The only “gym” i used to visit regularly was my neighbour…

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Exercise is not something that i’ve ever really taken seriously. I used to be on the cross country team at high school; i had a gym membership (that i barely used) during my years at college but ever since then, despite having a very physically demanding job, I haven’t done any regular exercise.

Don’t get me wrong, i have laid down plans with my bestie to go swimming once a week – that lasted 6 months. I agreed with my mum that we would do Zumba once a week – that lasted 6 months! So i have tried…ish….but can’t say i have ever committed to anything…until recently.

After going through a somewhat unexpected period of being incredibly stressed, it became very clear to me that the effects were not just on my mental wellbeing, but very much on physical wellbeing also. My sleep patterns were all over the place, i had little to no appetite, i felt sick all the time, i was bloated, grumpy, losing confidence in myself and my appearance, my anxiety levels were at an all time high – things really couldnt have been much worse and i knew i had to do something – to press PAUSE and get off this ride of misery.

Being an independent distributor and business owner with Forever Living Products means i have access to a wealth of incredible products and programmes specifically tailored to optimising your health and wellbeing, and so i completed our 9 day cleansing programme. The C9 is scientifically designed to give the digestive system a break, rid your body of excess toxins, carbs and fluid and to re-establish good and healthy eating habits, ready for you to continue with a healthy lifestyle. As well as taking supplements and our flagship product, the Aloe Drinking Gel, one of the daily requirements of the programme is…you guessed it…exercise. That “E” word that used to make me feel tired just thinking about it!

Although i really wasn’t in the mood to even contemplate 30 minutes of exercise each day; something dramatic happened over the course of the first few days of the cleanse. I begun to realise that maybe, just maybe, this exercise thing wasn’t THAT bad.. maybe this daily activity that i had subconsciously decided was something i would probably see as optional as aposed to a necessity may not be so difficult after all! In fact, i began to (here comes another “E” word…) ENJOY the workouts i was doing. I tried to do something different each day to make sure i wasn’t bored and that i didn’t give up; everything from a run, a brisk walk, running up and down stairs, swimming, jogging through to yoga etc. Considering i was completely unfit, out of practice, uncomfortable and unenthusiastic about exercise before these 9 days – i was gobsmacked that i had started to look forwards to my workout sessions. They did something for me, lifted my spirits i guess you could say.

Getting up early (yes – i set my alarm at 6.30am DAILY now) and getting out into the fresh air, (even when i’m half asleep and my hair looks like i brushed it with a garden rake) is the best feeling. My mental state has changed, my mindset has shifted and i am now at a place where i feel bad if i miss a day or if i’m not quite as committed as other days. My body has changed dramatically, everything feels like it flows as it should. I am much happier in my own skin and more confident – but the biggest most signifcant change is…I AM IN CONTROL! I have regained the power to help myself and to immediately step in and try to aleviate any stress or anxiety that had previously had the capacity to cripple me.

If you’d have told me that i enjoy going for a run, in public, in whatever weather, everyday and feel bad when i don’t do it – i would probably have laughed at you. Not something i am proud of as i feel i completely understimated the power that a little bit of regular exercise has on mental health, but it is the truth. It always felt like an effort – who has time for all that sweaty/bright red in the face/aching all over/can’t move the next day stuff?….well, actually…i do and if that is all i have to do to stop myself from sinking into depression or being riddled with anxiety to the point i don’t want to leave the house – then imma run everyday without fail!

If i can do it – so can you 🙂

Six Reasons Self-Care is Essential

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I haven’t posted on here in a little while; so much has happened in just a few short months.
At the beginning of this year I made a vow to change the way that stress and anxiety affects me – to get a grip on it once and for all and to take control.
Self-care was something that had been mentioned to me several times and to be honest, I didn’t take it seriously. I mean, that kind of thing is for other people, right? And surely a hot bath, going for a run or having an early night would surely do the trick, right? Erm….not so much!

I learnt the hard way that self care is something that WE ALL need to take seriously…and here are 6 reasons why:

BEATING THE BURNOUT
Burnout can happen at any time. The only ingredients needed to create the dreaded Burnout Broth are fatigue, being overworked, not feeling supported, feeling like you are doing everything at work/home, losing interest in your hobbies/socialising, losing your appetite…you get the idea.
Self-care can give you some much needed time to refocus, to calm your mind and block out the deafening noise of daily life.

A SENSE OF DIRECTION
The time you spend on self-care can help you to focus on what you want out of life, on what drives you, your passions. A little time out will give you the space and the quiet needed to help you to envisage where you want be heading and what may be blocking your path.

BOOST YOUR SELF ESTEEM
Spending time on self-care helps you to maintain a healthy relationship with yourself as it produces positive emotions that help to kickstart your relaxation response, which in turn, can dramatically reduce the way chronic stress damages your body both inside and out!

IT’S IMPORTANT FOR OTHERS AROUND YOU
Taking time out for yourself reminds those around you that you have needs and they matter. Having a support network around you that respects you and the way you choose to take care of your mind and body is essential.

A BREAK FROM THE DAILY GRIND
We can get caught in the daily grind so easily that we forget what it’s like to have some work/life balance. Self care gives you a well needed break from the chaos that life can throw at you and provide you with some perspective.

GET PERSONAL
Self-care is the best way to get to know who YOU are; to allow yourself to be your true and authentic self. This is important, as it is in this time that you can reconnect to your core values and for some people, this is the only time they get to do this.

Some good self-care strategies are:
1. Have a hot bath – get some of those essential oils out, candles, some chilled out music and bubble your troubles away!
2. Get a massage – the ultimate in relaxation and indulgence
3. Yoga – Yoga is a really good way to loosen up, realign and calm the body and mind
4. Regular exercise – this is always good advice and such an important part of your overall wellbeing
5. Take up a new hobby – this can be a really good way to expand your skill set and find new ways to relax – which in turn will be good for your mental wellbeing!