These tips may help you!

Hi there,

September has been hectic so far.

Fragmented, in a way.

It always feels that way when the school holidays have finished, and we're heading back into school and work routines.

It takes some adjustment.

Add in the mix some delays to some VERY exciting MyOva projects - oh, it'll be worth the wait! - and I can suddenly feel my stress levels rising and that lack of self-care creeping in.

I'm getting much better at noticing those moments and nipping them in the bud. Or at least trying to.

Now, I'm not blind enough to know that we all have our own stresses going on in life. And that they can look very different for all of us.

Last night, I jotted down some things I do to build my mental resilience during these times, helping me keep focused and thinking positively.

Maybe they can help you too?

---

1) Learn to say "no"!

Forever a people pleaser, I always agreed to things that then left me even more exhausted and stressed. And almost always, those things I agreed to didn't actually benefit me but were a favour to others.

Cysters, identify your needs and prioritise them over others' demands. Don't feel guilty for saying "no" to something if you don't have the time, resources, or simply because you don't want to do it. You're not being rude or letting people down - you're setting boundaries.

2) Get some fresh air and exercise

Whether going for a brisk walk, jog, run - or even meeting a friend for a coffee, chat and walk - fresh air, natural daylight and moving my body ALWAYS positively influences my mental health. It can be great thinking time and an opportunity to clear that head, feeling refreshed and calmer to get on with the day.

3) Set goals with a clear pathway

I learnt about doing this when reading up on New Year's resolutions and how so many of us don't achieve them. It's all about having a goal in your head and then identifying the steps you need to take to achieve it - without overcommitting and putting unrealistic pressure on yourself.

When wondering whether to do something, ask yourself if it'll take you a step closer to, or a step further from, your overarching goal. Decision made!

4) Make time for things you enjoy!

Definitely where self-care comes in - which we know is so fundamentally important in life. Often you'll see the standard advice of having a bath, meditating, or reading a book. Those things may relax you, but they might not be the things that light you up!

Work out what it is that you really enjoy doing and make time for it when you can. Could be pole-dancing lessons, colouring-in, baking, or sitting on the couch with a glass of vino watching a real-crime docu. You do you!

---

It can sound a lot throwing all the above at you. And you may even do most of those things in one way or another already!

For me, trying to implement as much of the above as often as I can definitely helps me navigate through life's twists and turns.

I'd love to hear your tips, so please email me back if you've got one or two you'd like to share.

So much love,

Leila x

www.myovacare.com

P.S - I've mentioned before that I take adaptogens to help manage stress levels in my body. They also help keep me calm and focused. You'll find the adaptogenashwagandhain our MyOva Balance supplements.