5 Certified, Fun & Easy Ways To Reset Your Health This Year, As Told By A Health Practitioner
So you’ve decided to ditch the champagne, sworn off partying all together and declared you’re a changed woman? No more late nights and unhealthy habits? We feel you. A new year means a fresh start. New goals, new year resolutions and new habits to start the year afresh.
Sometimes easier said than done, we spoke to Integrative Nutrition and Health Practitioner Siena Best, to share some of her top tips to reset your health this year, so you can continue to look and feel your best.
Siena Best
Prioritise sleep
After weeks of disrupted sleep, from late nights out, worrying about Christmas and the rest, Siena says it’s important to prioritise your sleep. “It is likely that your normal sleep routine has been disrupted over the past few weeks (or months!) so it’s important to get back into a consistent night-time routine so that you can enjoy the powerful healing and restorative benefits of quality sleep.” Recommending anywhere between 7-9 hours’ sleep a night, telling us “9 pm is an ideal bedtime as your body naturally has a steep drop in cortisol levels shortly after, so you will find yourself nodding off into a deep slumber.” and stresses “the hours of sleep we get before the clock strikes midnight are actually the most powerful and are the equivalent to 2 hours of sleep after midnight.”
Siena’s hints for the best beauty sleep?
Reduce screen time and place your devices on night mode 1 hour before bed. This is an ideal time to hop into bed and read a book.
Avoid stimulants such as coffee after midday.
Finish eating 2-3 hours before bed.
If your mind is active or you are feeling stressed try journaling, meditating, breathwork exercises, listening to relaxing music, or lie with your legs up a wall for 10-15 minutes.
Make sure your room is dark, cool and clutter-free.
Having a shower/bath can help regulate your body temperature in preparation for bed.
Enjoy a cup of tea with sleep-inducing herbs such as chamomile, valerian, lavender, and lemon balm. It is best to limit other liquids after dinner to minimise overnight bathroom visits.
Supplements such as magnesium and melatonin can be highly supportive for people who experience difficulty falling or staying asleep. It is best to seek the advice of a qualified health practitioner to determine the most effective and suitable supplements for you.
2. Exercise for fun
While gym memberships usually spike in the new year with everyone keen to shed their boozy lifestyles, they can often lead to a wasted investment if the motivation comes from the wrong place. Siena recommends “ making 2021 the year you decide to exercise out of love for your body, not punishment. If you don’t like running or boxing classes, then don’t do it! I promise that if you continue to explore different ways to move your body you will find something that brings you joy. Once this happens, it will feel effortless to fit regular movement into your life.”
And if you’re still struggling to find the motivation, Siena recommends trying a “Workout with a friend. Also, surround yourself with people with active lifestyles and healthy habits as there is a high chance you will pick up these positive behaviours.”
Looking for some fun and easy ways to exercise?
Go for a morning walk with a friend, coffee in hand.
Join a swim group (we hear that regular ocean swimming is soul food.)
Organise an afternoon round of tennis with some friends.
If there’s a class you always wanted to try, make use of all the free trials and New Year introductory offers across all the gyms.
An infrared sauna can be just as beneficial, book in at Self for you and a friend and listen to your favourite podcast.
Opt for the stairs when out and about.
Go shopping! You’d be surprised how many steps you can get in walking around for the day.
Perhaps even get adventurous by heading rocking climbing, stand up paddleboarding, or explore a National Park trail.
3. Up The Ante On Vegetables
It’s Christmas, we all overindulged a little bit and there’s no point worrying about that extra helping of pudding or second serving at lunch. “It’s important to remember that it’s what you do a majority of the time that counts, so try to avoid unnecessary restrictions in an attempt to redeem yourself as this only leads to obsessing and cravings. Instead, look to create new healthy habits that you can sustain throughout the year.” says Siena, “One of the best things you can do to lose weight, boost energy levels, stabilise mood, improve gut function, boost immunity, reduce chronic disease risk and glow with health is to eat an abundance of plants (fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, legumes, herbs and spices.).”
Plus, we all know the powerful effect diet can have on our skin, so cleaning it up and filling it with lots of fruit and vegetables can only have lasting positive effects. Especially if one of your new year's resolutions is to achieve beautiful glowing skin.
“Try aiming for 40 different plants each week to ensure you are getting all the fibre that your gut buddies love (and the vitamins and minerals your body needs to thrive!)”
Siena’s tip for cleaning up your diet? “If your New Year’s resolution is to clean up your diet and improve your health, then reading Fiber Fueled by Dr Will Bulsiewicz is a great place to start.”
4. Drink Plenty of Water
What better way to flush out the system than with a big helping of H20. “Water is particularly important after a period of drinking more alcohol and eating more food than usual. Staying hydrated helps to flush the liver and aid in detoxification, plus it supports weight loss, improves energy, and helps to clear your complexion,” says Siena.
With the recommended daily intake sitting at 2L, for those who struggle to match this, Siena suggests, “Try adding sliced fruit and herbs to a big jug of filtered water,” offering some of her favourite infused water combinations, “Strawberries and basil; orange and rosemary; cucumber and mint.”
Looking for an extra boost? “Starting your day with a large glass of warm water with an added squeeze of lemon juice and a pinch of salt is another great health hack to ensure cellular hydration and show your liver some love,” says Siena.
5. Learn to Say No
Feel like you need a break after weeks of socialising with Christmas parties and family catch-ups? Stress can be a root cause for a number of health concerns (not to mention it can wreak havoc on our skin) so give yourself a break this January and make time to rest and recharge. “Make space for self-care practises that bring you joy and create a sense of inner calm like reading a book, having a bath, getting a massage, or going for a swim in the ocean,” says Siena.
And what better way to practise self-care than with a delightful massage or rejuvenating full body treatment at Self by The Parlour Room. A place for you to relax and indulge, looking after your skin, mind, body and self. See our Self treatment menu and make an appointment today.
If you want more helpful advice from the beautiful Siena, make sure you follow her on Instagram @care_of_siena.
