Roses are red, violets are blue, here are some things you can do for YOU! Sure, Valentine’s is traditionally known as a day of romance, but are you setting aside time to show yourself some love too? Creating little moments throughout the day to pause and enjoy your own company is more important than anything. Your body and soul will thank you later.
With that sentiment in mind, we have rounded up four expert self-care tips for you this Valentine’s Day.
Angharad (Harri) Saynor, Master Trainer at Infinite Cycle
Do something different with your morning! Set your alarm slightly earlier than usual and take some “you time” before you start your normal Monday schedule. Whether it’s gathering your besties and going for a sunrise walk, a spin class or taking yourself for a coffee and avo toast at your favourite café, just do something different from your usual routine. Did you know that St Valentine is also the patron Saint of epilepsy? So a great way of spreading Valentine’s love is also to make a small donation to an epilepsy awareness charity if you have the means – it will be a sure-fire way to put a smile on your face.
Kylianne Farrell, Mother, Eco Therapist, Counsellor, fitness industry Educator and Presenter, Personal Trainer, mental health first aid instructor, mental health advocate & Red Paddle Co Expert.
Who says that Valentine’s Day can’t be about giving a little bit of love back to you! To fill up your own cup on the day dedicated to love, try getting out and soak up the energy from mother nature herself. Whether it is jumping on a SUP and hitting the water or taking a stroll in your nature reserve in the burbs, take a moment to really see what is in front of you, notice the small things, get caught up in the awe of the intricacy of the natural world. What we see in front of us can influence the way we feel, sparking positive emotions and giving our brains a hit of the fuel it needs to help us be and feel our best.
Gabrielle Newman – Nutritionist and Recipe Developer for The Fast 800, an online programme devoted to helping people live healthier, better-quality lives by offering healthy recipes, meal plans, organisational resources and a science-based framework for a healthy lifestyle.
Choosing good mood food and keeping your gut healthy can make a huge difference to how we feel day today. It is common for people to turn to “comfort food,” like sweets and refined carbohydrates (especially on Valentine’s Day!) but sugary, refined treats are amongst the worst things you can eat if you want to keep your body, brain and immune system in good shape.
Research shows that our diet can play a key role in managing stress and sleeplessness. The link lies in our gut; 2-3 kgs of microbes live in the digestive system forming your gut microbiome, and amongst other things, they help to produce neurotransmitters. These chemicals convey messages from the gut, through the nervous system, to the brain – impacting our mood and anxiety levels. Eighty per cent of our serotonin (the happy hormone) is produced in the gut – so, the healthier the gut, the more emotionally resilient we are.
Eating a low-carbohydrate Mediterranean diet rich in different coloured fruits and vegetables will give you the best chance of getting the wide variety of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients your body needs, as well as providing lots of fibre and resistant starch to feed your gut microbiome, which is so important for your health.
Try some of The Fast 800 dessert recipes that cut down on the sweet stuff but still feel like a real treat.
Jen Dugard, Mums Fitness Specialist & Founder of MumSafe™
Filling my cup is about doing simple things that make me feel good, often – I chase the feeling and do the things! Right now, I’m listening to my body and getting under the water in the ocean as much as possible – such a beautiful way to wash it all away!