How do we go from a hectic life to one that is filled with enchanted moments and overflowing goodness? So many of us are stuck with situations that seem too overwhelming to change, but the truth is that all of us have a beautiful life within reach with just a few small changes we can make every day.

Having worked in the film industry, I was used to putting in long hours in challenging environments where catering was often a selection of unhealthy options with little nourishment and an after-lunch-energy-slump. One of the challenges was how to avoid the snack cart where there would be more disastrous options waiting. Not burning out my adrenals on coffee and keeping up constant steady supply of activity without peaking and crashing was a priority. I had very little time to prepare for the next day, exercise, eat, shower, or sleep- often for months at a time. This was becoming a vicious cycle. I was putting on weight, became bloated and always felt edgy.

I needed to make changes, I got clear, really crystal clear- what were my top non-negotioable wellbeing priorities, and how could I best honour myself while working in the industry that I loved so much? I learned to be more discerning, taking on jobs that align with my priorities, rather than saying yes to everything, running myself into the ground. This has created the space to work on my projects such as The Womens Collective, and ultimately helped me create a life aligned with true wellbeing.

One of the greatest acts of self care for women is to connect to our own cycles so we can create our heart's desires and flourish in all areas of life.

The following practices that have made lasting changes in my health and wellbeing. They are simple, fun and fit into a busy schedule.

1. Keep a Journal

This has been a game changer when it comes to connecting with my own moon cycle. I jot down a few simple things, usually in bullet point form. After a few months you can see your rhythms and when your energy peaks and when it dips. This in turn helps me plan my month around my energy. For example, I know that from the days 12 to 16 of my cycle, I'm generally feeling at my most fabulous: I'm vibrant, feeling social, have a spring in my step and my self confidence is at a high. A perfect time to plan a date, social event or meeting, whereas day 26 of my cycle... not so much!

Here are the points you can take down for each time you journal, with prompts and sample answers given to help guide you:

The day of the cycle - day 1 (this would be the first day of your period)

Energy Level - Am I feeling alive, vibrant and well rested or flat, low vibe, tired with withdrawn Emotions? Am I loving, peaceful, irritable or angry?

Nutrition - What did I eat the day before? Do I have any food cravings? Jot them down.

Libido - Am I feeling sensual or more passive?

Dreams - What do I see? Are the dreams erotic, colorful, filled with animals? Do I have any recurring dreams?

Outward Expression - How is my level of creativity, confidence and ability to cope?

Setting Intentions - Creating abundance starts with setting intentions. Write down what it is you want to create or achieve. Be as detailed as I can be, especially writing down the way your body feels when you imagine that your wish was already granted. Ask yourself: What do I wish to create in the areas of wealth and abundance, mission and purpose, health and relationships, freedom and adventure?

2. Connect to Nature

Every day take your shoes off, stand bare feet on the earth and breathe, imagining yourself plugging into the core of your earth and feeling the earth breathe with you as you connect more deeply.

After taking a few deep breaths, close your eyes and notice the sounds, the smells, the sensations moving in you. Start to gently shake, your arms your legs your whole body. This shaking enlivens every cell in your body with movement and fresh oxygen.

Breathe generously as you feel how connected you are to nature, imagining the life energy flowing through you.

3. Love every part of your body

As women, we often have insecurities around our body which can affect our levels of confidence and our quality of life. Especially when it comes to intimate areas of our body like our breasts, we can create a space of self-acceptance has the power to completely shift the way we see ourselves.

Start your day with a big stretch, and have a moment of appreciation and gratitude for your beautiful body. Take a deep breath and let out some sound. Have a look under the covers and with a fully adoring heart say good morning to your breast and let yourself know that you choose to fully embrace ALL of your physical body.

As you brush your teeth, take this time as another opportunity to be fully present, looking at yourself in the mirror, noticing the brightness depth and colour of your eyes, the radiance and glow of your skin. Smile to yourself, knowing that this is going to be an amazing day.

4. Nutrition

When it comes to daily nutrition, I recommend you start using high-quality nutritional supplements such as Spirulina, Mana blend and medicinal mushrooms while also organising yourself for the days ahead. One simple way to prepare healthy food is to start with easy ingredients. For myself, each night after work, I would steam green veggies and roast a sweet potato while I was in the shower. I would make enough for a few days. Tahini & Tamari is a favourite dressing of mine and is easy to prepare just by blending the two ingredients together. You can pop all this in the fridge take it with you the next day, giving you a nourishing meal during lunchtime.

I love to snack and try to get the most nourishing bites in between meals when I need them. You can, for example, make your own little bliss balls, using cacao with goji berries, dates, buckwheat and sweetened with coconut nectar. If you make a big batch of snack bites and freeze them, you'll be able to have a supply that will last for a while and take them with you to work when needed.

I'm also a chocoholic and always have a block of the best quality raw chocolate I can find in my desk drawer - to me chocolate truly is medicine. I also mix raw cacao into my smoothies and in winter my porridge. For an extra OMG taste, add chopped nuts and dates. 

5. Enjoy Silence and Rest

I choose to eat in silence. This gives me time to reconnect to myself and gives me the space to feel what's moving in me. It's also a way that gives me a moment to slow down and chew my food properly, whichaids in digestion and supports absorption of nutrients. Staying present when eating a meal also helps us to feel when we are full. I was surprised at just how much I had been overeating.

I also recommend that you rest deeply and completely. We spend so much time out of alignment, saying "yes" to so many things, racing about, burning ourselves out and thus causing hormonal imbalances that make us gain weight, feel fatigued and even cause fertility issues. Trying to stay on top of a never-ending list of jobs to do, places to be, people to see is extremely exhausting, overwhelming and impossible to maintain. When we rest we are able to recharge, renew our life force and integrate all the information we received throughout the business of the day. This in turn will create a more peaceful, joyful and productive you.

5. Be Generous With Yourself

My wellbeing practices are like second nature: Once I made the commitment to self-care, I started looking forward to preparing for my week. The routine I have built for myself feels much more like a self-care ritual rather than a chore. Without this loving self-support I would not have the energy to joyfully do my job. Remember to be generous with yourself and give yourself time to find which variation of these practices works best for you. As you implement these practices and begin to truly relish in them, expect to be surprised- the universe has way more in store for us than we can ever imagine!