Early mornings, tiresome meetings, deadlines, bills….Sound familiar? Sometimes being an adult is just so hard. With mounting responsibilities weighing us down on a daily basis, sometimes all we want to do in curl up in our donna and refuse to leave bed!

Feeling like you’re losing control is completely normal, no one gave you a superman badge so don’t feel pressured to handle everything life throws at you with absolute ease. However, it is important to get up the next morning and try to grab hold of the reins again. Take care of your health. Exercise. Eat properly. These things will all help your body and mind recover from the stresses of the daily grind.

Sometimes this is easier said than done, as adults we overcomplicate things all the time. One way to overcome this? Think like a kid!

Here are some ways of listening to your inner child to help you stay a healthy adult:

Spend time outdoors: Remember when you used to spend all afternoon out riding your bike, kicking the soccer ball around or playing hopscotch? Incidental exercise happens all the time when we are children, and it keeps us fit and healthy. As soon as you get home from work, or early in the morning, go for a walk/jog around the block, take your dog to the park or chuck on a helmet and ride! You will enjoy the fresh air, the thinking time and your body will appreciate the extra movement for the day.

Jump rope: If you are looking for a more strenuous activity, a skipping rope will help you burn some serious calories. Skipping is a full body workout and is especially good for your abdominals as you need to brace your core to stabilise your body as you jump. It’s a great cardio workout, with less pressure on your joints than running, and improves coordination and balance!

Colour: Adult colouring-in books are all the rage at the moment. According to scientists, colouring-in can be used as an alternative to meditation, and can help relieve stress and anxiety. Colouring in also takes you back to fond, childhood memories where we experienced a great deal of happiness, and our brains love anything that makes up happy!

Carry around a drink bottle: Take a look inside a primary school classroom and I guarantee most desks will have a 1 litre drink bottle filled with water sitting on top. During the day, kids need to stay hydrated and drink lots of fresh, clean, water, and so their parents usually make sure they never leave for school without a drink bottle. Guess what? Adults need to stay hydrated too! Even though there may be a water cooler in your office, a drink bottle is the easiest way to make sure you drink enough water to get you through your busy day.

Eat healthy snacks: Carry around a little lunch box filled with healthy snacks, such as carrot and celery sticks, nuts, fruit, cheese or little tubs of natural yoghurt. These will prevent you for opting for more naughty treats throughout the day.

Read a book before bed: There are so many benefits of reading, including expanding your vocabulary, deepening understandings and boosting brain power. A great time to read is before bed, just like you used to when you were a kid. Reading before bed relaxes you and takes your mind away from the stresses of the day. Reading each night can also create a ritual, signalling to your body that it’s time to go to sleep.

 

Article by Heidi Greig.

Heidi Greig is a 25-year-old Melbournian with a passion for all things health and fitness. Coming from a background in modern dance and now enjoying the benefits of Reformer Pilates, Heidi is well –aware of the importance of regular, heart rate rising activity for a balanced and happy life!