With the festive season fast approaching and stress levels on the rise, health and wellness expert Melissa Ingram from Elysia Wellness Retreat has shared five simple steps to get your days off to a positive start and ward off end-of-year burnout.
- Set an alarm for the same time each day. On the odd occasion this isn’t possible, stick to within an hour of the scheduled time. Then work backwards to ensure you get enough sleep – whether that’s six, eight or 10 hours – so you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to go.
- Move. It’s important to get outside in the morning, even for a brief period. Your eyes need light (and natural light is best) to help the brain know it’s time to kick start the day. Ideally combine getting outdoors with some form of movement for 20 minutes, walking running, swimming, yoga and tai chai are all great ways to start the day.
- Eat a healthy breakfast. It’s not new, but breakfast is essential to fuel your body and brain to get the best from yourself, whether you’re working or enjoying a day of relaxation.
- Avoid work content until you get to work or hit your home office desk. That’s what business hours are for. Exercise rather than jumping into work emails first thing, and if you take public transport to work, use that valuable travel time to listen to a podcast or read a book.
- Make connecting with others – your partner, children, friends, neighbours, your local barista – part of your morning routine. Pause and ask how others are, learn about their plans for the day and share yours – you’ll be surprised how good it makes you feel.
