Touch of Wellness

Giveaway – in Celebration of Valentines Day!

February 8, 2022 by wellness Leave a Comment

It’s FINALLY February! Didn’t January feel about 900 days long this year?!

Well you know me by now… a new month means a new Giveaway – and I’m super excited to bring you this one…

Well love is in the air this month with Valentine’s Day and though this M&S Beaulieu Hamper will be a little late for that day I am sure that someone in your life will still it with you.

There are plenty of ways to enter, simply scroll down to the Rafflecopter widget below to see the options. You will also see the terms and conditions below as well as all of the blogs taking part – please do take a moment to visit them to show your support to them.

Bloggers Taking Part

Here is a list of all of the bloggers taking part in this giveaway – please show your support by visiting them.

The Prize

This prize is a M&S Beaulieu Hamper.

Gift Contents

La Vita Sangiovese (75cl) (Alcohol Content- 12.5%)
Apple and Fig Chutney (100g)
Milk chocolate florentines (170g)
Italian chocolate assortment (300g)
Black truffle & olive oil hand cooked crisps (150g)
British strawberry soft set jam (113g)
All butter Cornish Cruncher biscuits (80g)
Collection Rye Sourdough Crackers (130g)
Presented in a dark-stained hand woven wicker hamper with brown faux-leather handle and strap

Terms and conditions

1. There is one top prize of a M&S Beaulieu Hamper
2. There are no runner up prizes.
3. Open to UK residents aged 18 and over, excluding all bloggers involved with running the giveaway
4. Closing date for entries is midnight on 23.02.2022
5. The same Rafflecopter widget appears on all the blogs involved, but you only need to enter on one blog
6. Entrants must log in to the Rafflecopter widget, and complete one or more of the tasks – each completed task earns one entry in the prize draw
7. Tweeting about the giveaway via the Rafflecopter widget will earn five bonus entries into the prize draw.
8. 1 winner will be chosen at random.
9. The winner will be informed by email within 7 days of the closing date and will need to respond within 28 days with their delivery address, or a replacement winner will be chosen.
10. The winners’ names will be published in the Rafflecopter widget (unless the winner objects to this).
11. The prizes will be dispatched within 14 days of the winner confirming their details.
12. The promoter is Drew Media LTD t/a www.MakeMoneyWithoutAJob.com
13. By participating in this prize draw, entrants confirm they have read, understood and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions

Enter now

Simply complete any or all of the Rafflecopter entry widget options below to be entered. You can also tweet about the giveaway daily to earn bonus entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Christmas May Be Over – But We’re Still About the Giveaways at Touch of Wellness Blog!

January 8, 2022 by wellness Leave a Comment

Happy New Year, and I hope that your New Year has gotten off to a bang!

You know I love a giveaway, and just because Christmas is over, doesn’t mean the giving has to stop! Here is a brilliant giveaway for you for a £50 Amazon Gift Voucher! You know to buy that present that someone has forgotten to get you.

Bloggers Taking Part

Here is a list of all of the bloggers taking part in this giveaway – please show your support by visiting them.

The Prize

This prize is a £50 Amazon Gift Voucher

Terms and conditions

1. There is one top prize of a £50 Amazon Gift Voucher.
2. There are no runner up prizes.
3. Open to UK residents aged 18 and over, excluding all bloggers involved with running the giveaway
4. Closing date for entries is midnight on 23.01.2022
5. The same Rafflecopter widget appears on all the blogs involved, but you only need to enter on one blog
6. Entrants must log in to the Rafflecopter widget, and complete one or more of the tasks – each completed task earns one entry in the prize draw
7. Tweeting about the giveaway via the Rafflecopter widget will earn five bonus entries into the prize draw.
8. 1 winner will be chosen at random.
9. The winner will be informed by email within 7 days of the closing date and will need to respond within 28 days with their delivery address, or a replacement winner will be chosen.
10. The winners’ names will be published in the Rafflecopter widget (unless the winner objects to this).
11. The prizes will be dispatched within 14 days of the winner confirming their details.
12. The promoter is Drew Media LTD t/a www.MakeMoneyWithoutAJob.com
13. By participating in this prize draw, entrants confirm they have read, understood and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions

Enter now

Simply complete any or all of the Rafflecopter entry widget options below to be entered. You can also tweet about the giveaway daily to earn bonus entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

December Giveaway

December 8, 2021 by wellness Leave a Comment

I am thrilled to bring you another collaborative giveaway this month for The Beaulieu Hamper from M&S! Once again I have teamed up with a fantastic group of bloggers to bring you this giveaway so why not check out some of their blogs (links included below). The giveaway is open for entries until midnight on the 23 December 2021. There are LOTS of ways you can enter so have a quick read of the terms & conditions below! As you know, I love a good giveaway and what better time for one than Christmas?!

You’ve got to be in it to win it! Good luck!!!

Merry Christmas and it is that season of giving, so what better way than to celebrate with a giveaway!

This prize is M&S The Beaulieu Hamper

Bloggers Taking Part

Here is a list of all of the bloggers taking part in this giveaway – please show your support by visiting them.

The Prize

This prize is M&S The Beaulieu Hamper

This includes:

La Vita Sangiovese (75cl) (Alcohol Content- 12.5%)
Apple and Fig Chutney (100g)
Milk chocolate florentines (170g)
Italian chocolate assortment (300g)
Black truffle & olive oil hand cooked crisps (150g)
British strawberry soft set jam (113g)
All butter Cornish Cruncher biscuits (80g)
Collection Rye Sourdough Crackers (130g)
Presented in a dark-stained hand woven wicker hamper with brown faux-leather handle and strap

Terms and conditions

1. There is one top prize of the M&S The Beaulieu Hamper.
2. There are no runner up prizes.
3. Open to UK residents aged 18 and over, excluding all bloggers involved with running the giveaway
4. Closing date for entries is midnight on 23.12.2021
5. The same Rafflecopter widget appears on all the blogs involved, but you only need to enter on one blog
6. Entrants must log in to the Rafflecopter widget, and complete one or more of the tasks – each completed task earns one entry in the prize draw
7. Tweeting about the giveaway via the Rafflecopter widget will earn five bonus entries into the prize draw.
8. 1 winner will be chosen at random.
9. The winner will be informed by email within 7 days of the closing date and will need to respond within 28 days with their delivery address, or a replacement winner will be chosen.
10. The winners’ names will be published in the Rafflecopter widget (unless the winner objects to this).
11. The prizes will be dispatched within 14 days of the winner confirming their details.
12. The promoter is Drew Media LTD t/a www.MakeMoneyWithoutAJob.com
13. By participating in this prize draw, entrants confirm they have read, understood and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions

Enter now

Simply complete any or all of the Rafflecopter entry widget options below to be entered. You can also tweet about the giveaway daily to earn bonus entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Facial Exercises Great For Helping You look Younger

November 27, 2021 by wellness Leave a Comment

There is nothing wrong with wanting to look your best, especially at this time of year, but time has a way of not making it easy. As the years go by, the muscles in your face start to lose their elasticity. It’s this lack of resilience that leads to the formation of wrinkles. The muscles in the throat and neck are usually the first to succumb, and that can lead to a flabby, wrinkly neck. Luckily, there are facial exercises that you can do to delay the onset of this problem, or start to reverse it if it’s already an issue.

Facial exercises are a much better alternative than risky plastic surgery procedures which come with a whole host of potential side effects. Exercises are natural, effective, and free. Just be sure to check with your doctor before starting the exercises, in case there are any underlying health concerns. Also, be sure to not overdo it; these exercises will work, but you don’t want to risk hurting yourself when you do them.

Fold your legs comfortably while sitting on the floor. Keep your spine as straight as you can, maintaining good posture, and then slowly tilt your head back (you should feel a gentle stretching in the jaw muscles). Hold it back as you count to ten. Slowly return your head to the starting position. Do this exercise five times.

Keep the same seated position, relaxing your shoulders as you look straight forward. Turn your head to the left slowly, trying to get your chin as far as your shoulder. Count to five and then slowly return to your starting position. Repeat this process three times each for the right and left sides remembering to breathe.

Maintaining the same seated position, gently tilt your neck toward the right. Hold as you count to five, return to your starting position and then tilt to the left. You will feel a nice stretch in your neck, but don’t overdo it. Do these facial exercises three times per side.

Stay on the floor, but now move to your hands and knees. Gently lower your head toward the floor, making sure to keep your elbows, spine and neck straight. Take in a slow, deep breath. Then lift your head toward the ceiling and curve your back downwards as you slowly exhale. Do this exercise a total of five times.

These facial exercises can be done in just a few minutes, but do not rush through them. You should do them slowly to prevent injury, and the routine itself should be a soothing one. In fact, you can light a few candles and put on some relaxing music as you do them. Try to do these exercises every day, and you should start to see noticeable results within a few short weeks.

November Giveaway

November 8, 2021 by wellness Leave a Comment

I am super excited to be involved this month for the first time in a collaborative giveaway for a Marks & Spencer hamper! I have teamed up with a fantastic team of bloggers to bring you this giveaway so why not check out some of their blogs (links included below). The giveaway is open for entries until midnight on the 23 November 2021. There are LOTS of ways you can enter so have a quick read of the terms & conditions below! I do love a good giveaway, and Marks & Spencer hampers are just the best!!! Good luck!!!

With Christmas right around the corner it is the perfect time to start thinking of maybe a little Christmas tea party to enjoy. I have teamed up with some UK bloggers to bring you this amazing giveaway.

This prize is M&S Christmas Tea in Mayfair hamper.

So hold onto your kettles! There are plenty of ways to enter, simply scroll down to the Rafflecopter widget below to see the options. You will also see the terms and conditions below as well as all of the blogs taking part – please do take a moment to visit them to show your support to them.

Bloggers Taking Part

Here is a list of all of the bloggers taking part in this giveaway – please show your support by visiting them.

The Prize

This prize is M&S Christmas Tea in Mayfair hamper.

This includes:

6 all butter mince pies (334g)
Classic Panettone (100g)
Clementine & cranberry Bucks Fizz (75cl) (Alcohol Content- 4%)
Luxury Gold tea tin (10 bags)
8 Chocolate & orange cookies & cream biscuits (176g)
Classic recipe iced Christmas cake slices (240g)
Hand decorated fudge chocolate yule log (495g)
All butter shortbread trees (100g)
Grey wicker hamper

Terms and conditions

1. There is one top prize of the M&S Christmas Tea in Mayfair Hamper.
2. There are no runner up prizes.
3. Open to UK residents aged 18 and over, excluding all bloggers involved with running the giveaway
4. Closing date for entries is midnight on 23.11.2021
5. The same Rafflecopter widget appears on all the blogs involved, but you only need to enter on one blog
6. Entrants must log in to the Rafflecopter widget, and complete one or more of the tasks – each completed task earns one entry in the prize draw
7. Tweeting about the giveaway via the Rafflecopter widget will earn five bonus entries into the prize draw.
8. 1 winner will be chosen at random.
9. The winner will be informed by email within 7 days of the closing date and will need to respond within 28 days with their delivery address, or a replacement winner will be chosen.
10. The winners’ names will be published in the Rafflecopter widget (unless the winner objects to this).
11. The prizes will be dispatched within 14 days of the winner confirming their details. In this giveaway’s case prizes will be dispatched from 15th December.
12. The promoter is Drew Media LTD t/a www.MakeMoneyWithoutAJob.com
13. By participating in this prize draw, entrants confirm they have read, understood and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions

Enter now

Simply complete any or all of the Rafflecopter entry widget options below to be entered. You can also tweet about the giveaway daily to earn bonus entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How to Be More Mindful

October 21, 2021 by wellness Leave a Comment

Being more mindful is about learning to become more aware of your thoughts, feelings, senses, and experiences, which over time will help you to become more content. So if you’re struggling to find any sense of who you are and what you feel, read on for our advice on how to be more mindful.

How to be More Mindful

Slow down

Whether it’s pausing to notice the weather, getting up a little earlier to take your time with your morning routine and really savour that first sip of coffee or tea, or slowing down to notice your breathing, hitting the slow-mo button on many of our daily processes can really help us to notice the beauty of each moment.
Have you ever noticed how wonderful rain sounds against the window when you’re cosy inside? No? Then take some time to slow down and notice the small things.

Learn breathwork

I know that you’re probably thinking that knowing how to breathe is a given, and of course, if it wasn’t you wouldn’t be here. However, the type of breathwork that’s great to learn is deep and slow.
By learning to control your breathing and to inhale deep and long breaths and then to release them for just as long, provides our body with the oxygen it’s starved of when we are stressed, anxious, busy, worried, or whatever other taxing emotions hit you and you start to take those panicky, short and shallow breaths.
When your body received the oxygen that it’s been looking for, it will naturally calm.
Add into this that by focusing on timing your breath, you are in a type of meditative state, which will help you to focus your brain away from any negative/overwhelming thoughts that have been keeping you hostage.

Get up earlier

It’s not always easy to have the luxury of time to slow down and notice the small things. If you’re able, setting your alarm an hour earlier can really allow you the time to slowly come around in a morning. To enter into your day in a more slow and calm way. A way where you have the time to enjoy your coffee, or the taste of breakfast. A quiet 10 minutes of reflection.
This can set the tone for your entire day, so is definitely worth trying!

Lower your amount of screen time

The instant gratification that we are all used to thanks to the increase in use of technology, means that we are so far separated from being patient, and taking time with things.
They are also extremely detrimental to our focus and our ability to hear our own body and mind. Cutting back the screen time means you’ll have more time to learn about yourself.
By gradually detoxing from those addictive, endless scrolling apps, you’ll have better focus to hear your own thoughts and feelings and consider what it is your body is telling you it needs or feels.
Scrolling is a form of numbing the brain. But it is vital that we don’t block out our feelings, thoughts, and emotions, even if they’re negative. The only way to become self-aware and more mindful, is to recognise and appreciate all of our thoughts and feelings.

I hope you’ve found these tips on how to be more mindful helpful. It can be a slow learning process but being more mindful in all aspects of life can really help you to enjoy your everyday moments, and to help you find contentment.

Advice | Self Care Tips

October 21, 2021 by wellness Leave a Comment

It can be really hard in a busy world which celebrates ‘the grind’ and labels down time as laziness, to really prioritise your needs. But the time to re-fill your cup is essential to your wellbeing. Check out our self-care tips below, and pencil yourself in for a change.

Self-Care Tips

Learn to Journal

Journaling to release pent up emotions and any thoughts or to-dos clogging up your head is an amazing form of self-care.
It’s super simple when you strip it back, so try not to get overwhelmed about WHAT to write, and just simply write. The idea is to let out all the thoughts in your head and write them down. Even if those thoughts are that you haven’t got a clue what to write, just trust me and go with it. As you learn to write down every, little, seemingly irrelevant thought and feeling that crosses your mind, you’ll learn to release the big thoughts and feelings clogging your brain.
Over time, this becomes a fabulous tool for your emotional release, and therefore stability. The epitome of self-care.

Don’t put off your BIG to-dos!

We are all guilty of procrastinating, aren’t we? Especially when it’s something super boring, or maybe emotionally draining? But if we confronted these tasks head on, and got them done, we would feel a million times better that it was either complete, or it was over and done with.
Both bringing a sense of peace and contentment. This is another big form of self-care, much less discussed than a bubble bath!

Let’s get moving…

I realise that sometimes, getting up and moving your butt is the thing you least want to do in the entire world, but those are the moments you probably need to prioritise moving the most!
I’m not saying you need to put yourself through some hellish cardio workout that would make you feel worse about yourself. But you can find alternative forms of moving that may bring you joy. Maybe go for a walk with friends. Try a new sport like stand-up paddle boarding or kayaking. How about pole dancing? It’s getting more and more popular!
However you decide to do it, just give it a whirl.
By getting your blood pumping, on a scientific level it is going to make you feel better!

Put on some happy tunes

If I say think of a song that makes you happy, what song comes to mind?
Whatever it is, get it on right now! There’s nothing quite like the power of music to help you with processing every emotion. So with that in mind, when you need a little boost make sure to pop on a playlist full of the songs that make you happy, or make you dance around, or help you to relax if that’s the kind of re-fill you need!

Say NO

Learning to say no to things that don’t serve you is one of the biggest and most important lessons you’ll ever learn. Say it with me folks… NO. It’s a full sentence!

These are just some of our favourite self-care tips. They’re not the most regularly posted about ones, but we definitely think they’ll do more for your wellbeing than bubble baths and chocolate… Although we absolutely love those too!

How to Stay Healthy when you Have a Desk Job

October 21, 2021 by wellness Leave a Comment

If you work at a desk all day, and it’s making you feel sluggish and not at your best, then you may end up feeling defeated and as though it’s out of your control. But is it? What things can we implement to help stay healthy when you have a desk job? Let’s find out.

Keep regularly moving and stretching at your desk

Just because you’re sat at a desk doesn’t mean you can’t move at all. Try keeping your arms and legs stretching and moving throughout your workday. Every little bit of movement you can manage helps to keep the blood pumping, and to keep you feeling better!

Opt for taking the stairs while you’re at work

If you need to move between floors at the office, or on the way there, make sure to opt for the stairs instead of taking less active options like the lift or escalator.

Stay active during any breaks

During any break time or lunch, make sure you go for a walk or wander around. Use your little pockets of time to get your body moving, and your heartrate up.

Meal plan a healthy meal and snacks

Don’t leave food choices and hunger pangs up to chance. This is where bad habits can come in. Make sure to prep your workday food before you leave in a morning so that you don’t end up reaching for those easier, junk food options because it’s handy.
Balanced food is going to keep you functioning and feeling your best for those long, office days.

Stay hydrated

If you’re running out of the door in a morning without a drink, chances are you’re going to spend a lot of your day dehydrated. This can hugely affect your health and how you feel and function. It’s really important to make sure that you take a large drink with you to the office, so you can keep sipping and hydrated through your workday. The last thing you need when you’re stuck at a desk all day is a mega dehydration headache to go with it.

Take small breaks

Make sure to take breaks from your desk just to get yourself moving a little. Even if it’s over to a colleague’s office, or just to the end of the hall and back, these small bursts of movement will definitely help over the course of a work week.

Wake up earlier to prioritise a workout

If you’re really concerned about your activity levels, you could try and set your alarm an hour earlier so that you can fit in a workout before you leave for work. This can make a big difference to how your body feels, how you feel mentally and can also set you up for a much better day overall.

It can feel really tricky if you’re glued to a desk for most of your day, so it is just about lots of small ways to help yourself over the course of the day.
Try out some of our tips and let us know if any helped you to feel healthier.

How to Feel Better on a Bad Day

October 21, 2021 by wellness Leave a Comment

If you’ve had one of those days where everything goes wrong, or everything feels difficult, you may feel completely drained and devoid of energy. Maybe a little pick me up would help? Here are some ideas for how to feel better on a bad day.

Accept that bad days are okay

One of the biggest tips for feeling brighter, quicker, is to actually just accept that you’re feeling crappy. I know it sounds counterproductive to sit with those feelings, but often what we do by trying to force ourselves to get over it, is to glaze over the challenging day we’ve had, and the emotions attached to it. This means we don’t deal with it, and it ends up lasting far longer in our mental space than it would if we just acknowledged how we were feeling. Acknowledging how we are feeling and why we may be feeling that way, and then accepting that it’s okay to have negative feelings will help you to process it and move through it more quickly than trying to cover it over with false positivity.

Make a ‘happy’ playlist

If you’ve got songs in mind that make you want to get up and dance like crazy the second you hear them, or songs that make you laugh out loud, then you need to pop them into a special playlist that you save for days like this.
Music has so much power for all emotions. Utilise the ones that make you feel good at times when you feel anything but.

Write a gratitude list

On bad days you don’t need any help focusing on what feels wrong or went wrong, so it’s vital that you also remind yourself of what went right.
A gratitude or ‘Today I achieved…’ list is a fantastic way to turn around the negative feelings towards the day and focus on what went right instead.
If you’re struggling with thinking of anything, start small. It can seem silly, like ‘I managed to get out of bed today’, because on days where you are really struggling those achievements are not small and deserve to be acknowledged.

Journal

You may have noticed that we are big fans of journaling, and for good reason. If you have a lot of powerful thoughts and emotions blocking your brain and smothering your mental capacity, then you need to find a way to release them. Journaling is one of the best ways to do that.
There’s no pressure to magically feel better, it’s more about taking any thoughts and putting them on paper. You’ll most likely find that seemingly irrelevant thoughts take over at first, but if you write them down then you’ll eventually get to the thoughts that are weighing you down.
Once it’s out on paper it can feel like you’ve removed a literal weight. It may not feel like knowing how to journal comes naturally at first, but stick with it. Try not to worry about what to write, just focus on writing everything you think. Everything.

Try and use these tips when you’re having a really bad day, and hopefully you can move through it and feel better more quickly than you might have before. And remember that a bad day does not mean you have a bad life.

Yoga Tips for Beginners

October 21, 2021 by wellness Leave a Comment

Are you new to the world of Yoga, and feeling a little nervous to get involved, or know where to start? Fear not! Check out our yoga tips for beginners.

Research the class before you attend

When you’re new to an activity, and it involves moving your body, you want to make sure you’re in an experienced and safe space. You want to know that the people who are advising you know their stuff and have the correct qualifications too.
Make sure that before you pay out for a class or teacher, that you do thorough research! How are their reviews across multiple platforms? Have you spoken to anyone who attends?
It’s worth making sure they have good word of mouth, as well as qualifications.

Make sure you’re dressed comfortably

It’s really important to make sure that you’re dressed suitably for your yoga class. Of course, you need to make sure you’re in suitable, yoga attire, but also that you are comfortable. Making sure that you’re comfortable is important. Yoga is a place to relax and move your body in a joyful way, and if you’re irritated by seams, labels, or tight clothes you’re not going to be able to switch off and enjoy yourself.

Don’t compare yourself!

You cannot walk into a new activity and be an expert. No one starts that way. So, make sure to try and remember this when you’re a new starter in your yoga class. You are not there to compete with anyone. They are not there to compete with you. You are all there to enjoy this peaceful and fun practise.
If you start by comparing yourself to people who have been practising for longer, you’ll constantly find yourself disappointed, which will steal the enjoyment and peace that yoga is meant to teach you.

Always have a drink ready

It’s easy to assume that because yoga is a gentler form of movement that you won’t need a drink, and whilst drinking during the class isn’t usually suggested, it’s vital you hydrate before and after your class. Yoga is more demanding on your body than you sometimes realise, and hydration is crucial.
Forget perfectionism

Again, you can’t walk into something new and be an expert. You need to accept that yoga is not about perfectionism. You can’t be perfect, and yoga should be about that being okay. Yoga will teach you calm, but when you first start to practise, you’re probably going to have to work on accepting your limits and forgetting any ideas you have about being perfect at it.

Modify if you need to

This is another part of acceptance. Make sure that if a move is to advanced or painful, that you modify. There is absolutely zero shame in needing to modify to your level of capabilities. It’s about being where you are and working within your limits, NOT about pushing yourself too far.

Breathing is at the core of everything you’ll do

If you’re going to start yoga movement, you must learn yoga breathwork. The breathwork part of yoga is the core of yoga.
The breathing for yoga is very specific to helping you move through the physical parts of the training, but also for helping you move through the mental challenges of yoga (and life for that matter).

Finally, ASK FOR HELP

The biggest tip I can give anyone starting any new activity is to ask for help if you need it! You shouldn’t be scared to ever ask for help. Everyone was once a beginner, and your yoga teacher, or people online will be more than happy to help! Do not struggle in silence when there is a world of people waiting to help.