Melanie Sykes reveals her secrets to living life well

TV star and wellbeing advocate, Melanie Sykes, and Harley Street Nutritionist, Rhiannon Lambert, is encouraging us to discover new things following new research that reveals it’s the simple pleasures in life that makes us feel most content.

 

A resounding 95 per cent of us believe making enough time for the ‘good stuff’ and things you enjoy is important for leading a happy life.

 

The study, commissioned by seeded bread brand Burgen, also found we rank time outdoors, indulging in a tasty, healthy meal and sleep among the top things we enjoy.

 

Discovering something new and making time for your hobby also made the list.

 

However, it seems making time for the ‘good stuff’ is short lived, with 21 per cent in longing for more time to dedicate to their passions.

 

No wonder when nearly one in five spend less than 30 minutes a day on the things they enjoy.

 

Lack of money is the biggest barrier which stops us from relishing the best things in life.

 

 

Melanie says: “Over the past ten years I’ve focused on going for the ‘good stuff,’ adopting a healthy attitude towards food and keeping fit with regular exercise. I have learnt to stop saying ‘yes’ to everything and give myself enough time to unwind and focus on me.

 

“For me, it’s about making time to discover new things that I will enjoy. Whether that’s playing around in the kitchen with new ingredients or throwing myself into a new workout routine.

 

“Hopefully this research will motivate others to make time to start their own journey of discovery and spend more time on the ‘good stuff’.”

 

Despite citing catching up with their mates as one of life’s greatest pleasures, the average person will meet with friends just once a week.

 

Though they will make time to touch base with their family around the dinner table four times a week on average.

 

The survey revealed that 33 is the age where we become our most health conscious and seek to get more ‘good stuff’ in to our life.

 

One in four people take pleasure in eating well, but a third think the cost of eating healthily is prohibitive, and one in six think their lengthy work hours stop them from eating as well as they would like.

 

Despite this, two thirds said they find eating healthily generally helps to lift their mood, and we’ll turn to food four times a week to raise their spirits.

 

Nutritionist, Rhiannon Lambert, explains: “It’s such a simple change, but making sure we get enough of ‘the good stuff’ in our diets can improve the quality of our lives, inside and out.

 

“A balanced diet can actively help improve our health, but the research also demonstrates the impact some thoughtful food choices can have on our mental wellbeing.”

 

Taking a view on what we are eating, lack of clarity on what is and isn’t ‘good’ for us has had an impact on our food choices.

 

One in five believe that bread is bad for you. Furthermore, a third confess to purposely cutting the staple out of their diet – with the hope that it will maintain a healthy weight.

 

Lambert comments: “Over the years, carbohydrates have been vilified, yet they are absolutely essential. Everyone is different and will have a different lifestyle, proprepharmacie.com, energy expenditure and dietary needs – there is no one size that fits all.

 

On the announcement of the ambassador partnerships, Kate Hope from Burgen, said: “Together we hope to help dispel some of the myths surrounding health and wellness, particularly around carbohydrates and bread.

 

“Now is the perfect time to act. If you’re looking for a delicious bread that fits in with your healthy lifestyle, our best-selling Soya & Linseed loaf is packed with great-tasting natural seeds and grains.”