Pressing reset: The summer comeback

Summer is a great time to disconnect, relax and spend time with family. Taking some time away from our usual routine is important in helping us to revive our mental and physical wellbeing. But there’s a reason why we don’t holiday year round. Summer can also leave us feeling a little overindulged and in need of a reset. As we take this new month to settle back into our lives, here are a few things to focus on that will leave you feeling a little more in control of your mind and body.

1. Take a ‘transition week’: Throwing yourself into a new routine from day one is setting yourself up for failure. Take a week to wind down any habits that you don’t want to carry with you and start the process towards a healthier you. Be forgiving to yourself during this period and remember that you are only human.

2. Reintroduce exercise (gently): After a long hiatus from exercise, the most important step is to get your body moving again. This means doing some form of exercise - no matter how low-intensity - to reengage your muscles and get those endorphins running. So start small, book a group exercise class with your friends, remember to have a strength, cardio and mobility component each week and just have fun with it!

3. Plan simple meals: Returning to a healthy eating routine is a lot less daunting when you plan out simple recipes that won’t take a lot of time or effort to make. The best simple recipes are those that are built around a small number of nutrient-dense ingredients, like salmon, quinoa or eggs. For inspiration, download my new ebook below!

4. Beat those summer blues: We often come back from the holiday with a mindset that we want to be back on the beach without a worry in the world. However that’s just not how the world works. Instead, I always like to come back from my holiday having learned one thing. Whether its learning to slow down, be more curious or introduce one new activity or habit to your regular routine that will give you a happy heart and chase those blues away. What have you learnt this summer?

A little September checklist.

Its not just a new school year for the kids so take this month to do something new:

1. Catch up with a friend you haven’t seen all summer

2. Try a new group exercise or dance class

3. Have a breakfast inspired dinner one night / have breakfast for dinner

4. Try a new activity - art class, pottery class, paddle, horse back riding, anything that you would like to do but haven’t made time for

5. Wake up a little early and have a morning coffee/tea/ hot water in silence

6. On the weekend, watch your favourite cartoons and have some cereal

7. Treat yourself to a frozen yoghurt or ice cream

8. Give prompted journalling a go. Click here for my recommendation.