Five quick energisers

Woken up feeling blah? Hit that post-lunch slump? Get up and go got up and went? Rather than slurping a double espresso or sugary drink and munching a sweet treat, sip a glass of water or a veggie juice, have an egg for breakfast - or crunch some mixed nuts if you’re really hungry pm - and try these rapid restorers. 

1. Before you shower, give yourself a brisk dry skin body brush to get your circulation going. Start with the souls of your feet, then go up your body in smooth strokes. Avoid your bosom or any sensitive patches but do brush your armpits and the back of your neck and shoulders. We like the Mio Body Brush/£14.50.

2. When you come out of the shower, or while the kettle boils, or any time really – shake your arms, legs and whole body. Just like a dog coming out of water (or Sarah’s horse, which is a whole different ball game when she’s on his back, eeek…) Start by shaking your hands, wrists and arms. Stand on one leg and shake the other, still shaking your arms, then reverse the leg. Then try to shake your whole body. It should only take a minute or two.

3. Get tapping: either bunch your hands into soft fists or tap with your fingertips from the crown of your head, down and around your neck, shoulders, down and up your arms, then your body all over, legs and feet. Then up again!

4. On the bus, in a meeting, at your desk, pull your fingers and thumbs. Pinch and pull each finger in turn from the base to the nail, paying particular attention to the knuckles.  You can often hear these ‘crack’ as you pull them, which is said to help iron out corresponding aches and pains.

5. Lastly, be an earwig! Well, not quite, but this little exercise involves taking each lobe in a finger and thumb and tugging gently, then doing the same all round the rims. Weird maybe, but it really does the biz.

Photo by Anthony Ginsbrook on Unsplash

Prize Draws