Putting you first...

To set you off on the right track for the rest of the year, this month, I want to share some tips with you, to help put you first:

• Sleep - frankly, if you can suss this one, the rest of the year will take care of itself! Start by turning off all your electronic devices at least an hour before bed. The blue light from mobiles, tablets and computers plays havoc with our brain's ability to shutdown.

• If you struggle with sleeping, try adding a few drops of lavender oil to your pillow. Or you can purchase a bottle of the protocol relaxing oil that I use at the start of my facials.

• Set up night time rituals - which helps your brain adjust to the bedtime routine. Try to follow the same routine for 3-4 weeks, and this will help. Your brain needs at least 20 days of the same routine to become a habit.
  I can't promise you a good 8 hours of sleep every night, but if you adopt these ideas, it will certainly help.

• If sleep is still evading you, you could try my wonderful Night Time Sleep mask - which makes you look like you have had a great sleep. 

• Night time skincare - and talking of routines, start the year as you mean to go on with your night time skin regime. Cleanse and tone, then apply an eye gel and moisturiser. The eye gel will have time to work over night, and combat any dark circles. Again, this will only happen if you do this regularly.

• Hand cream - take the time to apply hand cream before going to sleep. Enjoy massaging it into your hands, paying particular attention to your cuticles. Rub each nail to increase circulation - not only will doing this regularly keep your hands soft, but it will help to keep cuticles moisturised, and encourage nail growth.

• One thing at a time - the trouble with us girls is that we feel the need to constantly multi process. We're rushing to the next thing, while barely finishing the thing before. However, some recent studies have shown that this habit makes us much less effective. So slow down, and do one thing at a time. If you feel stressed about doing that, keep a notebook and pen handy to jot notes of things you have remembered that need doing.
  Be realistic - do you really need to do all those things in one day? I bet you don't! Prioritise - what's essential, what's nice to do, and what don't you really have to do at all? 

• Love yourself - we're all guilty of criticising ourselves - we wish we had smaller bottoms, slimmer tummies, firmer arms... And the list goes on. Don't keep comparing yourself to others, especially people who are decades younger than you. You need to be the best you can be - and that's what everyone loves about you. 
  We can waste so much time and energy trying to change ourselves. Decide what's really important to you. If you can change something, and have the energy and ability to do it, then go ahead, if not, learn to focus on the good stuff... It will make you feel far calmer and more relaxed.

• Be healthy - after all of the excess of the Christmas season, it's time to give your mind and body a bit of a break. Don't take it to extremes trying to starve yourself, or denying yourself anything naughty. But, try to pack some more fruit and/or veggies into your diet. And yep, more water too! Think about reducing carbs - you could do this just one day a week to start with, and see if it's right for you. Reduce your intake of all things processed, especially sugar, and keep the cake and biscuits as treats, not every day essentials. Believe it or not, this will make you feel more healthy mentally too, and just might help that sleep pattern improve...

• Do something for you every day - you know what you enjoy doing - reading, sewing, dancing, singing - whatever it is, do something that you love every day, even if it's only for half an hour. 

Above all, make 2020 the year you put you first sometimes, everybody will thank you for it.

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