BOSH! Healthy Vegan. Henry Firth

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      Most of us are generally not that great at relaxing. We live busy, frantic lives running from task to task, constantly spinning plates. With no downtime, your brain is constantly in a state of stress. When you are overwhelmed with stress, your body is constantly in fight-or-flight mode, with high cortisol levels (cortisol is our body’s stress hormone) which can lead to longer-term health consequences. Finding an opportunity each day to relax really helps to reduce stress and promotes a more positive attitude to life.

      Relaxing on a daily basis can give you a new default mode. Instead of being like a stretched elastic band, constantly under pressure, you’ll find yourself existing in a more relaxed state of mind most of the time. If something stressful does happen it’s easier to deal with from a state of calm. It will also give you a more balanced view on life. You’re less likely to lash out at those you love, and in difficult negotiations you will be more flexible. You’ll find you sleep better too, and might even find it benefits your exercise and general fitness. See? It all fits together beautifully!

      Learn to meditate. Meditation is perhaps the most commonly talked about form of relaxation. Many people practise meditation or mindfulness on a daily basis to help quiet their minds. Apps like Headspace or Calm are great for this (we use both): you can practise meditating daily for 5, 10, 15 or even 30 minutes, and you’ll experience benefits from the first session. If you prefer, attend meditation classes and learn the principles from a teacher, which you can then apply to your own practice. Forms of prayer work to quieten the mind, too, and both prayer and meditation have been linked to populations who live longer.

      Focus on what you’re grateful for, and let your internal voice thank the universe for that thing. Did you feel stressed? Probably not. It’s hard, if not impossible, to be stressed while feeling grateful. Gratitude is a practice, almost like a muscle, that can be strengthened through daily exercise. Spend some time each day, either just in your mind or writing in a journal or on your phone, focusing on three things you are grateful for. This will help calm your mind, give you a more positive outlook and reduce stress.

      Factor in some ‘me-time’. We consider our morning workouts as ‘me-time’. They help clear our minds and give us a really positive boost for the day ahead. Me-time is different for everyone – just think about what it is you like to do (which doesn’t involve a screen) and find a way to do some of it every day. We love to cook, and even though it’s what we do for our daily work, we still find cooking for ourselves in the evening to be relaxing. Other examples include reading, crossword-puzzles, gardening, walking the dog, taking a long bath, yoga or deep-breathing exercises. Even tidying the house can be a relaxing activity if you do it right. Whatever you do, find a way to get a bit of relaxing me-time into your day. Your body, mind and soul will benefit.

      LOVE YOURSELF.

      How can you love others if you don’t first love yourself? Today’s society often doesn’t teach us to love ourselves, but rather to judge and compare ourselves with others. The psychological damage this does can be greater than anything the outside world presents us with.

      Social media makes many of us feel like we aren’t good enough. Fat-shaming or body-shaming is rife in today’s world, and is a real form of emotional damage. We need to love ourselves and accept ourselves as we are right now.

      Diet culture in general has us all comparing ourselves to those around us and wondering if they are better than us. Are we thin enough? Do we fit into those jeans? How do those squidgy bits look in the mirror?

      It’s true that there are correlational links between obesity and life expectancy, but it is thought that some of these links could be due to the pressure society places on those who are overweight and the psychological harm that brings, rather than simply the amount of fat cells in a person’s body.

      Body neutrality literally means a feeling of neutrality towards your body. A blasé perspective about how your body looks. If you’ve been worrying about those love handles, or other bits of your body which you’re not too keen on, then it’s time to let that go. Equally, if you’re very proud of your strong, round bum, or your big guns, then it’s time to let that go, too. For more on this topic, check out Laura Thomas’ awesome book Just Eat It.

      In terms of your physical health, there are so many better things to focus on than your appearance, like overall strength and mobility (for more on this). So, if you do want to focus on exercise, then focus on specific goals, rather than how you look. Aim to be able to touch your toes or run briskly up the stairs, rather than stressing about how you look in a bikini.

      Overly focusing on the way our bodies look can lead to all kinds of disordered eating, such as extreme fasting, anorexia, binge comfort eating, yo-yo dieting or bulimia.