5 easy ways to treat yourself well everyday

Living a healthy lifestyle is not simply down to eating healthy and exercising, or restricting yourself during the week just so you can indulge at the weekend - it’s about balance and maintaining a healthy mind and body all the time - which believe it or not, includes treats!

Creating a healthy routine is easier than you think and by adding a few small changes each day you can maximise your health and wellbeing and feel the best possible version of you.

Here's five easy ways to treat yourself well everyday...

Lemon water

Start each day with a glass of warm water and a squeeze of lemon juice to clear skin, kick-start your metabolism, eliminate toxins and aid your digestive system. This simple and affordable trick offers numerous health benefits and will hydrate you while also providing a hit of vitamin C. For extra health benefits try adding ginger, turmeric or a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.

Dry body-brush

Use a dry body brush before showering to encourage circulation and lymphatic drainage, reduce cellulite and exfoliate skin. Start from your feet and brush in upwards circles towards the heart, paying extra attention to your stomach, butt and thighs. This therapeutic routine needn't take longer than 5 minutes and will help to reduce stress as well as leave skin soft and smooth.

Breathe

Sounds simple enough right? Wrong. Most of us use only a fraction of our lungs when breathing throughout the day which can result in tiredness, fatigue, lack of energy, increased stress, anxiety and false hunger. Take a few minutes to focus on your breathing and practice this exercise several times a day - particularly when you feel anxious or stressed: take a deep breath for 7 seconds, hold for 7, breathe out for 10. Repeat 5 times.

Oil pull

This one may sound strange - but stay with me on this - swilling oil around your mouth for 10-20 minute first thing in the morning is an ancient ritual believed by many cultures to clear skin, whiten teeth, freshen breath and rid the body of toxins. Try swishing 1-2 tablespoons of coconut, olive or sesame oil around your mouth before spitting out in the bin (the residue is toxic) and then brush teeth as normal.

Sleep

Sleep is the cornerstone of good health - it controls your diet, your mood, your productivity and pretty much your whole day. Ideally you should aim to sleep for 8-9 hours each night and form a regular routine of going to bed and waking up. While the occasional weekend lie-in or afternoon nap can help you recharge after a hard week at work, make sure it doesn't become a habit as this may affect your natural pattern and result in a loss of sleep.

How to have a healthy happy holiday

Christmas is a time to let loose, have fun and fully embrace the perks of the festive season. Our usual healthy habits go straight out of the window and the fun-filled weeks of indulgence are often followed by strict New Year diets and military-style fitness regimes. However, you needn’t live in fear and begrudgingly decline every mince pie or chocolatey treat that comes your way. Instead, try these five simple tricks that will keep your health in check over the holidays, without ruining your fun (or your waistline).

Eat well

Festive treats don’t have to be laden with salt, covered in chocolate or served with brandy and cream. Make the most of healthier seasonal foods by indulging in sweet fruits such as apples, cranberries and clementines, or loading up on vegetables like broccoli, sprouts, sweet potato and squash. Nuts make a great snacking alternative to crisps and keep you feeling fuller for longer, which will prevent you reaching for junk food later in the day.

Keep moving

As tempting as it may be to bury yourself on the sofa with the intention of staying there all day, you will most definitely feel better for getting some fresh air and stretching your legs. Even if your regular gym routine has gone to pot, a brisk walk around the block, run around with the kids, or a dance to some festive tunes. These will help raise your metabolism and keep those pesky pounds at bay.

Stay hydrated

It’s easy to forgo water in place of fizzy drinks, mulled wine and hot chocolate, but these will simply leave you feeling dehydrated and sluggish. Start your day with a cup of super-hydrating warm water and lemon which will help to alkalise your body, kick-start your metabolism and support your liver by diminishing the unpleasant effects of sugar and alcohol. Aim to drink at least 2L of water throughout the day to balance the consumption of all your other favourite festive tipples.

Snooze time

With all the festive parties, late-night soirees and long list of Christmas movies to get through, sleep can easily become the last thing on your list. However, lack of sleep can leave you feeling moody, drained and overwhelmed, and who wants to feel like that at the happiest time of year? Aim to stick to a regular bedtime and get 7-8 hours of sleep each night. This combined with a good diet is sure to help you feel your optimal best and full of cheer throughout the festive holiday season.

Moderation 

It’s more than likely at some point you’re going to over-indulge - it’s Christmas right?! Just remember to enjoy everything in moderation. Your favourite foods will still be around after December so there’s no need to feast as though there’s about to be a famine. And eating chocolate for breakfast is only acceptable on December 25th – not every day of the month. Aside from that… eat, drink, be merry and have a very, very happy Christmas!

Eat Nourish Glow

Having a three month summer break from uni means I've had plenty of time to indulge in things that I wouldn't normally have time for, such as staying in bed until 11am on weekdays, watching daytime TV and reading non-journalism/educational based literature.

Ok so the first two aren't exactly true (not everyday, anyway) but the third is something that I definitely miss during term time when I have lectures to attend and mountains of work that needs doing when I'm not in class. 

I love a good book and usually opt for easy-reading chick-lit or glossy fashion mags when I want to unwind - although health and nutrition is another area I am very passionate about.

Fresh ingredients for making green juice

After reading many of Amelia's articles and following her blog, 

Eat Nourish Glow was on my list of must-reads.

When my sister kindly surprised me with it I began reading it straight away and read the entire thing in a matter of days.

Chicken and pumpkin soup

 Amelia's philosophy about food and the modern diet is spot on. Instead of focusing on eating 'low-fat', 'fat-free' and 'diet' 'health' foods she discusses the importance of eating real and natural whole foods that have not been processed or messed around with by manufacturers. 

The book is a real eye-opener to how dangerous processed food is and highlights how a poor diet can be the cause of so many health issues and diseases, not to mention the rising rates of type 2 diabetes and obesity. 

Amelia's courgetti, a delicious alternative to pasta

Although I try to maintain a good diet and eat healthily, this book has definitely made me look closer at my eating habits and encouraged me to make some positive changes going forward. 

I strongly recommend it to everyone - whether you're interested in health and nutrition or not.
The simple layout, easy-to-follow recipes and pretty pictures will keep you glued and you will most definitely learn something new.


Have you read Eat Nourish Glow? What did you think?


Holly xx