I kept it relatively low-key, but I turned 40 at the end of last month. In all fairness, I can’t quite believe I’ve hit middle-age. I certainly don’t feel it, and in my head, I am still in my early 30s.

That being said, regardless of age, I do need to start taking better care of myself and find time to relax. As a parent, it’s all too easy to put everyone’s need above your own – its just what we do isn’t? We go into autopilot: getting the kids ready for school, homework, washing chores etc. I’m terrible at actually stopping and giving myself downtime, but I do know this needs to change.

Looking after myself – inside and out

Friends have always said that I look a lot younger than my age, but I fear this may well be catching up with me now. I’ve never been one to have a great skincare routine. I take my makeup off at the end of the day, and I cleanse and moisturise, but that’s pretty much it. A few months back, my face was quite dry, so I switched to a new moisturiser. On top of that, I’ve also been trying out Colladeen Visage supplements from Nature’s Best. They are designed to support normal collagen formation in the skin as well as protect the skin from sun damage. I’ve already noticed a difference after just a couple of weeks. My skin is noticeably softer and healthier looking and my nails seem to have gotten stronger too. I found these skincare tips from Kate on Thin Ice really useful too.

Healthier Eating

After being given a code for a free Hello Fresh box by a friend, we’ve been having weekly boxes delivered to us since the beginning of the year and they have been amazing. I look forward to our meals in the evening and we aren’t eating the same dishes week in, week out. It’s also meant we’ve gotten better at portion control too and has taken the fuss out of deciding what to cook each week.

Regular exercise

Mr H bought me an Apple Watch for my 40th – he knows how much I love my gadgets. The Apple Watch has been great at tracking my daily activity, regularly reminding me if I need to stand up and move around if I’ve been sat at my desk for too long (the downside of having a desk job) It also tracks how much exercise I am doing each day and will prompt me if I’ve not hit my daily goal yet. Fitness needs to be more of a priority now and something I definitely need to carve out time for.

What sort of things would you look to add into your daily routine to make sure you are taking better care of yourself? I’d love to know!

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