Mini health hacks for the end of term
Do you feel that? The annual race against time to get EVERYTHING done before summer?
I’m on first name terms with that feeling.
8 years of working for myself, by myself.
And before that, 6 years at a corporate that insisted on 50-hour minimum weeks.
I’ve reached burn out.
I’ve given my job everything. And spent the first 2-3 days of my hol flinching at every little noise, mulling work situations over in the day, and dreaming of work at night.
But I’ve slowly worked out how to avoid losing myself in the madness.
Like all health kicks, I started with amazing intentions.
For the last month I’ve been doing all the things.
Almost perfect self-care.
From collagen to Epsom salt baths. I’ve felt amazing. Shoehorning it into every conversation and preaching to friends that I’d finally learnt to put myself first.
Then July hit and I really started to feel the pressure.
All my clients want to recruit before summer.
They’re busy so I’m organising them.
A candidate due to start next month falsified his form and it all came out in the references. Return to go, do not collect £200.
My husband has an event to launch his mosaics – in London – he wants me to be there.
My kid’s school don’t seem to be able to get through the week without some kind of celebration.
July is shaping up to be eventful.
This month I’ve stripped it back to the essentials.
It’s just enough to get through, get things done, without feeling like my head’s going to fall off.
And crucially, the things that take little time but make me feel more equipped to deal with whatever these weeks will throw at me.
These work for me. Take what you need.
Instead of a 10 minute outdoor ice bath. A 15 second cold blast at the end of your morning shower. It wakes up the vagus nerve and gives you a feeling of relaxation. The relaxation comes just after you’ve finished blasting yourself with cold water.
Rather than an hour long gym session. A 20 min session with 6 reps, 3 sets but the highest weights I can bear.
No time for a balanced breakfast? I’ve discovered intermittent fasting. It’s improved my focus, energy, sleep, and resilience. It also means I don’t have to think about what to eat until lunchtime!
Bedtime routine. Instagram tells me I need to meditate, journal, have the sound of waves crashing on an undiscovered shore. In my house this would be punctured by me giving my kid a dead eyed stare and repeating “Go. To. Bed” approx every 7 mins.
What really works for me (and doesn’t take any extra time) is earplugs, sleep mask, phone on airplane mode. Simple.
Overwhelmed with contradicting info on nutrition? This happens to be my secret Mastermind subject. I’m in awe of what the human body can do to repair itself given the right fuel. The fight against ultra processed food is absolutely the hill I’m willing to die on.
These supplements work really well for me, and might for you:
L-theanine for calm and better sleep.
Nootropiocs. Mental and physical energy boost. Regulates hormones.
Electrolytes. Hydration. Reduces water retention and bloating.
Bone broth. Improves immune system.
Is coffee a supplement? If not, it really should be (I think I’ve found another hill to die on).
You might be thinking – what is she on? A recruiter giving out wellbeing advice?
I know, I know, I’m not a #wellbeinginfluencer.
And you’re right.
Possibly a bit snarky, but right ; )
Having my own business means my to do list will never be finished.
There’s no HR dept to have a word if I’m logging in at 2am.
And I naturally take it all incredibly personally (bye-bye boundaries!).
I know you’re putting out a million fires and have felt the pull to put yourself last so you can box everything off before summer.
I’ve been there.
And I hope there might be something in this blog that helps you not just survive the end of term but get to summer feeling great.
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