There's something unique about the level of frazzle that hits at this time of year. Wrapping up the latter part of the year while battling fatigue, getting your head around what the next four months might bring; there's little hope to dampen the brain's constant whirring. Real calm, it turns out, is hard to find. As neuroscientist Dr Tara Swart explains, when your body is stressed - even when sometimes doing nothing you're in fight-or-flight mode. "The difference between the non-relaxed mode and the relaxed mode is your stress hormone levels," says Dr. Swart. "When cortisol is high, which happens when you're really focused, switched on, busy or stressed, that prevents your body from going into rest-and-repair mode because it's trying to make sure that you can meet any challenges," she adds. "It's so important that we learn to encourage a switch to recuperation mode, using the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps us rest and digest." Unsurprisingly, given the last two years the world has weathered, making this switch is proving harder than ever. And while regular yoga classes and a Netflix binge can help in the short term, how can you make real change for the long haul? Dr. Swart suggests honing in on each of the five senses, in turn, to focus on what you're experiencing, rather than multitasking, as everyone's guilty of doing. Here's how...
01 sound
Denne historien er fra September - October 2022-utgaven av Women's Health South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra September - October 2022-utgaven av Women's Health South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Irreconcilable Differences?
You’re one-upping your partner on all health fronts and now your relationship has more tension than your new resistance bands. Here’s how to get over the hurdle of mismatched goals.
Hot And Bothered
Inflammation is all the rage in health conversations right now and research is establishing it as a major player in all sorts of issues you don't want to deal with. But! You can safeguard yourself from the smokin' internal inferno with these smart strategies.
Self-esteem under the microscope
The term brings to mind positive-thinking memes with sunset backdrops and swirly lettering. But could I you sum up self-esteem when asked as part of a pub quiz? Didn't think so. And there's more at stake here than winning the points.
the reset
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO START OVER
Mind Over Muscle
Could you level up your strength training just by putting your mind to it?
ON BEING THE HEROINE OF YOUR OWN LIFE
Olympian. All-African Games winner. African champion. Record-breaker. Javelin athlete Jo-Ané van Dyk talks mental fortitude and what it takes to live up to your own hype. If there's one thing she can do, it's to throw down. And it's all about to reach peak levels.
Why Women Are Choosing to Be Child-Free
The choice can be liberating, yet stigmas persist. Here, how to cut through the noise with clarity and confidence to make the decision that's right for *you.*
FUEL YOUR SKIN
Inside your body, there's a crew of unsung protein heroes that scientists believe are the key to a healthy, glowing complexion. Heads-up: your routine is about to change for the better.
How To Be Decisive
You could use a Magic 8 ball to help you make a choice. Or, while you're waiting to 'ask again later', let our experts explain the best ways to get unstuck.
Build A Strong Base
You heard it here: the pelvic floor is the forgotten core - and you're selling yourself short by waiting for a specific life stage to train it. Your four-move workout is here.
