Have you ever noticed how kids have an incredible draining effect on parents, yet they themselves never seem to tire. It’s enviable and, frankly, just not fair! We’re the ones who put all the hard work in and they get the rewards.

Well I say, no more! It’s about time we got to enjoy some of their youthful exuberance. So in this post, we’re calling out to you to embrace your inner child with these handy tips to feeling young again.

We got in touch with Sonia Lloyd, Owner and Founder of Rasasara Skinfood, Ayurvedic Skincare to learn a bit about how to stay young mentally and physically. Having studied traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic dietetics and embraced the classical Buddhist philosophy, we figured she’d know a thing or two about tapping into your internal youth.

Daily Self-Massage - Abhyanga

Sonia encourages us to practise a daily self-massage, a suggestion that sounds so nice, you don’t need to convince me to put a daily routine into place. Here’s her advice:

“Revered by Ayurveda and applied from birth through to old age, Abhyanga is administered with warm oil and performs an essential role. It boosts the body’s immunity through increasing circulation, promoting proper drainage of the lymph system, removing toxins, and stimulating the body’s production of serotonin (a happy hormone).

“The net result is a practice of self-love that protects, nourishes and strengthens the body, and the bi-product is naturally younger, smoother, clearer, soft skin.

“Use oil and start massaging the scalp in small circular motions, move down over the face, ear lobes and continue down the body. Long strokes are best down the arms, and small circular movements over the joints. Finish the massage off with a couple of minutes dedicated to your feet.”

Nourish and Hydrate Your Skin

This one is to do strictly with looking younger, with a focus on how to give your skin that natural, youthful glow…

“Whilst amazing for reducing pigmentation, age spots and fine lines, the over and often exclusive use of vitamin serums and cosmeceuticals can leave some skin types dehydrated, dull or flat.

“Just as a broad balanced diet and adequate water intake is essential for the health of our primary organs, our skin – being the body’s largest organ – also requires proper nourishment and hydration. Organic nourishing oils infused with herbs and essential oils, floral waters and grain-based cleansers both strengthen the skin and assist in maintaining the balance of fluid, essential for skin regeneration.”

Cultivate Strong Digestion

Ever had that bloated, sleepy feeling when you’ve had too much to eat? Poor digestion is bound to slow you down and you won’t have a chance to keep up with the kids. Sonia says:

“Being the foundation of all good health and a glowing complexion, strong digestion is the key to wellness and longevity. The assimilation and absorption of nutrients via the GI tract can only occur when food is properly digested.

“Signs of good digestion are a healthy appetite, a balanced mind, the absence of bloating or pain after eating, and regular bowel movements. To correct a digestive imbalance, often a whole dietary plan may need to be implemented, however for slightly sluggish digestion try taking half a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in warm water before each meal.”

Give Up on Worrying

"Worry is the interest owed on a debt you may never have to pay." – Keith Caserta

This is my personal favourite, though of course, it’s easier said than done. There’s a lot of truth in this tip though.

Did you know that between 60% and 90% of all doctor’s visits each year can be linked back to anxiety, depression, insomnia, obsessive anger & hostility, high blood pressure, and heart attacks, all of which can be caused by stress? With that in mind, it’s worth listening to what Sonia has to say…

“Worrying creates stress & 'dis-ease’. From an Ayurvedic standpoint, the effects of worry often show up as impaired digestion or disorders of the nervous system, such as headaches or more serious health conditions.

“Excessive worry often leads to extreme behaviours such as the overuse of stimulants (e.g. coffee), over- or under-eating, lack of sleep & depression. All which, of course, take a toll upon our physical and psychological health, ultimately showing up on our skin as premature ageing, deeply etched worry lines, eczema, psoriasis or persistent blemishes.

“As his holiness the 14th Dalai advises: ‘If a problem is fixable, if a situation is such that you can do something about it, then there is no need to worry. If it's not fixable, then there is no help in worrying. There is no benefit in worrying whatsoever.’”

There are endless ways to reduce stress in your life. Sit back at the end of your day with a glass of wine. Enforce a social catch up with your friends, no matter how busy you are. Or maybe head out with the family to your local park or reserve and reconnect with nature (and follow these tricks to getting your kids to wear shoes while you’re at it).

So has Sonia’s philosophy given you some food for thought? If you have any of your own self-prescribed tips for staying young, we’d love you to share them in the comments section below. And be sure to check out more tips and tricks for parents on the Bobux blog today.