Tips to Help Reduce Your Cold Symptoms

It's that time of the year again, autumn leaves falling, darker mornings, shorter days, thicker jumpers and of course, colds.

Everyone seems to be coughing, sneezing and complaining that they have a cold and I am someone who has been constantly shivering unless I wear 2 vests, a thermal top, a regular top and a thick jumper outside but have found some of these things useful in helping reduce my cold/flu-like symptoms.

 

1. Drink Hot Herbal Tea

I found that sipping on hot cups of ginger and lemon tea (Twinning's Settling Ginger and Revitalising Lemon & Ginger are two of my favourites) really helps my throat feel less sore and dry; it also helps making me feel a little more warm and cosy which is always really comforting.

 

2. Stay Hydrated

I know this may be one point you rather skip out off the list, but when you're ill having plenty of water for your body to take care of itself is definitely the wiser option. During the day, drinking water should help increase your energy levels too.

 

3. Take Multi Vitamins

 

Vitamins, vitamins, vitamins. Don't forget your vitamins. I regularly take multivitamins all year round and swap between Floradix Liquid Iron and Vitamin Formula and Metatone Tonic as well as Vitamin D and Iron tablets (since my GP has recommended this to me).  Especially when I feel like any sympotoms of a cold is arising or simply feel fatigue, I will take Vitamin C tablets to help my immune system keep up with everything that's going on.

 

4. Get Enough Sleep

 Tired all the time? Go to bed a little earlier because you owe yourself that much. After all, its probably not your fault you were infected by the coughing bus passenger next to you, right? A little more snooze ain't gonna hurt no body.

 

5. Eat Oranges

Now orange juice doesn't classify as fresh oranges, there is something very different about the two things I would have thought. Eating oranges and other citus fruits, berries and fresh vegetables also helps your body repair itself quicker and more easily due to the higher amounts of antioxidants your body receives.

 

6. Strepsils, Tissues and Paracetamol

My mother never let me leave the house without all of these things. Always keeping paracetamol handy means that you should be able to battle the day to the end like a hero...

 

Hopefully this has reminded you that nourishing your body with all that it deserves will help you feel energized much more faster than if you binged on junk foods and walked around the roads with a light shirt on!

 

Priyanka xx

 

Starting the Day With a Fresh Thing or Two in Mind

The morning is the one of the most important times of the day. It's not about rushing to the kitchen for your beloved cup of tea, neither is it truly about eating your breakfast and then running out the door even though these are things that we have to do eventually whether we like it or not.

Since my exams have finally finished and two and a half months of a summer and fun has arrived, I'm going to take this as an opportunity to re-wire my mind so that it can not only be an action packed summer but one in which I can become the best possible version of myself within.

During the past few months I've been trying out a few different things so that I can become less stressed and use the highest possible energy into what really matters in my life.

So without further ado, here is my morning run:

Try not to hit snooze
 I know this one is practically impossible. No in fact it's very, very close to literally being impossible. However, we're all in this together! It's simply mind over matter - you need to get things done, why delay something when it can be done quickly so you can do other (hopefully more exciting) things with your day?

Life hack:
- Set one alarm off 5 minutes before you usually do (mentally allowing yourself to snooze it).
 -Set your alarm off when you wake up (lay in bed letting it ring several times, knowing you have to get up- and now!)
-Set one alarm after 5 minutes (you should not delete this one and is ONLY for over runs in case something happens (like you feel extremes symptoms of laziness or fatigue and you don't get up on time)

Do what you would begin to do and then go down for your tea
I usually wake up, wash my face, put my clothes on and then run down for my cup of green tea with a squeezed slice of lemon (my continued obsession is here for y'all to read and laugh at).

Go back up finish something else and then write in a journal
I like to finish doing my bed and then write in my diary. Diaries don't have to be time consuming or excessive, it can take you no longer than several minutes in the morning, especially when your in a rush.

Go for three subheadings:
- Gratitude (everything in your life at the moment which make it worth living as well simple things like the presence of a healthy family that we always take for granted).
- Refection (what was things you did yesterday that were awesome and the things that could do with improvement).
-Today's goals (what are you going to do today and how its exactly going to happen).

Bullet point all these down on a page and that's it!

BUT writing it down is a complete waste of your time if you're not truthful about what you write and if you are not really going to do any of the things which you say you are going to do- you might as well not have written it down in the first place!

Now you are free to make breakfast, rehydrate your system and get ready to kick you day up  backside
I won't go into the typical 'breakfast is the most important meal of the day' because the fact stands that is really and truly is. I drink a lot of water (1.5 litres this morning- but it was a good day) and then that's me pretty much sorted to put my makeup on, pack my super healthy salad and get out the front door.

Ladies (and gentlemen) sometimes that's exactly how is done.

Priyanka xx

Infusion...Talking About Tea...

Well I love a cuppa' tea.

 

Or four,

If you will.

Thank you

 

 I used to hate Green Tea. Many people hate the taste of green tea and I completely understand why but now I drink the stuff religiously. So much that a) my dad is purchasing it in bulk b) I spend half my time waiting for water to boil in the kettle and c) it seems so wrong and I feel horrible if (I ever) go a whole day without it.

I'm not really sure who can sympathise with me at this current moment but I hope I never get deprived of my healthy tea drinking habit - it just calms me and my stomach down and its especially ideal in these bitter cold winter months.


I also like drinking Peppermint tea after I eat dinner and before I go to sleep as it aids digestion which is great because we tend to have dinner a bit late sometimes - even though I hate it- and don't have time to 'walk it off '.

Not a tea drinker?

There are so many types of herbal teas that you might actually begin to like and add to your everyday schedule. I just tried Ginger tea with blends of cinnamon, cloves and liquorice and it seems pretty nice to me... maybe you'll develop your very own Priyanka-styled obsession over it - you never know unless you try.

What's you favourite type of tea? The old but much loved PG tips?

Priyanka xx

Things I have learnt during Secondary / High School

 

Umm yes.

 

This is my year 6 class photo. Its one of the last primary school photos before all went to new schools, to start new lives, make new friends and make memories.



 



 

 

Its really strange (and scary) to think about how much I have changed since the age of 11 and all the amazing memories I have made with my new friends since then. Here are some of the things that I have learnt from being in secondary school  sorry but 'High School' just sounds way better!)

 

1. In the UK schools (as far as I know) don't have huge lockers that you can decorate like in American movies.

 

It sucks.

 

A lot.

 

I spent all of my time in the last year of Primary School dreaming of the ways that I was going to decorate my locker. I don't have any older siblings to tell me how it was actually going to be like - and the best part is then being stuck with a tiny bottom locker for the rest of the years. Great.

 

2. Your friends can change often.

 

Some of the first friends I made in year 7 I loved. I thought that we were always going to be friends and that we were stuck together. To be honest some of them I don't even say 'hi' to never mind hang out with.

 

3. Confidence is key.

 

I find people so intimidating sometimes (especially on a bar hair day but that's another story) but really sometimes you just have to fake it to make it so that you actually start believing I in yourself. Its not possible to stay quite during all those long, boring hours of school and expect to enjoy it. You have to push the boundaries, participate in class, discuss things with other people and share you opinion and the you will already be interested in learning and socialising.

 

You can see my ten top tips here.

 

4. You might be the ripest, juiciest peach but people are still going to hate peaches.

 

Its not possible to please everyone. Its hard to be clever, pretty, funny, confident, enthusiastic, creative and hardworking at the same time. You just have to concentrate all your energy in being the best version of you that you can be. Then everything else will fall into place.

 

5. Make every day count.

 

If you think about it you're spending at least 5 years of your life at the same school, so its a waste of time hating it (literally). Every moment should count towards something good, something positive, towards your future. Make friends that encourage you and influence you well instead of people you actually don't like being around. Its you life. Its you choice.

 

I hope some of these things open up your mind and help you survive school :)

 

I'm sure I would have told myself these things when I first started but I had to figure it out myself.

 

Priyanka xx

 

 

 

 



 

 



Tips to Get Better, Longer Sleep

My life would go nowhere if I did not sleep properly or long enough....or happily.

Have you ever noticed that if you cry yourself to sleep you always wake up in a bad mood?

Well here are some tips from my own experience that can ensure that you are fresh and ready for a new day and a new start.

1. Get into bed at least 30 minutes before you plan to sleep

This is so that your body can fully relax and unwind; all prepared :)

2. Put down your phone and any other electronics

You might have heard it before but my form tutor has told all of us (multiple times) that its a scientific fact that electronic devices keep you awake - we are all guilty of the endless instagram scroll and twitter feed.

3. Read a book.

I would recommend The Hunger Games but you know I'm a little biased. The point is that reading slowly shuts down your mind and the words on the page get longer until you can't keep your eyes open any longer.

4. Think of happy things

Ask yourself what the best parts of your day was, smile, think of tomorrows goals, celebrate your life! Clear your mind of any unhappy thoughts and make sure that you've finished everything you need to before you sleep so your stress free.

Even plan an exciting breakfast for tomorrow morning because it (and coffee) sure seems to get me up!

5. Stretch out your body.

You don't really realised how tense your body can get during the day, so moving around a little can help with deeper sleep.

6. Set yourself a 'bed time' so you know that you get at least 8 hours sleep

Now that your body is refreshed and relaxed (and that banging head ache is gone along with those under eye circles) you can go and

conquer

 the

 world.

Priyanka xx