FROM HAVING A hot bath once a week to eating your five-a-day, self-care comes in many forms.
Holly White is the author of Vegan-ish, a plant-based cookbook, and has been writing about wellness since before it became mainstream. She regularly hosts demonstrations about cooking vegan food, and one quick look at her Instagram page – filled with colourful meals, videos from Pilates classes and pictures of healthy treats – demonstrates the wellness-filled lifestyle she leads.
For White, self-care varies from day-to-day. “It can be anything from waking up an extra 10 minutes earlier so as not to be in a rush, to taking an hour out for a yoga class,” she explains.
Self-care is about listening to what your body and mind needs and prioritizing it.
It’s fair to say, then, that White, knows a thing or two about looking after herself.
Looking to improve your self-care routine and make better choices? Below are seven self-care tips that White swears by.
“I think we’re all aware that we need to drink more water, but I have one little trick that works really well for me,” says White. “First and foremost, get a reusable water bottle that you can take with you. Then, whenever I’m at the sink, I’ll drink a full bottle and then fill it up again. What I found really quickly was that I doubled my water intake simply by doing that.”
From kimchi to kombucha, fermented foods are having their moment – and for good reason, according to White. “Once I transitioned towards a vegan diet, I realised I needed to learn how to cook, and one of the first things I did was a course in raw food mastery. I knew nothing about fermented foods before, but what I found when I did the course over 12 weeks was that by week six or seven, my energy had increased and I was much more alert. I really do put that down to integrating fermented foods into my diet.”
To up your fermented food intake, White recommends drinking kombucha on an empty stomach, taking a probiotic and mixing apple cider vinegar into dressings.
Like many people in today’s busy world, White says it’s easy to let work pile up, get exhausted and get burnt out as a result. To prevent this, she’s created a routine that many people could get on board with.
“I think it’s really important before the week takes over, before your schedule gets manic, to pick one thing that makes you happy, like meeting a friend for a coffee and scheduling a catch up, getting my nails done or booking in for a yoga class,” says White. “It’s almost like the planning and looking forward to it adds to the enjoyment, rather than doing something spontaneously.”
“I feel really strongly about this,” says White. “I think we’re not taught how to process our emotions. I think we need to be more aware that life isn’t always grand or fine and that things go up and down. I find that talking to people about it really helps lighten the load.”
And if you often find yourself chatting about other people (and not in a good way), you might want to think again. “The reality is, if you are gossiping about people, you will be gossiped about,” says Holly. “I just try to look for positives and to chat to people about normal life – and I feel so much better as a result.”
Animal-lovers, rejoice! White, who has three cats, swears by her furry friends for improving her mood. “It amazes me sometimes how, if I’m a bit sad, tired or upset, one of the cats will come and just sit on my lap,” she says. “They kind of force you to sit still. You get so much love from them.”
“And for people who have dogs, there’s nothing better than getting out for a gorgeous country walk and having a dog by your side. If ever you want to feel loved, come home and have your dog wag its tail.”
If mindlessly scrolling through Instagram is part of your morning routine, you’ll probably be familiar with the feeling of comparison that can come with it. However, your feed should be filled with things that make you feel good – not the opposite – says White.
“I’m a huge believer in following whoever you need to follow, family or friends or whoever you feel it’s polite to follow, but if you feel that something is getting you down or not making you feel good about yourself, the mute button is there. People don’t have to feel that it’s a big dramatic unfollow.”
White, whose Instagram feed is filled with pictures and videos of mouth-watering vegan meals, takes her plant-based approach beyond her plate. “When I adjusted towards a more vegan diet, I found that I became really passionate in looking for products that are cruelty free,” she says.
“As much as possible, I try to be mindful that the products I buy are in recycled packaging and have ethically and sustainably sourced ingredients. All of these little things add up and make a difference. I think it’s about small, simple, sustainable and realistic choices, rather than trying to do one big huge thing.”
Incorporate self-care into your daily routine by making positive choices, like choosing Lipton Ice Tea. With flavours including Lemon, Peach and now the new Green Tea flavour – made from real green tea leaves -, you can keep refreshed with every sip. Add a little lightness to your day and see the full range here.
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