12 Easy Ways to Jumpstart Your Health and Wellbeing
Goodbye 2020 and hello 2021! I love feeling the charged up energy of hope and possibility a new year brings and love leaning into the actions I can take to start the year off with a positive mindset. Hello goaldigger!
But like most, 2020 was not my favorite year to date, as stress, anxiety, and tons of change occurred in my life that I never saw coming. 2020 took a toll on my own health - mentally, physically and emotionally - and it was a really hard year for me and I did not take care of myself in the ways I know how to as I was not really thriving but trying to survive. However, I am also grateful for all the challenges 2020 brought me because it has set me in a direction that has sparked major excitement in me. I’m ready to embrace the fresh start of a new year and start thriving in my life again. I’m sure you’re ready for a fresh start too!
I know for most people a fresh start means investing in their health and wellness and being overwhelmed with ‘new year, new me’ advertising from all the big diet companies. Now, if you have been following me for awhile then you know I don’t follow a set diet, count calories or track what I eat. I’m a true believer in listening to your body and nurturing yourself in a way that makes you feel holistically healthy. I believe healthy salads, red wine and ice cream all have an important place in my life and balance is truly what I strive to create in my life. But I also believe sometimes you need to take a little extra care of yourself.
Today I am sharing the little tweaks you can make to your diet and lifestyle for the long term, which will benefit your body and overall health way more than a a quick diet fix ever would!
Start your day with warm water and fresh squeezed lemon. I will usually make a detox tea in the morning (I like this one and this one), and will just add fresh lemon to the tea. I also include some Chlorella and collagen powder, both of which add a bunch of protein, help to detoxify the body, and aid in digestion. This is my favorite drink to start the day with. Super nutritious and filling! I’m also a fan of this superfood mushroom coffee to help with brain function, focus and immune support.
Oil pulling is a super beneficial detox method by pulling toxins out of your gums and plaque off your teeth. Oil pulling is a great natural teeth whitener too. while also being a natural . You will want to do this a few times a week right when you wake up by taking a tablespoon of coconut oil and swish it around your mouth for about 15 minutes (you may need to build up to 15 minutes) and then spit it out in a trash can (don’t put it down your sink). Here is a kit you can use! Tongue scrapping is also a great way to get rid of toxins and bad breath.
Sweat it out as often as possible. I highly recommend using an infrared sauna if you have one available to you. If you are in the Columbus area, Ebb & Float has a great sauna you can book. While you are there you can also book a float spa to help aid in your overall wellness. A few benefits are improved blood circulation, weight loss, reduce blood pressure, reduce joint/muscle pain and more!
Prioritize feel good movement. It doesn't matter if it's just a brisk walk around the block... Just move your body. I love to mix is up with cycling, yoga, and weight lifting. Anything that makes me feel good I'll do. Don't force workouts that make you miserable or drain you. You'll just kill your adrenals, especially if you're already stressed in work and life.
This is a given, but drink a TON of water. I carry a water bottle with me at all times. I own this one and it keeps your drinks hot or cold.
Focus on eating whole, organic foods and limit processed foods. Load up on veggies, high quality protein, and good fats. This will help calm bloat, clear up your skin, repair your digestive system and fill you up with rich vitamins and nutrients.
Meditate at least once a day, even if only for 5 minutes. I love the guided meditations on the Peloton app, but Calm and Headspace are great apps too Plus a guided meditation is a great way to learn how to meditate!
Take activated charcoal. Activated charcoal binds to toxins in your body, but be careful, because it'll also bind to any supplements you take so don't take it within a couple hours of taking supplements or eating healthy. You can read more about all the different benefits here. If you are in Columbus, I love the Charcoal Lemonade juice from Zest for a quick charcoal detox!
Dry brushing is the best for skin exfoliation and detoxification. It boosts circulation, stimulates the lymph nodes, improves digestion and the appearance of cellulite, and more. To do it, you should always brush towards your heart, so I start at my feet and work my way up using long strokes. This is the brush I use, which works great.
Switch to non-toxic household products as well as beauty products. I've swapped out pretty much all of my toxic household cleaners, hair sprays, face cleansers, nail polishes, make up, you name it, for eco-friendly, non-toxic, and natural products. I have tested a ton of products and have found a few brands I love and swear by. Some of my favorites include Beauty Counter, Biossance, RMS Beauty, Supergoop and Youth to the People for skin care and makeup, and Honest Company, the Laundress, and Brand Basics for household products.
Get a massage! I know, these are pretty pricey and something most people don't consider doing on the regular, but getting one of these as frequently as possible is a really good idea to help release tension, stress and anxiety in the body. I have personally been also looking into acupuncture and cupping to help release tension/toxins and stimulate blood flow in my body.
SLEEP. - at least 8 hours! This is so important. Your body will not repair and reset itself if you are not getting enough sleep! Turn your phone off 30 minutes before you go to sleep and implement a nightly routine to communicate to your body it is sleep time.
Enjoy!
