Ever have days where you feel down, tired or even hungover? I’ve put together a guide to instantly transform your mood.
Skincare & Make-Up
- Draw a bath. Make time to do this, even if it’s a brief one it will make all the difference. I use the BeautyCounter Body Wash in Citrus Mimosa as my bubble bath alternative – it works perfectly to create bubbles and not to mention it smells divine. More details on my BeautyCounter journey here!
- Light a candle. Choose one which is lavender scented, lavender works as an anxiolytic (an anxiety reliever), to boost relaxation and help you to fall asleep easier. Lavender can also help to reduce anger, agitation and restlessness.
- Use a body scrub as part of your shower/bath routine. Body scrubs will momentarily transport you to the relaxing setting of a spa. I use the BeautyCounter Body Scrub in Lemongrass, it leaves my skin with a stunning glow and feeling smooth and fresh.This is due to the formula, which is made up of brown sugar, that buffs away any dead skin cells. It is also very hydrating as it contains sweet almond, apricot kernel, and sunflower oils.
- When it comes to makeup, it can seem a drag to put it on, but it can really help to uplift your mood. I like to keep it simple, by applying BeautyCounter Lengthening Mascara, alongside BeautyCounter’s Sheer Lipstick in the shade Pearl, which is clear with a hint of shimmer. These two steps instantly make me feel more put together and gives me a boost of confidence.
- However, if you have got a little extra time for make-up. Add a pop of colour to your look. I’m loving the BeautyCounter Velvet Eyeshadow Palette in Iconic. My favourite hue is the shimmering blue named ‘sequin’. This palette would also be perfect to take on holiday, I can imagine all these hues looking beautiful alongside tanned skin.
- If all else fails, a face mask will do the trick. Bring the spa to your home, for a ten minute pamper session. The mask I like to use is the BeautyCounter No.3 Balancing Facial Mask, the charcoal formula minimizes the appearance of pores, removes and impurities and leaves my skin feeling luminous.
Wellness
- Go for a ten-minute walk. A study has shown that ten minutes of low intensity stair-walking was more effective than caffeine for boosting energy and motivation in sleep deprived adults. In fact, pretty much all exercise will make you feel more alert and energetic. A walk will also give you time to think and clear your mind.
- Listen to an upbeat song. A song with a tempo is ideal for decreasing fatigue and boosting your energy levels. If you select one of your favourite songs to listen to, the positive associations you have with the song will instantly improve your mood.
- Stop, Stretch and Breathe. This is always a go-to for me, practising these things instantly lifts my mood. Stretching can boost your energy levels by improving blood flow. It also forces us to notice if we’re are tense or in any pain.And the most important one, breathing. Breathing exercises have been used in yoga for centuries to improve energy, mood and focus, and can help to battle symptoms of depression and anxiety.
If you don’t have time for a yoga class, there are many apps which you can use to practise yoga with. There are also meditation apps that you can use on the go to practice breathing techniques.
- Burn An Essential Oil. Rosemary oil acts as a stimulant and a study has shown that it is extremely useful in increasing your energy levels and can help to relieve exhaustion and fatigue. Other oils which you could use are Lavender, Wild Orange, Aloe Vera, Peppermint or Sandalwood.
Nutrition
When you are feeling like you need a pick-me-up, some extra energy would certainly be beneficial. Here are 4 things, which you could add to your diet to gain that extra energy.
- Oats, if you are constantly feeling tired you could be deficient in certain B vitamins. Oats are a low GI food, this means that they will help keep your blood sugar stable and release a slow, steady stream of energy. To add them into your diet you could try incorporating oats into your diet with a bowl of porridge for breakfast to start your day.
- Fruit, one of the most common reasons for having low energy is due to dehydration. You should aim to drink at least two litres of water a day. If this is something you struggle with you would benefit from eating foods with a high water content. This is where fruit comes in, as well as being high in fluids they also provide natural sugars to help boost your energy levels.
- Green Tea, like I just mentioned dehydration is the leading cause of fatigue, therefore it is important to have as much fluid as possible. Green tea also has a multitude of health benefits, which include regulating your blood sugar levels, this will help prevent your blood sugar levels crashing and causing further fatigue. Green tea also often contains caffeine, which will provide an extra energy boost.
- Sweet potato, one of my favourite foods. This is a very versatile food which you could include as part of your breakfast, lunch or dinner. They are highly nutritious, high in fibre, nutrients and antioxidants. This means they promote regular bowel movements, are very filling, satisfying to eat and will help to maintain energy levels.The most significant benefit of the sweet potato is its vitamin A content, this vitamin is critical to a healthy immune system, and low blood levels have been linked to reduced immunity. You can add this into your diet, by making homemade sweet potato fries or mash to go alongside your usual dinners.
If you were in need of a pick me up, I hope this post helped to uplift your mood!