Spring Cleaning

Spring is a perfect time of year to breathe new life into your daily regime. Whilst many people take to clearing out their cupboards, why not think about dusting away your internal cobwebs and setting new patterns of self-nurture. Whether this means being a little kinder to yourself, introducing exercise into your regime or deciding to eat healthier foods, it’s a great opportunity to reinstate any new year’s resolutions that now feel long forgotten.

Personally, warmer weather inspires me to get outdoors and start running again, get creative in the kitchen with colourful salads, and start wearing bright nail varnish on my fingers. Even the slightest rise in temperature prompts me to wear lighter colours, having such a positive impact on my mood. Putting on a simple white shirt and bleached out jeans somehow feels so much more exciting than all of those worn-out winter wears.

To me, spring represents the idea that less is more – less makeup, fewer layers of clothing, lighter food choices, little to worry about…  It’s almost as though a weight has been lifted. Gosh, it would seem I’m not a winter girl!!

How will you embrace the shift in season?  

Things to do this Monday: MOVE!

Whether you choose to run, dance, surf, or practice yoga, the benefits of exercise are abundant. I've gathered some beautiful photographs to inspire your body to move this week...

For more inspiration, check out my Pinterest page.

Monday Thinking...

Sometimes I have a tendency to hold on to things too tightly. By this I mean that I worry about things and by doing so block the energy from flowing. Something I'm really trying to do at the moment is 'let go'... let go of fear, let go of negative thought patterns and let go of trying to be in control. This isn't always easy but it's amazing when you make that shift how things have a way of slotting into place...

For the love of food...

I’ve always enjoyed cooking and eating healthy meals but over the past couple of years I’ve developed a deeper interest in the nutritional value of the foods I eat.  Consuming wholesome, natural foods makes us feel amazing. It really is that simple. Here I’ve compiled a list of things I live by. By no means are these rules, just simple guidelines that work for me…

The more colourful the better! The idea of eating a plate of ‘beige’ food fills me with sadness. The easiest way to up the rainbow count? More fruit and veg.

Pimp up your smoothies. Smoothies that consist only of fruit and veg are a great start but there are so many easy and wonderful ways to up the nutritional factor of your favourite. My current favourites are chia seeds, maca powder and flaxseed.  

Stock up. As long as I know I’ve got almond milk in the fridge and berries in the freezer, I know I can create a quick and easy breakfast in minutes. I whizz these up in the blender with whatever other fruit and veg I have lying around and a few teaspoonfuls of any boosters – powders, nuts, seeds etc.

Be prepared. It’s a great idea to have snacks on you so that if you have a dip in energy you know you’re fuelling your body with goodness rather than reaching for processed foods in the shape of the nearest chocolate bar or packet of crisps. I like having almonds and brazil nuts on hand as well as natural protein snacks like bounce balls or nakd bars which are both raw.

Hydrate! Water really is one of my favourite things in the world and I can’t emphasise enough the importance of drinking at least 2 litres a day. I start my day with warm water and lemon which has a lovely cleansing feeling and gets your digestive system going too.

Work out what’s right for you. It’s great to research and read up on different diets (by diets I mean ways of life rather than weight loss programs) but it can also be intimidating. Vegan, Raw, Paleo…Everyone has different beliefs when it comes to what is good for you, but remember what works for one person might not be right for someone else.    

Get inspired! Instagram is a great place to get inspired when it comes to healthy eating. There are literally thousands of accounts dedicated to creating beautifully presented, nutrient-dense meals. Just a few of my favourites are @livegreenhealthy, @nutritionstripped and @deliciouslyella 

Small but perfectly formed

I spotted this beautiful picture on Pinterest and it reminded me just how amazing blueberries are. This small but mighty fruit is a powerhouse when it comes to nutritional value.

Among fruits, blueberries have the highest total antioxidant capacity. Antioxidants are vital in order for our bodies to fight off disease-inducing free radicals. So make sure you're sprinkling a handful over your porridge or adding them to morning smoothies! Yum!