AD | Self care and well-being is something that I’ve been heavily focused on for the last year or so. Since really getting into Yoga, developing anxiety and getting a bit older, I’ve really learnt the importance of taking care of number 1. My blog has also started to focus much more heavily on well-being this year too, which I love!
Personal well-being is a constant process. There’s no end destination. No final goal. It’s a life-long journey with yourself, finding what works for you and how you can best nurture yourself in any situation. And as much as I talk about well-being, I’ve certainly not got it all figured out.
There are still times that I probably eat too much chocolate, don’t exercise enough and have damaging thoughts about myself. Nobody is perfect. But I’ve learnt a LOT and if you saw where I was with self care and well-being 3 years ago, you’d be amazed at the difference.
But I’m not looking backwards, I’m not going that way. So here’s how I’d like to improve my well-being even more in the future!
Start going swimming
The only exercise I do is Yoga. Literally that’s it. And whilst I’d never give up doing Yoga (it’s my favourite thing in the worldddd), I do want to introduce new and different exercises into my life. I hate running. And bikes hurt my bum. I’m not a particularly strong swimmer but I think swimming would be amazing for me going forward as I love water and feel so relaxed in water.
Discover my food sensitivities
Thankfully I don’t have any allergies to food but I have no doubt that there are some foods out there which probably don’t agree with me. I’ve never had any sort of test for this but I think it’s something I’d love to do in the future. 23 MD offer an amazing sounding food sensitivity and allergy test as well as loads of other wellness treatments including bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.
Try another Yoga retreat / wellness retreat
I’ve been very honest about my experience of the Yoga retreat I went to last November. And I’m not scared to admit that this particular retreat wasn’t for me. At all. Despite how much I love Yoga, the teachings of this particular retreat were so far out of my comfort zone that it was almost impossible for me to deal with. But I’ve not let that put me off potentially trying another retreat in the future!
Reduce meat consumption and eat more plant based
This is something I know I could do better with. I feel like I’ve made small changes, such as I rarely eat bacon and sausages anymore. I’ve switched to soy milk in my tea / breakfast and I always do myself a vegetarian food shop every now and again. I’m VERY aware of whenever I eat meat. Which isn’t something I’ve really been hyper-aware of before. But I know I’d like to cut it down even more in the near future.
Get up earlier
This one could potentially be very easy. I just need the will power to actually do it! I wake up and get up a lot earlier now than I used to but I’m always so envious of those who get up at 6 or 6:30 and start the day with the sunrise. I’m such a morning person and I’m so much more productive in the morning so I can’t imagine how amazing I’d feel if I got into a routine of waking up earlier!
Use more cruelty free and Vegan products
This is another thing I’ve become very aware of particularly over the last few months. Any time I run out of a product now, I’ll always re-buy a CF and/or Vegan alternative. I love the Superdrug own range, particularly the Naturally Radiant products which I’m using at the moment which are both CF and Vegan!
How would YOU like to improve your well-being in the future? What areas do you need to work on? Do you have any advice for me in regards to anything I’ve mentioned in this post?
* This is a sponsored post
Exactly what I’ve been working on !
I’ve just started creating a health and well being segment if anyone wanted to have a read 🙂
Sharn x
https://sharnable.com
I’d love to know more about food as well. Saying that, I started taking a probiotic and my gut feels so much better.
Glad to hear that!
This is exactly the motivation I needed hun. I plan to be doing a lot more outdoorsy things. I’ve also been trying to eat a variety of different foods which has been so lovely. I’m also detox-ing a lot from social media from time to time to allow me to appreciate the things outside of this bubble xx
I’m so glad this post is what you needed x
Fantastic post!! I’ve been focusing on a few of these myself. Literally over just the last week I’ve been getting up at 6 and having a writing session before work and the difference in my mood is insane! I’ve been buzzing and I love it. I’m just starting yoga but really want to have a bit of a focus on my physical well being if I can. Good luck with your goals – and great post.
Wow that’s amazing! I’d love to continuously get up at 6am!
Hey, Jenny! I love how genuine this post sounds. Sometimes, we live so fast, we totally forget about self-care in the process. Thank you so much for being such an inspiration and making us think about the small things we can actually change in our daily habits.
Have a lovely week!
Thank you x
I love self improvement! We can all get better at it and these are some good tips. I need to get better at working out more and eating healthy.
Oh me too I seriously need to sort out my diet!
Best og luck with your self-care. I really like your idea of getting your food sensitivities checked out. Really great idea- one that many people probably consider but never do.
Really enjoyed your post,
Spence 😁
Great post and definitely something we can all take from it. Getting up earlier does make a big difference I feel.
https://littlemissmelanie.com/
It sure does. I’d still love to get up even earlier!
If you ever need any advice when it comes to cruelty-free products or vegan food then just let me know sweetheart. 💜
With love, Alisha Valerie x | http://www.alishavalerie.com
Thanks for the offer!
I feel like I agree with every single one of your points. I definitely want to swim more – I hadn’t done it for years which is weird considering how much I love being in water. Last week, after getting bad news, I actually went wild swimming in a loch. It definitely helped my mental health improve! I also really want to sort my sleep pattern out and wake up early – I always feel like I’ve wasted half the day!
Beth x Adventure & Anxiety
Wow that sounds amazing – wild swimming!
This year I have started getting up earlier and I have a meditation and exercise routine.
I am a hedonist at heart though and live in a place where the nightlife is amazing, so partying a bit less is something I need to work on!
Awh well as long as you’re still enjoying yourself and doing what you want to do!
Yay for wanting more plant based foods 💚. What you said about being aware of eating meat reminded me of my childhood. I’d always refused to eat something I thought was cute. Never tried lamb, ate a lot of chicken…
I would say to improve my sleep patterns but that’s been a goal forever so…not expecting miracles there x
Sophie
http://www.glowsteady.co.uk
That’s actually a really good way of encouraging people to eat less meat. I’ve eaten lamb before but I really try and avoid it now because of that reason!
If you ever need any more recommendations for cruelty free and vegan products let me know!
Love, Amie ❤
The Curvaceous Vegan
absolutely loved this post! Yoga, mediation and a little bit of me time really can work wonders for me!
Rosie
Great list – very inspiring!!
Thank you
Really enjoyed this! Yoga and swimming are my absolute staples 😍
I definitely need to start swimming z
Swimming is amazing. Another thing you can try, if you’re looking for cardiovascular exercises, is jump rope. It is just as effective as jogging but better for your knees and joints, plus there are different rhymes and speeds to mix it up.
Sounds like a good idea!
I love the idea of a yoga retreat! That sounds heavenly. Swimming is always something I loved when I was well enough, but gave up due to being so conscious about my weight. It would definitely be something to try again because it was so relaxing.
I do hope you manage to get around to doing at least some of these things for yourself. You deserve it.
I’d love to try another retreat x
Those are all great ways to improve your well being in the future. We can all do better. We just have to put forth the effort. I’ve been focusing more on myself and self care the last couple of months and it’s been great. I’ve been doing yoga and going for nature walks and it’s helped a lot with my anxiety and overall mood. Good luck with this and thanks for sharing.
So glad to hear it’s having a positive impact on you!
Some really helpful self improvement tips. Am always learning how to improve my overall life, thanks to your post, I can pick more tips to apply in my life.
Thank you !
I want to exercise more to try and feel better xx
Hope you manage to x
Yes! I have been working on getting up early this year. Good post, keep writing x
Thank you – I really need to work on that more!
I really need to start getting up earlier, to make the most of the day and so I’m not forever rushing in the mornings! Becca x
I really want to as well but it’s my will power which doesn’t let me haha!
Finding my food allergies (dairy) has definitely improved my wellbeing and skin x
I’d love to do the same x
I am a vegetarian, have been for years, but I need to be tested for Ceiliac Disease. I’ve put it off for long enough, so this year I;m getting it done. Also want to do Yoga, but because of mental health issues, I just can’t go to a class, so I’m making my priority to get a dvd. If anyone can point in that direction, thank you. xxx
Do it! I don’t enjoy classes very much either. I’d recommend starting with Yoga With Adriene on YouTube. She has lots of videos for beginners and specifically for mental health. I have lots of posts with Yoga recommendations which should point you in the right direction!
Thank you, so much, Jenny. xxx
I’d love to start yoga And I am planning my return to horse riding. I really enjoyed that! Thanks for sharing. Going more cruelty free is also high on my list .
Horse riding sounds like a lovely past-time and hobby. Although I couldn’t do it because I’m scared of horses haha!
These are great goals to work towards, and I know you can do it! I have found that with eating a plant-based diet, I cut out a lot of the prepackaged/processed type foods and with it, most of my food sensitivities.
That’s great to hear!
As always, I enjoyed this post. Going more cruelty free is something I actively try to do by eating organic as much as possible. 🙂
Of my few goals, I would like to reach a point where I can be prouder of my body than I am now. 🙂
I have the same goal as you for sure!
Love yoga but never thought of a retreat. Will add it to my post breastfeeding/able to leave the kids to do list… Thanks for the lovely post. X
I’d just recommend doing a LOT of research before you settle on a retreat!
These are some great ways to improve well-being!
I have started going back swimming again and I love it. I would love to read more books and hopefully get up 6am everyday.
Mel 🌙 | Moonlight Mel
Getting up at 6am is my dream!
This post is such a good idea!
I’d like to learn how to eat better and start doing some yoga (once little one is born) 😊
Love Lozza xo
http://girlygabble.com
If you need any Yoga recommendations after he’s born, you know where to find me!
Swimming is definitely something I need to start doing again, I used to go all of the time but I do miss it! I also need to do more yoga purely to get myself flexible! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
I can’t believe how flexible I am now compared to what I was before I started Yoga. I was literally a tin man before haha!
Fellow Yogi here. Never tried a retreat though, I’m going to put in on my post breastfeeding to do list. Thanks for a lovely post. X
I really need to focus on myself more and practise self care more than I am just now. I’ve come through a bad couple of years with poor mental health and now I’m feeling better I’m not paying as much attention to the signs. I just want to be happy and healthy. You post was food for thought so thanks for sharing x
I totally can relate. I’ve had the same in the past. Once you get into the habit of self care, it’ll come much easier!
I really need to start eating healthier as part of my wellness for sure. This is a fab post idea ☺️
Ashleigh | https://ashleighwrites.co.uk
Oh me too! There’s too much temptation haha!
These are really good areas to focus on and I would certainly like to have more time to focus on wellbeing as work leaves me feeling rather burnt out!
I hope that you might feel tempted to try another yoga retreat in the near future.I tried one on India which is run by an English company called Soul & Surf and they have a few destinations,as well as Cornwall, for their retreats.You can also try surfing too with them!
Oh thank you so much for your recommendation! I’m definitely going to look into that company. I don’t deal with heat very well so I don’t think the India one would be good for me but Cornwall definitely sounds like a great option! I’ve been surfing in Cornwall before too!
A wellness retreat sounds like such a good idea. Love this post!
Anika | anikamay.co.uk
I’d love to try another one!
I’ll be starting yoga as soon as I return from this vacation. The first thing I’m going to buy on Monday is a yoga mat!
I couldn’t help but notice that there’s Nutella in that photo, or some kind of almond-chocolate spread. I really hate to be a Debbie downer but it’s the equivalent of eating icing. They got in trouble for claiming that it’s part of a healthy breakfast when it’s really not. A treat once in a while it totally fine though. 🙂
Yesss I’m so happy to hear that! That photo is a stock image – I didn’t take it. I eat chocolate spread sometimes, it’s all about moderation!
Oh wow! I honestly thought you took that photo…. stock images really do have nice photos! Chocolate spread is so good I could eat spoonfuls of it. 😍♥️
Try Unsplash – it’s the best stock image site!
I have been working on eating more healthier and trying to move forward in a career I love
That sounds great!
I feel like I’ve just read my own life! These are all things I’m working on right now. Swimming is a great one and I love it so I’d love to do that as well – I’ve recently started dance videos with PopSugar and they’ve made such a difference to my state of mind! I’m also working on lowering meat but it’s difficult when I live with such a carnivore – if you want something yummy then Aldi do these really nice curry-flavour vegan sausages made from cauliflower and cumin and other spices. I wouldn’t say they’re like sausages really but I love them!
Ooooh those “sausages” sound amazing! I live with BIG meat eaters too so it’s definitely tough!
I’d love to get up earlier but as my ‘office’ is my bed I can’t do that until my husband gets up. I hate that to be honest. Food sensitivities – I have a lot of these and I was already a fussy eater lol avoiding the foods I am sensitive though does make a big difference! 🙂
Sarah 🌺 || Boxnip || Latest Post
I’m the opposite of a fussy eater so I’d be gutted if I found I was slightly intolerant to something haha!
This year I began including fermented foods in my diet daily. Kombucha, kefir, raw sauerkraut, yogurt – all rich in probiotics and have amazing health benefits. Do a little research – may be something you want to try. ☺
I’ll definitely have a look into that x
Love this Jenny, especially eating more plant based and being more considerate to the environment! We can all do better, we all don’t necessarily need to be vegetarians or vegans but we can all do better on not consuming as much meat as we do. Good luck with this xx
Totally agree – we all need to do our bit and do what we personally can!
I’d love to start going swimming too! I used to love it SO much, being in the water is so relaxing isn’t it xx
Tiffany x http://www.foodandotherloves.co.uk
It sure is!
I plan on starring yoga so I’ll be looking to your blog for tips and I have really been reducing meat and making more vegan and plant based choices in my diet too xxx
Yesss if you need any Yoga tips, then you know where to find me!