Understanding self-care and how it can improve wellbeing was a fundamental part of 2020. It was a year when we each had more time to ourselves. Too much time, some would suggest! So, it’s vital for us to continue to nurture our health and discover new ways to keep the positive vibes flowing.
It’s no secret that too much or too little of the important stuff can have an impact on your skin. In turn, this will have implications on wellbeing – and we don’t want that.
Here are 5 lifestyle changes that can make a big difference to not only your appearance, but also to your life:
Get better sleep
Poor quality or lack of sleep can cause insulin resistance, disrupt appetite and reduce physical and mental performance. This has a negative impact on your mood and will make it much more difficult to concentrate. Not to mention, it will weaken the immune system too.
This means turning off your phone and making an allowance for downtime before bed, not consuming caffeine late in the day and remembering not to use your bedroom to lounge in during the day.
Find time to unwind
There’s no wrong way to relax and unwind. But, you must always find time and space to do so. It’s important to be kind to yourself in moments when you feel low or stressed. If you’re unable to recognise and deal with stress, it can cause breakouts or even speed up the process of aging.
A hot bath, listening to a new podcast, watching a film, making plans, practising mindfulness or taking up a new hobby. These are ways to detach yourself from anything stressful and help towards a more contented you.
Create a balanced diet
Diets from particular food groups can be ineffective and it can cause future weight gain. Instead, adopt a more balanced diet and focus on nourishing your body (rather than depriving it). After all, it’s difficult to be happy on an empty stomach.
Good tips include having breakfast, eating every 3-4 hours with plenty of fruits and vegetables and drinking at least two litres of water every day.
Keep active
Doing more exercise, particularly cardiovascular fitness, is one of the best things you can do for your mental and physical health. It releases endorphins, which is one of our feel-good hormones. This will inevitably improve your mood when you’re feeling low or dejected.
If you’re not the sporty type, that’s ok! Invest in a stationary bike and ride while you watch or listen to that podcast of yours while you take a walk. If you get bored or tired quickly, try splitting the session over a day. Believe us, it’s always better to start now than not at all.
Quit toxins
The obvious bad toxins include smoking and drinking alcohol. If you decide to go cold turkey, it will improve blood pressure and lower any risk of heart attack or cancer.
However, another bad toxin in your life that you may not have considered can be people. It’s important to understand that you have to let people down to be happy sometimes and not to feel pressured by those around you. Oh, and be sure to surround yourself with positive and like-minded people.
Some things are easier said than done. But, just a few of these steps can go a long way towards improving your health and wellbeing. If you’re trying to live a happier and healthier life, make keeping active, getting quality sleep and building strong relationships your focus.
