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Want access to a free wellness coach to help you meet your health goals? Read on!

“There are lots of factors that affect our zest for life – family, work, hobbies – but the study suggests many people don’t realise the huge role our diet can play in our overall vibrancy,” says Wellness Coach Fiona Cosgrove. 

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Wellness Coach Fiona Cosgrove has 30 years experience in the health, fitness and wellness industries

Fiona suggests asking yourself these five simple questions to help boost your energy levels and keep them strong. 

Question 1: Where is your energy highest and lowest? What are you doing, who are you with? What other factors affect it?
Jotting these down in one place can help you spot clear differences between times when you are feeling high and low mojo.

Question 2: How balanced do you feel your diet is and/or does your daily food intake include a sufficient amount of all nutrients?
Diet plays a huge role in our overall well-being, but is easy to neglect. For those feeling sluggish or lacking in energy, something as simple as increasing your fibre intake could help. I recommend a daily supplement such as Metamucil because it’s made from 100% natural psyllium which cleanses from within and can help you feel lighter and more active. It’s easy to take every day, either by adding to water or juices.

Question 3: What would you consider to be your strengths? If you’re not sure, ask your family and friends.
Usually we feel good when we’re doing things we’re good at. Identifying your strengths will give you a boost and help think about how to incorporate them into your life more.

Question 4: How do you handle stress? Do you feel you are under unusual stress right now? Where is that stress coming from?
Stress is a major cause of mojo loss. Stopping to think about why we are stressed is a first step in learning how to manage these elements more effectively.

Question 5: When are you at your most peaceful? What’s going on then?
Imagining ourselves at our most peaceful can open the door to ways to incorporate this into our lifestyle more often. Spending ten minutes a day doing the things we feel at peace with can be a major boost.

The top three causes for fatigue are stress (66%), Lack of sleep (62%) and tensions in relationships (45%) 

From a 2016 Metamucil study which surveyed 40-59 year olds 

What can all we do to feel better in:

One day: When you’re having a “bad” day, the best thing you can do is take time out to do a little bit of self-awareness around what is making you feel low in energy.

Research has shown that if you can name the emotion you are feeling and even better, write it down, it can help you to work through it. It may be an emotional low you’re experiencing or a physical one, so depending on which it is, identify it. Are you feeling sad? Disappointed? Frustrated? Lost? Used? Or perhaps just physically tired? Name it, try and work out the cause and then ask, “What do I need to get past this, or to deal with it?” The answer to this will inform the next question.

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Engaging in relaxing activities can have big health benefits, according to Fiona Cosgrove

One week: Whatever the answer is to the above, break down a series of steps, or actions you can take to improve your mood/energy. It may mean cancelling appointments, getting better sleep, exercise or nutrition, or even having a discussion with someone. Whatever those steps are, schedule them into the diary and commit to them.

Diet also plays a huge role in our overall wellbeing, but is easy to neglect. For those feeling sluggish or lacking in energy, something as simple as increasing your fibre intake could help. 

One month: In a month’s time, review whether those initial steps changed anything. If they did, great. Ask yourself how they can be incorporated into your regular living, or even better, what are the next steps to move forward or build on what you have discovered? For example, you may have been meditating for 20 minutes, three times a week and now choose to find a medication class to go to.

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A healthy diet is an essential part of improving your energy levels

One year: Twelve months is a long time to envisage. Yet it is important that you do look forward as some changes you would like to make take time. Try writing a vision statement around what you would like your life/your wellness to look like. What areas for change does that require? And if you want that change, why is that important to you?

What would a good three monthly goal be to work towards? Make this a behaviour you want to be doing, not an outcome. The behaviour should lead you towards that vision. You may choose a few areas to work on, such as, “In three months’ time I will be working four days a week instead of five and having a day for myself.”

Write your vision somewhere you can access it regularly. Make it exciting, heartfelt and very important to you. Think about what else could change if you were to achieve it.

Q: As a wellness coach what is the one thing you wish you could teach everyone, regardless of age?
Life has just begun! With age comes wisdom and experience and a chance to step off the treadmill of achievement and physical perfection, so just use it or lose it. 

Exercise is just as important and can take on a whole new realm. Social aspects become as important as the need to continually strive for improvement. It’s possible we have reached our peak. Or perhaps not? Wherever you are at in your physical fitness and wellness, make it a priority. That way, the next 50 years will be as good as they can be!

Q: What do you eat in a typical day?
I love food; a variety of nutrients, in colour, texture, food group and even temperature. Food is to be enjoyed, not a boring necessity. Yet I am also guided by my appetite and exercise level and tend to eat 3-4 meals a day. I finish eating by 6.30pm as I don’t like feeling overfull and going to bed on a full stomach.

Q: What is the best health advice you ever received?
Slow down! At least now and again.

What are your biggest health concerns? Join the conversation below.