Welcome to Day 5 of this series to help you to relight your inner sparkle! You can check out the introduction here and read Day 1 here.
We're all a little bit ill here, chez Shazza, except the 2-year-old who's making sure we are not lying around feeling sorry for ourselves. So we're just going to get straight to the point. When energy is low and your sparkle seems far, far away, just keep looking forward. One morning you'll wake up and realise that you've turned the corner again.
10 minute movement
When is the last time you really stretched? One days when you're not feeling up to much, stretching it out can unwind and destress you and get the blood flowing again.
Standing or sitting, reach your arms up high over your head and really stretch. Lower them, and raise again, this time taking a big breath in. Exhale as you lower them. Repeat this as many times as it feels good, each time lengthening your spine a little bit more.
Now wriggle your shoulders to loosen them out and stretch by pulling your shoulder blades together at the back. Then round your shoulders and look down at the floor. Can you feel the stretch in the back of your neck. Repeat this too for as many repetitions as you need to really loosen up your shoulders.
Working down circle your hips moving them gently, loosening your spine.
Gently reach your arms out to the sides and stretch out as far as you can to each side.
That's it. Just stretch out until your muscles tingle and all your tension eases. We are often holding a lot of tension in our bodies without realising it and letting it go feels really, really good.
Mood-boosting food
We're having chicken curry tonight and today's mood booster is chillies. Eating chillies can give you a mood boost because as the body defends itself against capsicin, the chemical that causes the hot sensation, the brain releases endorphins, which are the body's natural painkillers, leaving you with a natural high.
Heal your heart and soul
I know, I'm going to sound like your mum, but....an incredibly effective way to boost your energy and mood is to do something you’ve been putting off for ages. Things that are hanging over us affect our energy more than we realize. What’s on your to-do list that’s been sitting there for a long time? Large or small, get it done, and feel some weight lift off your shoulders.
Journal prompt
Did your parents (or other adults) give you positive or negative beliefs about your body growing up? Did you feel empowered or ashamed by their influence? Do the ideas you received growing up still influence you today?
When is the last time you really stretched? One days when you're not feeling up to much, stretching it out can unwind and destress you and get the blood flowing again.
Standing or sitting, reach your arms up high over your head and really stretch. Lower them, and raise again, this time taking a big breath in. Exhale as you lower them. Repeat this as many times as it feels good, each time lengthening your spine a little bit more.
Now wriggle your shoulders to loosen them out and stretch by pulling your shoulder blades together at the back. Then round your shoulders and look down at the floor. Can you feel the stretch in the back of your neck. Repeat this too for as many repetitions as you need to really loosen up your shoulders.
Working down circle your hips moving them gently, loosening your spine.
Gently reach your arms out to the sides and stretch out as far as you can to each side.
That's it. Just stretch out until your muscles tingle and all your tension eases. We are often holding a lot of tension in our bodies without realising it and letting it go feels really, really good.
Mood-boosting food
We're having chicken curry tonight and today's mood booster is chillies. Eating chillies can give you a mood boost because as the body defends itself against capsicin, the chemical that causes the hot sensation, the brain releases endorphins, which are the body's natural painkillers, leaving you with a natural high.
Heal your heart and soul
I know, I'm going to sound like your mum, but....an incredibly effective way to boost your energy and mood is to do something you’ve been putting off for ages. Things that are hanging over us affect our energy more than we realize. What’s on your to-do list that’s been sitting there for a long time? Large or small, get it done, and feel some weight lift off your shoulders.
Journal prompt
Did your parents (or other adults) give you positive or negative beliefs about your body growing up? Did you feel empowered or ashamed by their influence? Do the ideas you received growing up still influence you today?
Until tomorrow,
