Gemma Ogston - Easy Healing Plant-Based Recipes

Our busy lives and hectic schedules can often leave us running on empty. Now more than ever, it feels so important that we regularly set aside proper time to fully restore and recharge our energy levels. Often we find ourselves dealing with feelings of guilt if we plan to take some time out, as though we think we should be constantly chasing that to-do list, or maybe even that we think we dont deserve to stop and rest. But is there really anything more important than looking after our health? If we arent looking after ourselves properly, how can we be expected to look after other people or perform to the best of our abilities? If we ignore our need to replenish our energies and carry on steaming ahead, illness or exhaustion can kick in, forcing us to take a break. Its obviously so much better if we can avoid reaching a breaking point in the first place. Remember that life isnt a competition about who can do more or who can operate on the least sleep.

This first chapter is all about retreating into yourself for a little while, slowing the pace down so that you can gather your energies together again. Ive included sections on how to get more rest into your days, with ideas and recipes to calm the nerves and reduce anxiety, and to aid properly peaceful sleep. Ive also shared an easy restorative mindfulness exercise, which you can even practice while you are preparing a delicious meal for yourself! The chapter closes with one of my favorite sections in the book Cozy . Whether its a sleep-in on the weekend or snuggling down into the sofa after a long day, I believe getting cozy is essential to our well-being. It should be a MUST in your self-care routine.

I hope by the end of this chapter, you will have started to feel a little calmer, recharged, and more in control. Bringing a sense of calm to how you go about your day, however chaotic life may feel at times, will leave you better able to cope with whatever you are facing.

rest

Good-quality restand enough of itis vital for body and mind. Experiencing even low-level tiredness can lead to fluctuating moods and even forgetfulness. Although eight hours a night is often considered the Holy Grail when it comes to sleep, as a mum of two with a busy job, I know that this is not always possible for everyone. We also all need different amounts of sleep, so its important to work out how much you need personally and then to try to aim for that whenever you can.

Dont worry if youre not getting as many hours each night as you think you should, but do take a look at ways you can introduce more moments of rest into your daily life and at improving the quality of the sleep that you do get. Maybe set aside one night a week to go to bed early or let yourself nap in the afternoon on the weekend if youre tired. Even just slowing things down a notch or two as you go about your day, allowing yourself to pause for a quiet moment or making the time to do absolutely nothing for a few hours every so often so you can relax and unwind, will help you feel all the more rested.

The recipes on the following pages contain my favorite restorative and calming ingredients to help boost melatonin production (which controls your bodys internal clock) and to aid better sleep. These dishes can also help reduce anxiety so you can feel more relaxed and calmer throughout the day. Later in the chapter, Ive shared a few of my tried-and-tested ways for achieving a truly restorative nights sleep.

If you are feeling unrested and exhausted, remember to be gentle with yourself. Know that it will pass eventually, and make sure not to overload your days or plan in too many activities that will drain your energies. We all go through patches of restlessness during our lives, but taking just a few small steps can help you gain back control.