IT'S YOUR YEAR!

Clinical Nutritionist and Naturopath BROOKE BENSON CAMPBELL (BHSC) presents 10 tips on achieving a stronger mind, healthier body and a better you this year...

It's official the weather is warm, summer festivities are in full swing and 2024 is well and truly underway. As we begin a new year, it's essential we take a step back and consider ways to take better care of ourselves in the year ahead, and actually achieve a 'new you'. Bookwell's beauty and wellness expert, Brooke Benson Campbell, highlights 10 key focus points vital to achieving a healthy brain, healthy life and a better, stronger you.

1 ALLOW YOURSELF TO WIND DOWN BEFORE BED 

To set yourself up for a strong ‘tomorrow’, create a closing day ritual you can put into practice before bed each night to help you disconnect from any stresses experienced throughout the day. Make yourself a to-do list for the next day, which will help to prevent mind chatter and mental lists consuming your relaxation time. Your wind down should be a reflection of the day that was, not the day that is to come. Whilst you’re reflecting on your day, another great way to calm your mind is to drink powdered magnesium mixed in a glass of water. This will help to calm the nervous system and quieten the mind, paving the way for a deeper and more restful sleep.

2 TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO ACHIEVE THE BEST REM SLEEP

REM, or 'rapid eye movement', is known as a unique phase of sleep distinguished by relaxation in muscles throughout the body and rapid eye movements. This is the deepest phase of sleep, where people experience their most vivid dreams. The key to achieving this phase of sleep and increased morning energy is melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain and works to manage your circadian rhythm and sleep pattern.