The dawn of a new you!

Start 2022 with our top New Year’s resolutions, designed to bring happier and healthier living.

Sleeping beauty

Getting a good night’s sleep should be on everyone’s list of New Year resolutions. Not only does it improve your attention and concentration, it can also help to keep your energy levels up and to stay sharp and focused all day long. Good sleeping habits are also helpful for maintain a healthy weight, as if you’re not sleeping properly your body will need more energy because it’s awake for longer. It’s also thought that being sleep-deprived could increase your appetite, as it changes the level of hormones that signal hunger and fullness in your body. There are also benefits of sleep for your immune system as it gives your body the time it needs to rest and repair. 

Let’s get physical

It’s become more important than ever to look after your body; it makes perfect sense, it’s the only one we have and we should take care of it. It’s proven that exercise not only reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes, it also boosts mood, self-esteem and energy. If you’re not keen on a gym, then swimming is a great low-impact alternative, or simply swapping lunch at your desk for a brisk walk will benefit. Walking is also great for both mind and body, combining fresh air with gentle exercise, and in Cornwall there’s the added benefit of being able to soak up some stunning clifftop views at the same time.

Nourish the soul

They say ‘you are what you eat’, and if that’s the case then we should all be more mindful about what we are fuelling our body with. Eating a good breakfast is the ideal way to set you up for the day; it kick-starts your metabolism and helps to keep blood sugars even throughout the day. Increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables is essential for maintaining a balanced diet and supplies those essential vitamins and minerals our bodies need to function. Subscribing to a fruit and vegetable weekly delivery, such as Newquay-based FruutBox (fruutbox.com), is an easy way to increase your intake and supports local growers and suppliers.

Find the balance

Hollie from Balance Wellness (balancewellness.co.uk) in Rock advises visiting a spa or wellness space to encourage you to switch off, de-stress and relax this year: “Spa treatments aim to target the parasympathetic nervous system, enabling your body to heal and rest, which is something we all need during our busy lives. There is also the added benefit of strengthening our immune system, increase our energy levels, improving our circulation, releasing endorphins, and aiding digestion, detoxification and lymphatic drainage – removing any build up from toxins within the body. And not forgetting releasing any tension within the body.”

“In our busy lives we often forget to give time to ourselves,  to allow our body to recover and heal from stressful situations or from general day to day life. It is vital that we get time to ourselves to allow our body and mind to unwind, giving it the support it needs to function properly. At Balance we are different to your normal spa. We have created an environment which bridges the gap between medical and spa, with comforting heated blankets and soft lighting. We offer a very specialist approach, with highly qualified therapists. We prefer not to follow set treatment protocols, and so we tailor each treatment to you and what your skin and body needs. Prior to each treatment we take the time to understand you and your lifestyle, developing an understanding about what you want to get out of the treatment. During treatments, we use a combination of botanically driven, medical grade skincare products and 100% organic products, enabling us to target the skin cells and give our body the ingredients it needs.” 

With a background in nursing, Hollie is able to combine her medical knowledge with a holistic approach when treating the skin, in a safe and supportive environment. Balance also offers Touch Therapy wellness rituals to anyone going through cancer or who has a compromised immune system. These rituals have been designed to soothe the senses and calm the mind, using slow, soothing and rhythmic techniques providing complete tranquillity and relaxation. This treatment is also extremely beneficial for anyone who is suffering from long Covid.

“When visiting a spa, people going through cancer are often turned away. At Balance I wanted to create a wellness space which welcomes everyone and anyone, including those who are suffering from certain medical conditions,” explains Hollie. “Going through cancer or suffering from a medical condition is a very difficult time, therefore having a place to visit to be able to relax and heal is vital during their treatment. It has such a positive impact on their immune system.”

Not so fantastic plastic

It’s not just our bodies that need looking after, our planet is certainly in need of some tlc too. According to Cornish environmental charity, Surfers Against Sewage (sas.org,uk), everyday approximately eight million pieces of plastic pollution finds its way to our oceans, and plastic makes up 80% of all studied marine debris. No-one wants their stroll along a Cornish beach to be accompanied by a sea of plastic waste, but there are a few small steps we can all take to reduce, reuse and recycle. Swapping plastic cups, straws and bottles for reusable alternatives is a small but valuable step we can all take this year. Joining in on a beach clean is also a great hands-on way of helping to keep the rubbish off our sands. 

Water therapy

There’s nothing quite like a bit of adrenaline to make you feel alive! Getting those endorphins going by trying a new and exciting sport is a brilliant way to feel uplifted. Wild swimming has seen a huge surge in popularity in Cornwall over recent years. Happy groups of swimming souls brave the waves up and down the Duchy. Cold water is proven to have excellent benefits for both mind and body, and the best thing is, it’s free! If you prefer to be on the water rather than in it, then Cornwall is the ultimate ocean playground for surfing, SUP-ing and sailing. 

Giving the gift of time

Why not make volunteering one of your resolutions for this year? Not only does it benefit those you help, it can even make you feel happier and healthier. With so many deserving charities across Cornwall, we recommend choosing one that’s close to your heart. There are so many ways that you can help, whether that be volunteering in person or fundraising.

Whether it be making new memories, achieving a heathier body and or enriching your mind, make this year your best yet!