National Wellness Month
We’re almost halfway through August! That means we are over half way through the year but it also means it’s time to do a wellness check. August is national wellness month and I am here for all of it. This month should be used to dedicate time specifically towards your wellness goals. Maybe you need a new routine, maybe you need a reset after COVID, or maybe you just want to feel better. Regardless of where you fall, it’s time to get right. What I love about wellness is that it’s all encompassing. The holistic meaning helps guide us, taking into account our entire being; body, mind and soul. While you should be taking care of yourself on a holistic level every month, it’s’ still the perfect time to focus on self care, create new healthy routines and learn how to deal with stress management. It’s the perfect time to challenge ourselves to create new healthy habits that promote holistic wellness…body, mind and spirit. What does this look like? Establish a morning routine, implement new fun ways to move your body, put together a health routine with the correct supplements for your body, work on your spiritual health, practice self care and set new goals for the rest of 2020.
It’s time to be intentional about getting our mind right. It’s time to be intentional about our wellbeing. It’s time to be intentional about what we put into our bodies that does in fact have a direct correlation with our energy, mood, health and state. Each week for the rest of the month, I will be covering all three of these components so we can optimize national wellness month together!
Let’s start with the body.
BODY
Growing up, I was the girl who was always tired. I had a bunch of weird health stuff that I dealt with (nothing serious) but I wasn’t necessarily a walking example of what a healthy teenager should look like. I had painful and irregular menstrual cycles (sorry men), I had gastrointestinal issues, low energy and chronic migraines. If you ask me, nobody should deal with those things let alone a teenager already trying to navigate through life. It was then when my mom and I started diving into health on a holistic level. When I got into college, I really started to research how different systems in our bodies affect other systems. I was blown away. This is why it’s so important to treat your body right but even more importantly, treat your mind and spirit right.
Taking care of our bodies is going to look different for each of us. We metabolize food differently, and we are all made unique. With that being said, we need to figure out what works best for us starting the second we wake up. If you know me, you know I down my probiotic first thing in the morning with a large glass of room temperature water. Our bodies are dehydrated when we wake up hence the large glass of water. Taking the probiotic first thing also prepares the gut for everything we are going to eat. It also boosts immunity, which is what we all need right now! Moral of the story: drink water when you wake up! Hydrate yo self! Invest in a probiotic. You can refer to my “gut” blog post if you need more information on how to pick the right one.
Second, move your body!! If I don’t work out first thing in the morning, it’s not happening. So make sure you move your body at the right time to ensure you’re getting a solid workout in. Several studies say you should workout, or complete harder tasks when you are the most alert. For me, that’s between 10am and noon. Figure out when you are wide awake and make working out a priority. Our bodies release endorphins and make us feel realllyy great after high intensity workouts. If you’re feeling like you’re in a slump, make an investment and try a new gym or buy some new equipment. I recently invested in a Peloton bike after my gym announced they were closing. Not only was buying the bike an investment, it’s going to hold me accountable and it’s a fun new way to sweat it out. I fell in love with their workouts/app during quarantine so the bike was a no brainer for me! Regardless of what you do to workout, just get your heart pumping and get the blood flowing!
Did you know that the very food we eat can lower or raise our vibrations? Use this month to change how you eat. I’m not talking about a diet, but a lifestyle. In my house, we primarily eat non dairy and gluten free and follow a paleo style of eating. After researching and eliminating certain foods out of my diet, this happens to be the plan that gives me higher energy levels. I tried everything. Turns out, eating the way my grandparents ate is what works best for me. If we’re talking about a reset, try keeping a food diary to see what foods make you feel good and what foods don’t. You will notice your energy levels dropping when you are consuming more alcohol, eating fatty and sugary foods and eating out when you could prepare meals at home. I always notice when I’ve had too much gluten, dairy or bad food. It takes me about a week to feel great again and my workouts aren’t near as effective. Also, make sure you check the sodium content in food you buy at the store. A lot of the pre-made meals, sauces, and frozen foods contain an exorbitant amount of sodium. No bueno. Sodium is one of the first things to go when changing your eating habits. This can be a hard adjustment if you are buying pre made/packaged food. Cooking hack: Use fresh herbs and infused olive oils to enhance the flavors of your dishes. You can also buy sea salt, or Pink Himalayan Salt. Salt has certain minerals that are your friend so don’t be afraid to cook with it, but be cautious about high levels of sodium in prepared food.
I’ve said this many times before and I’ll say it again, we have miracle bodies. Our bodies are constantly fighting for us. They heal our wounds, they recover after workouts, they build immune systems, they produce the hormones we need, they digest the food we eat for energy. It’s time we start paying them back!
For recommendations on supplements, activators, or lifestyle changes, please reach out to me! I’m always here to help! I also love hearing about what you’re doing to take care of yourself. I’m a health nut and love learning new things. You can also fill out the biohacking form on my “holistic” page here on the blog for more information on how to start optimizing your body’s own potential.
Can’t wait to talk to you next week when we cover the MIND.
XO Liv