Sleep
It’s no secret that getting a good night’s sleep sets you up for the most productive day possible – so why do so many people struggle to get a good night’s sleep? A study conducted in 2019 which investigated the link between a lack of sleep and wellbeing, unsurprisingly found that a lack of sleep can make you irritable, undermine brain-function and can also put you at greater risk of injury.
If you struggle with your sleep, try looking at your diet. Oats are a natural source of magnesium; a mineral that has been proven to promote good quality sleep. They are also rich in melatonin, which can relax the body, regulate the internal body clock and help you to fall asleep. Try snacking on Nairn’s Super Seeded Oatcakes (£1.40, Sainsbury’s), or be creative with your own ‘overnight oats’ recipe, by adding fresh fruit, chopped nuts or seeds. Nairn’s Gluten Free Scottish Porridge Oats (£2.00, Sainsbury’s) contain wholegrain oats and absolutely nothing else.
Treat yourself
Occasional treats are essential to keep your wellbeing on track as it gives you something to look forward to! If you are a chocolate lover, try Ombar Coconut and Vanilla Centres (£3.29 for 70g bar, ombar.co.uk). Chocolate contains phenylethylamine (PEA), which encourages your brain to release feel-good endorphins; It’s the same chemical that your brain creates when you fall in love! As well as being rich, creamy and delicious, the Ombar range is entirely vegan friendly, organic and free from any refined sugars.
Look after your gut
Taking a good probiotic is a good first step to help keep your gut healthy. ShapeLine from Pro-Ven conducted a clinical trial and found that taking one probiotic capsule every day has impressive wellness benefits. The added Vitamin C, D and Zinc all help to boost immunity whilst looking after gut health. As well as the amazing wellness benefits, ShapeLine also contains slimming properties .The clinical trial showed participants of all ages seeing a reduction i n their weight, waist circumference and BMI after taking one Pro-Ven Probiotics ShapeLine capsule every day, for six months. (£29.95, provenprobiotics.co.uk).
Have fun!
Well, at least as much fun as you can whilst also sticking to the rules… Organise zooms with your friends, go for a socially distanced picnic or learn new dances on tik tok- whatever makes you smile! Taking the time out of your week to really do something that you enjoy will do absolute wonders for your mental health due to the release of endorphins that are released when we are taking part in something that we love.
Exercise
If you are lucky enough to class exercise as one of the fun activities that put a smile on your face, then this is a walk in the park! However, if like many other people, the thought of exercise at the moment is quite daunting- we feel you. Although it can be difficult, a quick 20 minutes can make all the difference. There are countless 20-minute workouts available to us for free at the moment; so make the most of them and get those endorphins flowing!