EDITOR’S LETTER
Welcome to the March issue.
Ever thought about growing your own fruit and vegetables? With winter turning to spring, now is the perfect time to start planning your crop! Look inside for our guide to sowing some of the most popular edibles in your own garden or balcony. The start of spring also signifies a fresh start and what better way to kickstart the season with a spring clean of your property. We’re all becoming increasingly aware that chemicals and plastic waste can be harmful to the environment we live in. So, with that in mind, we share our cleaning hacks that’ll have your home sparkling in no time – using natural products that can be found in any kitchen cupboard. And when you’ve had enough of tending to your vegetable patch and spring cleaning, why not head out on an adventure! With supermarket shelves already piled high with Easter eggs, and events planned for the lead up to, and including, Easter, there is lots of fun to be had and our travel feature gives plenty of ideas for the whole family. Until next time. Linda McKeown Editor
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Finding a balanced lifestyle that works for you
For your body to be able to work properly, it needs the balance of a good diet, exercise and enough sleep. Too much of anything is bad, so allow us to help you get that balance right with this guide With the Christmas and New Year celebrations well and truly gone, many of us are now looking to the future with pragmatism and with a new-found sense of purpose. After all, it wasn’t all that long ago when we made our new year’s resolutions. What did yours involve? A new, healthier lifestyle? How’s that going? Well – whether it’s going badly or brilliantly – this guide can help you remember what the most important factors are when it comes to leading a healthy lifestyle. Balance is everything, so fixating
on one aspect, such as fully focusing your time and energy on excessive exercise and toning – and therefore neglecting all the other important aspects, probably isn’t the best idea.
Balance work and leisure Let’s begin dealing with something which far too many people neglect. You need some fun in your life! Of course, you need to work, but you also need to let off some steam and relax – both physically and mentally. After, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Getting the right balance between your work and leisure time is crucial in stabilising your happiness and mental health levels. If you’re working overtime on any given shift, try to ensure it’s not a regular occurrence, whether that be because your boss is working you like a dog,
or you think you’re a machine, limitless with infinite energy. Playing games, socialising, reading, watching films – all these activities can actually help tremendously in keeping your life in balance.
Food and drink It always has been, and remains to be, very important to eat a balanced and varied diet in order to stay healthy and fit. And fluids are just as important. Fizzy drinks, containing lots of sugar, ideally should be kept down to a minimum. Everything in moderation. Health authorities recommend approximately two litres a day, but don’t forget that fruit and vegetables actually contain water, so it’s perhaps unnecessary to drink exactly that each day. One of the nicest yet healthiest diets we can think of sure does satisfy the soul! Eggs for breakfast, perhaps