Wellness Tip:

Eat Your Greens for Brain Health

Your Mom was right when she told you to eat your greens. Did you know that they can actually prevent memory loss and cognitive decline?

One study of 960 adults found that people who ate 1-2 daily servings of green, leafy vegetables had a slower rate of decline on tests of memory and thinking skills than people who rarely or never ate them. 

On top of that, older adults who ate at least one serving daily showed an equivalent of being 11 years younger cognitively. That’s pretty impressive.

Keen to get more greens into your life? Here are 46 ways to get you started.

Routine Breakdown

Michelle Best, Global Marketing Manager & Founder of Best & Bloom

The Side-Hustle Routine That Keeps Creativity Alive

As well as being a Global Marketing Manager for a major technology firm, Michelle Best recently founded Best & Bloom – a business selling luxury faux flower arrangements and homewares. “I started it as both a creative outlet and a way to keep my marketing skills sharp outside the corporate environment,” says Michelle, adding that her routine is what keeps her balanced between these two different worlds.

The Routine:

• 6:30 – 8:30 am: Wakes at 6:30am, feeds the dog, and makes a cup of tea. “I open my laptop to fulfil orders from the previous day, review inventory, and scan my PPC ad performance, making any necessary adjustments.”
• 8:30 – 9 am: Walks the dog and showers. “Walking first thing clears my mind. It’s like a gentle switch between business owner and marketing manager mode.”
• Strategic split: focus in the morning, collaboration in the afternoon. “I use my mental peak hours for strategy, planning and writing, and save meetings for later when I can shift into discussion mode.” As she works from home, she plans her day around her energy levels and time zones. “I also volunteer for the charity The Hygiene Bank, so on some mornings I will deliver hygiene products to our community partners, such as local schools.” 
• Evening creativity and reflection. “After cooking dinner and a final dog walk, I switch back to Best & Bloom. This is when I design new arrangements, create ads, edit photos, or write email copy.” She adds that the creative work never feels like a chore. “It’s the most energizing part of my day. Doing it in the evening feels like unwinding, not working.”

Why it works:

• Jumping into her business first thing allows Michelle to get ahead for the day. “Getting the admin done early means it doesn’t hang over me, and I can start my full-time job with a clear head.”
• Research agrees that walking clears the mind and improves brain function. Michelle adds that it helps her stay active even without time for the gym. “There really is no excuse for me not to get at least 40 mins of exercise in the day, even if it’s split into three short sessions.”
• Using peak focus times for tasks like strategy and planning is smart – it’s a way to work with your natural energy cycles.
• Evenings are often a creative sweet spot because lower cognitive control and fewer distractions make it easier to generate fresh ideas and think more freely. 

This routine is what helps Michelle balance full-time work and a side hustle. “I protect my mornings for focus and my evenings for flow,” she says. “It’s how I make space for both ambition and creativity without burning out.”