January is just around the corner, bringing a new year and maybe a new perspective. It’s a great time to take a look at your wellbeing and work out what makes you feel great! Not sure where to start? We spoke to guests, models, presenters, and you, our lovely customers, about how everyone plans to revitalise their wellbeing, so we can all be inspired to make some little life improvements in 2022.
How do you use January as a way to look after your wellbeing?
Anne, presenter
“When it comes to this time of year, I like to think, “What am I going to do?”. I try to have a little bit of flexibility either way, so maybe it’s, “I’m going to get back into Pilates and I want to do at least one class a week.” Well, I’m not going to beat myself up if I don’t do one week, there’s nothing to stop me doing two the next!”
Jane, customer
“Many years ago, there was always a resolution – “I’m going to lose weight, I’m not going to drink alcohol, I’m not going to smoke anymore.” I gave up smoking many years ago now, but I still need to lose weight and I’d still like to cut down on my alcohol intake and the only one of the resolutions that I do now is Dry January. I don’t look at it as a resolution, more as an input into my health for the new year”.
Alex, presenter
“Like most of us in January, I usually set myself a goal. It normally revolves around exercising more, eating less sugar, drinking less wine. Sometimes I succeed, mostly I fail, but I always believe if you fail, pick yourself up and try again. There’s lots of goal setting for me as the year goes on.”
What’s your best advice for someone who is using January to revitalise their wellbeing?
Shanti, customer
“Start with exercise and eating healthy, and start something new in terms of skincare. They could maybe change their make-up or get a haircut. We could do exercises together, maybe go to a spa together or have spa nights where we do our make-up. Just have lots of girly nights together!”
Eneke, customer
“I think go for a walk. A walk is very good for you. I mean, I used to go to the gym as well, but I find it a bit boring, so I just walk. I don’t even have a dog! Sometimes it’s just around the houses, and for me, walking really keeps me fit. I try to find new ways to go. Plus, if people are looking after a loved one like me, just take your exercise when you can.”
Julie, customer
“I take an hour every evening, probably from 7pm, and I have a nice bath, with nice products. I do my evening skincare, put my pyjamas on, and I just chill out for a couple of hours. That’s just my time and that recharges my batteries. I make sure I always make time for that.”
Anne, customer
“Over the years, I have discovered that if you don’t look after yourself, you can’t look after anyone else. Don’t feel guilty about taking that bath or whatever it is that makes you relax. I think guilt eats people up. I discovered this from many years of looking after my mum and, looking back now, I couldn’t have done any better, but I could’ve been kinder to myself, so now I am.”
Ailsa, customer
“I think lists are very good. I think I’d make a note as I eat things. I’ve always found on diets, I don’t think about the things I pop in my mouth and where I work there’s always biscuits and chocolates. Particularly at Christmas, we’re inundated with them! So, by making a list of what you’ve eaten, you can look back and I find it quite useful because you can say, “Oh, I didn’t count that”. In terms of making time for yourself, I know I could, if I set myself sort of 10/15 minutes aside, go and do some breathing, or sit quietly.”
Joanna, customer
“Don’t weigh yourself every morning, it’s depressing. Weight can change from day to day, especially for women. Look at yourself and your clothing. If your trousers are becoming a little bit tight, then that’s the sign you need to act. I don’t believe in crash dieting, so I don’t leave it too late. I know that too many carbs are bad for me, so I swap white bread for brown bread, I might not have that bar of chocolate today, I’ll have some nuts instead. If it’s too difficult to give up completely, then swap for a healthier option.”
Sophia, model
“When I wake up in the morning, rather than reaching for my phone straight away, I like to say a little gratitude thought or sentence, just to be grateful that I woke up that morning. It’s a really lovely way to start your day.”
What keeps you motivated?
Eneke, customer
“I’ve got a walking lady, and because I’ve got a Fitbit and we’re quite competitive, I don’t want to lose out! If it’s really raining, what I’ll do is walk around the house to try to get my steps. I get motivated just by looking at other people’s progress. I’ve always been competitive.”
Alison, customer
“I’m quite a positive person, and I like to look on the positive side of things. I think my kids keep me motivated because I want to be healthy and there for them and set a reasonable example. I don’t want to be perfect, because I’m not, and it’s not particularly helpful for children to think you’ve got to be perfect all the time. I try to model good behaviour and I’ll be honest if somethings not gone too well, just so they know it’s okay. Things aren’t always going to go right, but its good if they do.”
Sophie, customer
“I find that so long as I have a positive outlook, so long as I take an interest in others, so long as I stay active, then this chapter of my life I am really going to enjoy, and my wellbeing will be all the better for it!”
Angela, customer
“I like when my clothes feel good, that’s a lot of the motivation for keeping fit. Yes, for my health, yes, to be the best-looking corpse in the box, but I like when my clothes look good and feel good. It won’t happen if I just stay on my backside, I’ve got to get up and go and do something.”
How will you revitalise your wellbeing this January? Take a look at our Health & Wellbeing department for more inspiration.
