Hi lovelies,

The coronavirus and Covid-19 pandemic has impacted all sorts of areas of our lives. But one that it has brought to light is the sheer importance of our health and wellbeing. Many of us have seen just how quickly our health can be taken from us and have resolved to do what we can to keep ourselves in the best shape possible. This, of course, will entail focus on both mind and body - physical health and mental health. This can sound like a gargantuan task to tackle. But don’t worry. There are a number of steps you can take to maximise your health and wellbeing. Here are just a few, taken at random, that you might want to try out!

Cut Out Bad Habits
The first thing you can do when looking into self care is to kick bad habits that are impacting your health or wellbeing. The vast majority engage in some sort of activity or behaviour that is less than ideal for us and the same majority of us can take steps to eliminate this behaviour from our life and improve our overall lifestyle. Of course, there are countless bad habits out there. But let’s take a look at a few of the more common ones to get started.

Excessive Sugar Consumption
Sure, sugar isn’t the worst substance in the world. In fact, when eaten in moderation and as part of a balanced diet, it can be fine for you. The issue is that nowadays, we’re encouraged to buy all sorts of sweet treats on a day to day basis. Sugar is also included in many meals or snacks that it doesn’t really need to be in. This means that many of us end up eating way too much sugar on a day to day basis. Whether that’s through fizzy drinks, juices, sugar added into hot drinks, cakes, biscuits, chocolate bars, sweets or anything else, the majority of us need to cut this amount in our diets down! When it comes down to it, sugar can significantly damage our teeth, causing ongoing issues with our oral and dental health. It provides the bacteria in our mouth with easily digestible energy, resulting in cavities and decay. On top of this, sugar is generally nutritionally void, meaning it fills us up without providing our bodies with the nutrients they need. The good news is that cutting out sugar can be simple. Switch unhealthy snacks for healthier alternatives, such as sugar free options, vegetables or - if you want something sweet - fruit, which contains natural sugars.

Excessive Alcohol Consumption
Seeing as drinking is a legal activity in the majority of places, and seeing as many of our social lives tend to incorporate activities that involve drinking, the majority of us think that it’s a completely fine activity to engage with. Sure, you can be fine having a drink here and there. But it’s important to remember that alcohol is a toxin and that consuming too much of it or consuming it on too regular a basis can cause major damage to your body. Issues can range from liver damage to a weakened immune system and more. Of course, alcohol is an addictive substance, so if you’re struggling to give it up, this isn’t too much of a surprise. The good news is that there are countless means of support out there that will help you to wean yourself off alcohol and improve your life in general. Some great options include support groups and helplines. Support groups, in particular, allow you to meet others in a similar position to you and share stories, tips and other advice. If you are still struggling, you may want to consider a rehabilitation center like Enterhealth. Here, you will find yourself professionally assisted in your journey to recovery.

Come Up With a Skincare Routine
Now, this may sound like an unnecessary step, but coming up with a skin care routine can help you in so many ways. Our skin is the largest organ in our body and by taking better care of it, you can feel better, remove issues such as acne, help issues such as psoriasis or eczema and generally feel more confident. Now, coming up with a good skincare routine is a multi step process and can feel time consuming. But once you’ve got it figured out, you can continue to purchase the same products on repeat and the skincare steps will simply become routine. Here’s all you need to know to achieve this!

Identify Your Skin Type
The first step that anyone should take when coming up with a skincare routine is to identify your skin type. This will make all the difference, as it will allow you to understand your skin and the products that it requires to thrive and glow. Now, there are all sorts of different skin types out there, but most can broadly be placed into one of four categories. These categories are “normal” skin, dry skin, oily skin or combination skin.

• Normal skin - when we talk about normal skin, we don’t mean it’s the most common type of skin. Instead,  is generally the skin type that most people deem most desirable. Normal skin is generally balanced and doesn’t tend to have any issues such as oiliness or dryness in any areas. It is also not prone to spots.

• Dry skin - another type of skin that people commonly have is referred to as dry skin. With this one, the clue is in the name. You may find that your skin is dry, flaky or feels tight occasionally. This is due to the skin producing lower levels of sebum than it needs to look balanced.

• Oily skin - oily skin tends to have the opposite problem to dry skin. When you have oily skin, your skin produces excess levels of sebum. This can result in large, visible pores as well as a greasy or slick appearance.

• Combination skin - another common skin type is combination skin. This is essentially a skin type that combines elements from all of the skin types outlined above. Some areas may be dry, some may be oily, some may be balanced.

Choose Your Products
Once you know your skin type, you can start to choose products that work for it. This, of course, is likely to take a little experimentation. You may find that some products work for you and some don’t. It’s always a good idea to read reviews before buying anything. This can include blog reviews and customer reviews. This will give you a good idea on the skin types that the product works well with. Most people opt for a:

• Cleanser

• Exfoliator

• Toner

• Moisturiser

You may also want to look into masks, peels, primers and other products to complement your skin routine later down the line.

Commit to Your Routine
Of course, a routine requires - well - routine. You need to stick to your skincare routine in order to see the results you desire. This generally means cleansing your skin morning and night, following this with toner and a moisturiser. Some people opt for daytime moisturisers to apply in the morning and night time moisturisers to apply before going to bed. Stick to it and you should see results before you know it!

Focus on Your Mental Health
In the past, mental health had somewhat of a stigma attached to it. But nowadays, thanks to progress in the fields of science and medicine, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that a significant number of people do struggle with their mental health at some point or another in their lives. We’re also growing more and more aware of what to do when experiencing mental health struggles and where we can seek support and assistance.

Practice Mindfulness
Managing your mental health on a day to day basis is important. If you’re not experiencing mental health problems, you can still practice mindfulness to help with emotional strain or stress. There are plenty of tutorials and apps that can guide you through this process.

Contact your GP
If you are experiencing symptoms of mental health issues, you should reach out to your doctor straight away. Medical professionals are constantly developing new and improved ways of alleviating the symptoms of a number of mental illnesses. They will be able to speak to you, diagnose any conditions you may be experiencing and get you on the path to management and recovery. Often, this is through the prescription of medication, therapy or a combination of the two approaches.

Be Aware of Support Groups and Helplines
As well as your doctor, there are countless other resources you can draw from and people to help you. These range from support groups to helplines and even mental health charities. There’s plenty of information out there and a huge number of people who want to listen to you and help you in any way they can.

Sure, we haven’t taken a look at every aspect of your health and wellbeing that you should be focusing on. But for now, the information provided above should help you to get started on the right path on your journey to self care.