At a time when grey weather and winter have been hanging over us for far too long, good weather is slow to come, and the health crisis continues, having a significant impact on the well-being of the French. According to a recent study by the French Institute of Public Opinion (IFOP), 62% of the population is currently concerned about their mental well-being.* However, the winter is conducive to cosying up and refocusing on your well-being. It’s time to adopt small steps to improve your physical and mental comfort to get ready for the beautiful season, which will arrive, in any case, refreshed and in great shape.

*IFOP survey in partnership with the Aesio Foundation “The French and their mental well-being”, 30 Nov 2021.

Take time to stretch

Sitting all day, repetitive movements, or even intense sport that particularly strain certain muscles and joints, are all factors that take a toll on the body. The lower back, neck, and shoulders are areas where tension accumulates and quickly becomes painful. Whether you are athletic or not, taking time to stretch is good for both physical and mental relaxation. This allows you to release the tension and annoyances accumulated during the day and stretch your muscles to relieve them. Whether you stretch in the morning or the evening, this is also a time for the body and the mind to take a real break. Stress is reduced so you can start or end your day in serenity.

An extra tip: Regularly stretching helps develop flexibility, maintain mobility, and improve youthfulness.

How?

It’s all about consistency. Five minutes of stretching a day are easily integrated into everyone’s daily life and will be enough to relieve tension. However, it is important to always stretch gently without pulling too hard on the muscles. We are not looking for performance but the well-being and relaxation of certain body parts such as the legs, back, and shoulders. If localised pain persists even after a stretching session, heating patches are an excellent alternative to relieve tension. The patches diffuse heat for eight hours, relaxing the muscle fibres while blocking pain receptors. They start their soothing action as soon as they are applied and last over time. Be careful; if muscle pain becomes too frequent or lasts too long, you need to consult a health professional.

Sleep better

It’s a well-known fact that sleeping well is essential for good health. Quality sleep allows the body and mind to recover from the previous day and attack the next one in proper form. Nevertheless, while perhaps not everyone is aware of it, many French people complain of poor quality sleep.

Here are some tips to promote restful nights:

  • Stretch before bedtime to help you get a good night’s sleep. This promotes sleep by relaxing the whole body and improving sleep quality by repositioning the skeleton for the night.

  • Eat light at dinner and at least two hours before bedtime. Indeed, it has been shown that meals with fatter and higher in sugars are more difficult to digest. Digestion then extends until bedtime, disrupting sleep.

  • Turn off all screens at least 30 minutes before going to bed and keep screens out of the bedroom. The mind is constantly being stimulated, in particular via the screens of smartphones, tablets, and TV. Taking a 30-minute break before bedtime signals to the brain that it’s time to slow down so the body and mind are prepared for a peaceful night.

For those who still have trouble falling asleep, even when following these tips, Lavender, petitgrain, marjoram, and chamomile essential oils naturally promote relaxation for quality sleep. Roll-on formats of essential oil blends are ideal since they are very easy to apply to the wrists, temples, and neck.

Take time, refuel

In the whirlwind of our lives, between work, sport, and social life, we sometimes forget to take time to rest. However, the body and the spirit need moments of emptiness.

Yoga and breathing exercises are very useful in helping the mind relax. The stress gauge is reset, and energy levels are boosted. There is nothing like rest and inactivity to prevent lethargy during the day and find good energy levels and stimulate the immune system at the same time.

For those who continue to feel this lack of energy, Vitamins B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, and C, Copper, Zinc, and Manganese supplements will help restore tone and vitality to the body. Formulas enriched with Ginseng, Guarana, and Maca, in addition to vitamins and minerals, are particularly good for an immediate boost.