It is no secret that as women we take on a lot of roles in our lives, from caregivers to providers, from mums to partners. It is hugely important that we look after ourselves and take the time to look after our bodies.
After a turbulent year, we are here to give you a guide on women’s health in 2021 and the steps that we can take to ensure we are our happiest and healthiest selves.
A Guide to Women’s Health [2021]
Exercise Daily
Exercise is hugely important in our everyday lives. Regardless of our age, we should always make a conscious effort to partake in a form of exercise, whether that be running or a calm session of yoga.
Exercise helps us to release endorphins which can be great for stress relief and give you the motivation you need to seize the day.
The gym can be a daunting place and often quite intimidating. However, recently there has been a surge in ladies only gyms around the country where you can enjoy working out around other women who all have one mission – to exercise and stay healthy. It could well be worth checking it out.
This year saw me finally get back on the bandwagon with exercise. Ever since I shattered my elbow two years ago I struggled to get back into exercising, and really had doubts if my arms would be able to take the strain of weight training.
Understand Your Hormone Cycle
Our menstrual cycles have a huge impact on our female hormone health. Throughout our life they can change and they can impact the way we feel dramatically. In order to understand your hormone cycle, it can be worth trying female hormone mapping.
You might find yourself asking – what is female hormone mapping? Luckily Fourth With Life can help you understand your unique cycle and how your hormones fluctuate.
Many of us can go years throughout our lives without realising that the way we have been feeling can be down to our menstrual cycle so it can be life-changing for you to understand it and your bodies changes, better.
Meditate daily
The most important element to every successful day – start doing 10 minutes every morning before you start your day.
Meditation is a practice where an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state.
Read lots of books
Being dyslexic I was never a big reader, and my dad always used to read to me instead. As I have got older I have begun to realise the potential benefits for my mental health when I read books. It gives me space to tone out, time to be creative, and spend time for me.
And I don’t mean just fiction either, one of my favourite books like year was MAD GIRL by Bryony Gordon, a book I really related to! In 2021 I plan on reading another five books, one more than last year and trying to find time to relax whilst doing so, zoning out and finding peace in the calm.
Eat well
And I don’t mean diet, I just mean eat healthily. Last year I finally got round to loosing the weight I had gained during my depression the year before. I had put on two stone in four months, stopped exercising and didn’t eat well, but last May I decided for my own mental health and body I wanted to ditch the weight and I lost three stone in four months.
Since losing the weight I have felt more confident, happier, full of energy and finally have created a good relationship with food. I have also stopped drinking as much, which has helped with my anxiety and I feel so much better 12 months on.
Bend and stretch for yoga
You know…. the benefits I have found include better sleep, more alert at work, I am less stressed and I find life more enjoyable.
I have also been enjoying yoga with Arabella so we plan on going to more classes together in 2019, to continue on our journey. Both Arabella and me enjoy the sessions and usually we go to the Stony Stratford Whitespace Yoga to do our classes.
Get Enough Rest
Sleep is crucial in allowing your body to have time to rest and recharge ready for a new day. You may feel like you can function off little sleep, but did you know that a lack of sleep can be detrimental towards your overall health?
A lack of sleep can weaken our immune systems and also trigger mental health issues such as anxiety and stress.
It is advised that you try to get yourself into a healthy sleep routine. However, this is not always an easy task for some. Try to set yourself a time that you will go to bed each night and take part in activities before bedtime that will help to de-stress you – like reading a book.
If you need some inspiration for de-stressing activities, then don’t be afraid to do your research online as there are plenty of helpful resources out there.
It is vital that we take the right steps to work towards better health. It all starts with you and by utilising some of these helpful tips above you are helping to take the correct steps towards better self-care and a happier future.
If you on a bigger trip exploring more of Europe check out my guides to France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Portugal, Spain and United Kingdom.
My Travel Tips and Recommendations
Flights
To book flights, I always use flight search engine Skyscanner, I regularly use the Everywhere tool to find the cheapest places to travel. It’s how I get to travel so much all around the world. I find it the easiest way to compare flight prices across airlines and get the best deals.
Accommodation
For accommodation, I usually book most of my hotels or hostels through Booking.com. I love using this platform as it provides me with some amazing deals for accommodation all around the world. Or if you prefer, I also recommend using Airbnb.
Travel Insurance
Picking travel insurance that covers you in all eventualities is an essential part of planning a trip for every single person. If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. You never know what’s around the corner.
You can also find me on social media: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.
Did you know I also vlog my trips? Make sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel so you get alerted when all my travel videos go live… CHECK THEM OUT HERE
Thank you for reading and as always happy adventuring! If you have any questions about the destination please leave these in the comments below.
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Sophie X
