Wellness experts reveal small acts of self-care to prioritise this February

February is widely recognised as the month of love, and is often associated with romance and relationships.

However, wellness experts from healthy drinks brand, DASH Water, believe it’s also the perfect time to prioritise self-care and build positive habits in preparation for spring.

The experts comment,

“January often feels like a month of restriction, with many people diving into New Year’s resolutions centred on health and wellbeing. But as that initial motivation fades, it can be challenging to stay on track. That’s why February is the perfect time to shift the focus to self-care and sustainable habits that will carry you into spring. Instead of pressure and perfection, this month should be about acceptance, positivity, and personal growth.”

The experts suggest one of the key ways to practise self-care is by understanding how to balance dopamine levels.

“Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram often drive new wellness trends, and recently the ‘Dopamine Detox’ has been everywhere. The idea suggests that by cutting out activities that provide quick dopamine hits, we can reset our brains and reduce the craving for constant stimulation. 

“However, many experts argue that it’s not actually possible to ‘detox’ dopamine. Instead of extreme restrictions, the focus should be on finding balance and making small, mindful changes that support overall wellbeing and help build sustainable habits for the long term.”

To explore this trend further, DASH Water have partnered with Ruth Kudzi, neuroscience expert, and author of How to Feel Better, to share insight into this craze, including ways to embrace a more balanced approach. 

Ruth comments,

“A dopamine detox is a way that you can reset your brain’s reward system though limiting exposure to activities which provide dopamine to ‘reset’ the system. The idea is that if you detox from activities which provide a lot of dopamine and are easily accessible such as social media, junk food, gaming and binge-watching Netflix, you’ll be able to reset your system which will help you to feel more connected to yourself and mean you’ll have higher levels of focus and motivation and experience more joy.”

Ruth suggests ways in which we can better balance our dopamine levels,

• “Taking social media off our phone so we can only view it on our computers or setting restrictions on our phone to limit screen time.”
• “Substitute the time you would have been on your phone to reading or listening to podcasts.”
• “Switching out junk and sugary food for wholefoods.”
• “Physically shopping for your food rather than relying on delivery apps.”
• “Restricting the amount of TV you watch.”
• “Reducing screen time and moving your phone to a different room.” 

“Some great activities to switch out too include walking, spending time in nature, creative activities, yoga, swimming, reading and writing or journaling; these can all help you to be more mindful and present. 

“You can decide to start with doing this once a day, potentially having a screen free day once a week or you can start to incorporate smaller swaps into your daily activities.”

Alternative ways to prioritise wellbeing this February

The team at DASH Water have suggested other ways you can prioritise wellbeing during the month of February.

• Use down time to catch up with your friends and family, whether in person or on the phone.
• Set step goals to suit you. Spend time outdoors moving your body while listening to a podcast or calming music.
• Host a Galentine’s evening and invite your friends over. Share the cooking by asking your friends to each bring a dish.
• Learn about classes and hobbies you can get involved in in your local area. This is a great way to meet new people and rediscover a skill!
• Consider healthy swaps in your everyday diet, including sugary drinks for flavoured sparkling water, cereal for porridge and biscuits for rice cakes. 
• Dedicate time in the morning to mindfulness, whether that’s journaling or meditation.

About Ruth Kudzi

Ruth is a Master Certified Coach, Neuroscience expert, Coaching Psychologist, Best Selling Author of ‘How to Feel Better’ and founder of Optimus Coaching Academy. . https://www.ruthkudzi.com/

About DASH

Founders Jack Scott and Alex Wright used to sell mainstream soft drinks. Both from farming backgrounds, they’ve seen first-hand just how much produce never reaches our plates. They were inspired to do something about it and do it 100% naturally. This paved the way for DASH Water, which launched in 2017.

The young entrepreneurial duo have seized a gap in the market, as consumers turn their back on traditional soft drinks full of sugar or sweetener.

As a Certified B Corporation and as part of their commitment to raising awareness of food waste and the environmental impact of the business, DASH is on a mission to celebrate wonky fruit to make delicious and healthy drinks.

A sustainable business doing more for the planet, people and taste buds.

Buy all flavours now at www.dash-water.com

Instagram: @dashdrinks

Facebook: @Dashwater

TikTok: @dashdrinks

Taylor Rose Hair – London’s number one destination hair and extension clinic