My Top 14 Health Hacks

I love to incorporate all of the below into my life. It helps me to feel grounded, stay on top of my health and, I am certain when I have all of these in place I feel my healthiest, best self. Of course, none of us are immune to catching bugs but I really do find these either help to prevent me getting sick or they help to boost me if I have caught something.

If, like me you need a little pick-me-up a this time of year then I hope you find this list helpful. It is long, so if you can even chose just 5 to do daily I really feel this will help you on your way to a brighter, healthier winter. Good luck and enjoy.

Ellie xx

1. Pilates Of course, you knew I was going to say this one but, hear me out. Experts have now confirmed that, "Pilates classes can help boost your immunity and protect against colds and flu." In Pilates we do lots of rocking and rolling and deep breathing, this can help to clear waste and fill your body with lots of fresh oxygenated blood. "Pilates exercises also help to make your lymphatic and respiratory systems more efficient and these are crucial to your immune system." You can read more about this here. “You will feel better in ten sessions, look better in twenty sessions, and have a completely new body in thirty sessions.” Joe Pilates

2. Get Your Morning Meds Morning meditation really does help to ease stress. We all have our stresses in life, we can't escape them but doing this daily, (or as often as you can) really helps to get everything in perspective and definitely leads you into a more productive day. I try to do this first thing, for around 5-15 minutes. I like to use the time to tune into how I am feeling in that moment, listen to my breath or focus on anything new that I want to create. “Breathing is the first act of life and the last. Our very life depends on it.” Joe Pilates

3. Apple Cider Vinegar & Lemon First Thing Before I sit down for my morning meditation I like to make myself a big glass of water with a squeeze of fresh lemon and a few drops of apple cider vinegar. In the morning I often feel thirsty, and I imagine my cells being dry like little wilted flowers. I imagine this big drink helps to plump those cells back up, brightening my skin and rehydrating all my cells. I feel like since I have done this I have been able to fight colds better and it's definitely nice to wake up and straight away rehydrate.

4. Keep A Journal I find when I keep a journal I am so much more productive and less stressed. Writing things down is a really good way to brain dump so you can focus less on remembering what you have to do and more on getting each task done. I like to write goals for the day, goals for the month and I also have goals that I would like to project into the future. I focus on my bigger goals in my morning meditations.

5. Ginger Shots I don't tend to juice a lot but I do love to juice ginger and store it in the fridge. If I am feeling a bit lethargic, or achey after a workout I do a quick ginger shot. It's like a healthy smack in the face... A good reminder to keep your vits up and keep looking after yourself!

6. Fresh Hair There is nothing like a fresh new look to get you feeling better. After getting back from our wedding in a LA I definitely needed some vava-voom in the form of a fresh new look. I highly recommend Maud Salon - he is absolutely amazing. Book now - www.maudsalon.com

7. Eat Seasonal Eating seasonal, fresh food is so so good for you. It gives your body variety, seasonal produce is also nutritionally denser as you can buy it locally. Buying local also gives the local community some love as you're supporting local shops and farmers. There are so many amazing resources online for seasonal eating from the likes of Deliciously Ella, Abel and Cole and even Ocado's website offers seasonal recipes. My absolutely favourite book is Madeleine Shaw's Beautiful Eating.

8. Make Soups Soups are great way to batch cook a lot quickly and they're also easy to store in the freezer. There are so many soup recipes online. Currently it is November so this is my favourite seasonal soup recipe for this time of year, taken from Madeleine Shaw's Beautiful Eating book. Get cooking here.

9. Take A Salt Bath Salt baths are a great way to relax and unwind at the end of the day. I like to plug my phone in my bedroom and then go and have a relaxing bath. After this I don't look at my phone again until the morning. It is THE BEST thing you can do for yourself at the end of a stressful day. I try to do this at least once a week but I really want to try to do it more. I am way too addicted to my phone! I love this new brand I have discovered recently 'Made By Coopers' they sponsored our Escape to the Sky event in September, my favourite flavour is Vanilla Rose. “Life should be a balance of work, rest and play.” Joe Pilates

10. Spiky Ball Massage Spiky balls are a great home tool for quick muscle tension release and circulation booster. Anything that helps improve circulation are great in these cold winter months to keep things moving and bugs at bay.  “Change happens through movement and movement heals.” Joe Pilates

11. Add Magnesium You can get this in a spray or a cream, I prefer the cream. Magnesium helps support calcium absorption, maintenance of normal bones and teeth, normal psychological function, and healthy functioning of the nervous system. It also helps improve rest and recovery by contributing to a reduction in tiredness and fatigue, electrolyte balance and supports normal energy-yielding metabolism. It's super moisturising too... I love it and like to add to my weekly routine.

12. Fresh Air It sounds like an obvious one but it's not always easier when it gets darker and colder. However, the best thing is to embrace the elements... tog up and enjoy the wind and rain in your face! “By all means never fail to get all the sunshine. and fresh air that you can.” – Joe Pilates

13. Keep It Cosy When I get in from a long day i like to make a point of being home. Sometimes it's easy to just flop on the sofa and before you know it, you've been home an hour and you haven't even taken your shoes off. I like to come in, and immediately get myself into my snuggly clothes, make a hot water bottle and a nice warm drink. That way, I'm home. It immediately makes me feel calmer, more settled and grounded in my own space.

14. Altitude Oil This is a new discovery for me and it's my little pocket secret weapon. A beautiful blend of essential oils by De Mamiel. I keep it in my bag on busy days to clear my head and energise my mind on busy days. Just a few deep breaths of this lovingly created, sensory blend of luxurious plant oils throughout a busy day counteracts a multitude of modern day stresses. Inhale when in need of a lift through long days at your desk in stale air con or when travelling on planes, buses and trains. Think of Altitude Oil as a do-it-all tonic to simultaneously soothe, revive and thrive when you’re rushed off your feet. I love it!!