Exercise:
Admittedly exercise is the last thing you feel like doing in the morning when it looks like night time outside. But rising early for a quick burst of cardio could leave you feeling refreshed and energised for the rest of the day. In the long run, regular exercise will leave you looking and feeling better: perfect in the run up to bikini season. So squeeze in some HIIT and feel the benefits of those endorphins!
Bananas:
This yellow fruit is super for beating Monday morning blues. Bananas are packed with energizing carbs that simultaneously boost your mood and give you slow releasing energy. The magnesium in bananas also helps curb pre menstrual mood changes; goodbye pms!
Cheesy 80’s pop:
If Whitney Houston’s ‘I wana Dance With somebody’ doesn’t send you into a flash dancing frenzy then there is something not quite right! It hasn’t been scientifically proven but dancing around to your favourite 80’s tune just feels great. Cindy Lauper said ‘girls just wanna have fun’, so get on your dancing shoes and get footloose!
Chocolate:
As if we needed an excuse to indulge in our favourite bar of chocolate; research suggests that the sweet stuff can boost our mood! The science says that when we eat chocolate it sends signals to our brain and creates a sense of over all well being. Studies have also found that chocolate can reduce cortisol, the stress hormone, and make us feel more relaxed. So that cheeky chocolatey indulgence is somewhat justified!
Smiling:
My personal pet peeve is when I’m told to smile. When I’m walking about, at work or even when I’m reading on the train; if someone tells me to smile then I feel like doing the exact opposite. But when you’re feeling low, smiling can create feelings of happiness so that you will eventually feel genuinely uplifted. Plus, a bright smile looks a little better than a sulk…
Laughing:
Has a situation ever been so bad that the only logical thing to do is laugh? Well that may just be the best thing when you’re having one of those days. As we all know, there is absolutely nothing better than a full belly laugh and when you’re having a bad day we could all use one. Laugh in the face of a bad day and get stuck in to your favourite stand up DVD or comedy show.
Shopping:
I’m not a huge fan of forgetting important issues with a few debit card transactions. However, for those stressful days when you feel as though you’re taking on the whole world it helps to treat yourself. Take a break from the hustle and bustle of life, put your feet up and into a new pair of shoes. Just make sure that you return to business soon after!
Getting ahead of schedule:
Ticking off everything on your ‘to do’ list hardly sounds like a lot of fun: I’m a huge procrastinator so I feel that. But for us career girls there is no greater feeling than getting all of your important bits out of the way. So get that assignment in, send over that article, apply for that internship; the sooner you take care of business, the sooner you can do the fun stuff!
You time:
We modern girls have everything: beauty, brains and bundles of personality. But it’s not easy being this fantastic as I’m sure you’ll agree. When the world is throwing deadlines, rain and delayed trains your way, you really need some time for You. Late night studying, lots of coffee and early mornings can leave you feeling groggy so it’s crucial to set aside some time to re-energise. Run a bubble bath and immerse yourself in relaxation, give your hair a treatment, read a book- whatever makes you relaxed!
Friends:
Even the most independent of women wouldn’t get by without a little help from their friends. Getting together for a meal or movie night with your best mates is a fantastic way to end a stressful week. Make sure that you have a girly catch up pencilled in amongst your busy schedule.