Are you feeling tired or uninspired?

There is a huge difference between feeling the kind of happy tired that comes from a long, exciting, fun or productive day (like Haribo falling asleep with a literal smile on his face) vs the kind of chronic tiredness which comes from overwork and a lack of self-care - something all equestrians can relate to over winter - which is often linked into feeling totally uninspired! So what can we do about this?

1. Sleep enough! Sounds simple enough right? But how many of us actually get that elusive 7-9 hours sleep/night? Try it just once and see how much difference it makes the next day, then try it for a week and see the difference. Try the following for a good nights sleep: warm bed, cool room. Try and wind down from work at least an hour before bed, have a hot bath or shower and try to chill out. And I swear by lavender spray on my pillow!

2. Eat as well as you can, I am no dietician but regular meals help sustain energy throughout the day. Same with hydration.

3. Get away from the horses and work to do something fun! Go for coffee with friends, date night with your partner, walk the dog somewhere new, go to the cinema, explore your hometown. The opportunities are endless and don't have to involve spending a fortune on a holiday in the sun or on the slopes to feel like you've had a break, although that is also an option that would definitely work!

4. Shake up your horsey routine: ride with friends, hack somewhere new, hire an indoor school to get away from the elements, take some lessons to reignite your mojo or give your horses some time off, guilt free because this is YOUR decision!

5. Practice indulgent self care: a glass of wine or whatever your poison, a hot bubble bath, luxury face mask, that yoga class, hitting the gym, whatever makes YOU feel good and cared for, make a date in your diary and commit to it the same way you would a work meeting or farrier appointment for your horse. After all you cannot pour from an empty cup.

6. Set some goals, there is nothing like a list of things you want to achieve and how you plan on doing so to re-ignite your inner spark.

If all else fails wrap up warm and embrace the last of winter, less than 2 months left to spring!

Sarah x