – it’s harder to worry if your brain
is busy.
Challenge your thinking. Write things down
– seeing it in black and white can put things into perspective. Notice negative
language (can’t, won’t, shouldn’t) that fuels the downward spiral, and make a
conscious effort to use more positive words.
Address physical symptoms like rapid heart
beat, fast breathing and tense muscles by taking five minutes out to focus on
slow, calm breathing.
Body clock
Did you know that you’re more creative at
the time of day when you actually feel groggiest? While morning people will
intuitively schedule demanding tasks for early in the day and night owls save
them for later, researchers at Albion College in the US found that when it
comes to thinking outside the box, you perform better when you’re outside your
time comfort zone.
Core stability
Your core muscles are important for every
movement you make – they’re the deep muscles within your spine and pelvis that
stabilities and strengthen your body. And if your core is strong you’ll look
longer and cleaner as well! To help strengthen your core, lie on your back, knees
bent, feet flat, spine in neutral and your legs hip distance apart. Pull in
your lower abdomen as far as you can, as if you’re zipping up a tight pair of
jeans. Hold for a count of 10 if you can, breathe normally and repeat 10 times.
Do this simple exercise every day.
Detox
cutting
calories down to a minimal 500 – 800 a day – could have positive health
benefits
New research is emerging that suggests that
occasional fasting – cutting calories down to a minimal 500 – 800 a day – could
have positive health benefits. Professor Mark Matton of the US National
Institute on Aging has studied the impact of calorie restriction. He suggests
that intermittent fasting can lead to a drop in blood sugar levels, a fall in
the hormones linked with cancer and diabetes, lower levels of harmful blood
fats and less inflammation. It may also trigger protective processes in the
brain, potentially guarding against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
However, doctors don’t recommend cutting down calories in such an extreme way
on a regular basis. If you have any long-term health problems, don’t detox
without asking your doctor – and don’t see it as an alternative to healthy
eating for the majority of the time.
Energy
Recharge
your batteries - and ditch those energy vampires
If your get-up-and-go has vanished, try
these simple steps to help you recharge:
·
Identify the energy vampires – the tasks, or the
people, who suck the life out of you, and try to cut out the least essential
and rewarding.
·
Resolve that every time someone tries to rope
you in you’ll take five minutes before responding. If there’s a ‘should’ or
‘ought to’ attached to it, day no. the first time you refuse is always the
hardest.
·
Know your limits – you can always cram a few
more things into your day, but how will it leave you feeling? Remember that
energy is your most precious resource, so make sure you use it wisely.
