I have always been keen on keeping fit and healthy and as a result, I have somewhat earned myself a reputation at Informed Financial Planning (IFP) for being a ‘Health Guru’ (I am not sure I would go that far!)
As a member of the ‘Informed Financial Bloggers’ team, who write content for IFP’s website each month, I thought it may be of interest to some if I gave an insight into a typical day for me, especially with it also being Mental Health Awareness Week. In this blog, I will be touching on my food, what exercises I do, and what has motivated me in the last twelve months.
Yoga
At the start of the year, one of my friends suggested trying Yoga as part of my daily routine, as not only does it benefit the body, but it also benefits the mind. My friend suggested ‘Yoga with Kassandra’ and I followed a 30-day, 10-minute, daily wake-up program. These sessions were quick and easy to follow, and also included a daily affirmation. I found myself hooked, and soon saw the benefits. Not only did it set me up for the day, but the affirmations came in handy too. One of my favourite affirmations is: ‘I can handle whatever the day throws at me’ and during ‘Mad March’ as we like to call it at IFP (If you’re unsure of what we are referring to, it’s because of the tax year-end, and a lot of financial planning has to be done on a tight deadline!), the quote certainty came in handy!
The Body Coach
This past year has undoubtedly taken a toll on us all, and I had lost my way slightly when it came to healthy eating and exercise, particularly during the lockdown. I had also picked up an injury in November, which meant I could not run. This did not help my mental health at all, as I find I get so much out of being active. As a result, I decided to sign up for the ‘Body Coach’ app, to give myself something to focus on and also give me some more structure, especially as we are still working from home and restrictions are still in place. With the ‘Body Coach’ programme (you can download the app here), you get five different workouts to follow each week, along with a huge Library of menus to choose from. This was great as you could plan your week ahead, and batch cook where required. I soon found myself enjoying exercise again as each day went on and found myself really looking forward to the next challenge.
I have put together some images of the type of meals I have prepared (see below!), as part of the ‘Body Coach’ programme. I would absolutely recommend doing something like this if you are struggling with structure at the minute, not only has it improved my actual health, but my mental health too!
Motivation
I am a great believer that any form of exercise is good for the body and mind, even if you do not consider yourself to be majorly active. Something simple like going for a brisk walk in the outdoors, even if it’s for 10 minutes, will have you feeling refreshed and ready for whatever the day throws at you.
I am going to revisit my health and wellbeing journey in six months, at which point I will bring you part 2 of my ‘Health is Wealth’ series. This will include a reflection on any changes to my journey and any new recommendations that I come across!
I am always happy to help others on their road to becoming healthier, so if you are interested in some more recommendations, please do not hesitate to get in touch!
