Ladies: cool your heels - it's okay to say no

From workouts to healthy diets, many of us make an effort to look after ourselves. However, we could be compromising our health on a daily basis without even knowing it. From carrying heavy handbags to wearing crippling heels, here are the top 10 female habits you should try to break.

WEARING HEELS

More and more of us are opting to wear heels on a daily basis and this could be bad news for our health. High heels affect our posture, put pressure on joints and can lead to a range of conditions including arthritis, hammer toes, back pain and tendon injuries - and that's before you take into account any heel-related accidents. To minimise damage, limit your heels to 4cm for daily wear, and wear insoles to help reduce the pressure on joints.

MATCHING MEN DRINK FOR DRINK

From networking drinks to first dates and social events, there are many instances when women may feel compelled to keep up with the drinking habits of the opposite sex.

However, women not only tend to weigh less than men but they have less body water to dilute the alcohol, which means they tend to get more drunk more quickly.

To minimise the risks try to keep within the recommended guidelines for alcohol consumption and alternate alcohol with soft drinks.

WEARING THE WRONG BRA SIZE

It is thought that more than 70 per cent of women are wearing the wrong bra size.

Wearing a badly fitted bra can not only affect the look of your clothes and research suggests it can cause a range of health problems including back, neck and breast pain, breathing difficulties, poor posture, skin irritation and circulation problems. Rather than guessing, make sure you get measured to ensure you are getting the support you need.

SLEEPING IN MAKEUP

Most of us have succumbed to the temptation to sleep in our post-party makeup at some point.

However, leaving makeup on overnight - along with the dirt and oil that naturally accumulates on skin throughout the day - is a quick route to clogged pores, congested skin and spots. Sleeping with mascara and eye makeup on can also affect your health by causing eye irritation, bloodshot eyes or even infection.

WORRYING AND HARBOURING REGRETS

Stress is damaging to both our physical and mental health, and women are twice as likely as men to suffer from stress-related disorders, as well as having higher rates of depression and anxiety.

While it is thought there may be biological reasons for this, worrying about the future and dwelling on regrets can also add to our problems, with research suggesting that women are more than twice as likely as men to harbour regrets over lost loves and broken relationships.

EMOTIONAL EATING

While comfort eating affects both genders, research has suggested that men are more likely to reinforce positive emotions with food while women comfort eat when they're sad. Women are also more likely to satisfy their cravings with sweet, high-calorie foods.

Rather than letting your waistline suffer next time you're feeling blue, try distracting yourself from cravings by doing something you enjoy, or boost your endorphins and health with an uplifting workout.

PUTTING THEMSELVES LAST

Not only are women more likely to compromise their sleeping habits to care for children and others, they are also prone to putting their own wants and needs at the bottom of a hectic to-do list of chores and obligations.

Learn to sometimes say no to those requests and commitments that are less than essential - and make sure you set aside some "me" time each week.

GETTING TOO LITTLE SLEEP

Not only can lack of sleep make us look and feel our worst, but insufficient shut-eye can also lead to increased accidents, calorie consumption and heart disease risk. Unluckily for women, statistics suggest that sleep problems affect more women than men, while a study by the University of Michigan found that women are more than twice as likely to give up sleep to care for others. Unfortunately, sleep has been found to affect women's blood pressure and mood more than men's, making it imperative that you do your best to get a good night's sleep.

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