We never quite shake that ‘back to school’ feeling. September almost always marks a return to a routine or the beginning of a different one. We leave the summer behind, the season starts to change, and we embark on a new path. 

There’s no better time than when we’re going ‘back to school’, whether literally or metaphorically, to renew our focus on our wellness journey and increase our investment in our wellbeing. Here at M Life we like to focus on a number of key aspects of our wellbeing when we’re seeking to ‘reset’ and start again. They’re our version of a new pencil case and notebook - and make us feel just as excited about the new ‘term’. Why not give them a try?

Nutrition 

Meal prepping is a great way to ensure we get maximum nutrition and don’t grab the nearest (not so healthy) thing to us when we’re hungry or time poor.  One way of matching our food to our natural metabolism, maximising our metabolic rate and getting the right nutritional building blocks is counting macros. Monitoring our macros (apps can help) and eating the right amount of proteins, fats (this includes plant-based forms too) and carbs can contribute to a sustainable and healthy diet with the right foundations. What we eat isn’t just about getting the right nutrients - it also has an impact on our energy levels, mental state and overall sense of wellness. We literally are what we eat. 

Scheduling

Having set times for rest and exercise are essential for overall balance. We need ample space to meditate, recharge, and also maintain our fitness - or achieve new fitness goals. This scheduling can be as prescriptive as blocking out times in our calendars or setting alarms, or manifesting and mentally committing to carving out and creating the opportunities to relax. 

It’s also received wisdom now that we cannot ‘catch up’ on sleep and we must sleep as much and as often as we can. Sleep helps our brain and body repair itself, and is particularly important for mental health and happiness. Scheduling and allowing time for sufficient sleep is just as vital too - without sleep all our other wellness endeavours are pointless. 

Yoga

Injury prevention through stretching and conditioning, and physical strength and resilience, are just some of the benefits of yoga. Yoga is also the ultimate wellbeing tool for ensuring body and mind are unified, and achieving spiritual awakening - especially when performing poses and postures which clear and open our chakras (or ‘third eye”). Concentration, imagination and perception are just some of the things that can be enhanced. These all help with greater self awareness and understanding of what makes us feel truly well.  

Skin care 

The skin is the body’s biggest organ, so looking after our skin is essential to wellness. In the summer we also spend a lot of time outside, and get more vitamin D as a result, which is absorbed through our skin. Sustaining our vitamin D levels is particularly important for immunity, calcium absorption, and bone and muscle quality. Continuing to spend as much time as possible outside (with sunscreen on) and using supplements can contribute to maintaining our levels of vitamin D and shore up our health as we move into colder months which can often bring coughs, colds and seasonal sickness.