Walking My Way To Wellness

I am a firm believer in the saying, 'you can't pour from an empty cup'. I believe, especially so as a parent with two little people who rely on me daily, that to be able to give them my best, I have to make sure that I take time out to care about me as well as them. I've learnt that as a busy, work-from-home Mum it's not always easy or practical to fulfil 'me time' by hitting the gym or visiting the spa or going for romantic dates with my husband, but that there are simple everyday things that I can fit in and enjoy to improve my overall wellbeing and to take care of myself. 

I like to take care of myself by doing things like reading a book, lighting a candle in the evening and listening to my favourite playlist whilst I bathe the boys or put the washing away, but getting out into the fresh air and going for a walk, is my favourite way to improve my wellness.

My go-to thing for pretty much instantly improving my wellbeing has always been getting outdoors and into nature. There's something about the change of scenery, the fresh air, the reminder that there's more than the four walls of a room in my house and a whole world to explore outside and away from social media (for when it all feels a little overwhelming) that instantly brings me the perspective and the calm that I sometimes so desperately need. And I couldn't have been happier to collaborate with FitFlop to celebrate the launch of their brand new WonderWelly - 21st-century wellies for women that feel as great as they look. 

I think that's exactly why I always say that I'm a summer girl at heart - because there are more opportunities for getting outdoors and that's where I'm happiest. I feel like I may have been too quick to overlook Autumn though, as actually, it's one of the prettiest times of year to enjoy nature as the leaves change colour and fall to the floor. I also do love a good cosy Autumn outfit - oversized jumpers, jeans, an Autumnal scarf and a good pair of wellies. The wellies that I'm wearing in these photos are the gorgeous bubblegum pink wellies and I am IN LOVE with how comfortable they are to wear and how they bring a pop of happiness and colour to my outfits and photos. 

The new WonderWelly wellies come in two different heights and six different colours, and I just had to go for the tall bright pink pair to complement my rainbow umbrella - there's nothing like adding a touch of colour and fun now that the days are getting darker and feeling shorter. 

Aside from the beautiful colour and how easy the new Fitflop WonderWelly are to style, I have to say that they are also probably the most comfortable wellies I've ever worn but then that's due to how they've been designed. They've been designed with a contoured sole for even weight distribution, as well as a honeycomb heel design to absorb impact and a springy forefoot to help with the 'push off' when walking. They're so comfortable that they almost make me feel like I'm wearing trainers! 

I'm really fortunate to have lots of lovely nature walks near me and fantastic walking routes and I really do try and take advantage of that, but sometimes just a stroll around the village or down to the park is all it takes to refresh my mind. I actually think walking, especially when alone, is a bit like meditating in a way, it's a chance to focus on the now and escape the general busyness of everyday life. 

I think in general we're really lucky to have such scenic places in the UK to visit too, places like the Lake District, Cornwall, The New Forest, The Cotswolds and Pembrokeshire are some that instantly spring to mind. I also think that we're fortunate to have so many incredible National Trust properties to visit and explore - we make the most of our family membership each year as my boys take after their Dad and I and also love nothing more than being outdoors exploring. I hope that over the coming years my boys will continue to love nature and the great outdoors as much as we do as I really believe in the benefits of getting outside and I love that it's something that brings us together, improves our wellness and most of the time, costs absolutely nothing! 

Do you also find that getting outdoors and being around nature helps to improve your wellbeing? Do you try to get outdoors regularly? 

Thank you for reading. 

  Alex xo

*This post is in association with FitFlop but all thoughts, images and opinions shared are entirely my own.