As my friend often says, “Life is just getting too lifey right now!“
Do you relate? We just saw the brightest rainbow ever!
Although I do my best to avoid the news, even just a brief glance at the headlines these days gives me the shivers…
Please join me in returning, once again, to daily self-care practices:
Wellbeing Practices – No Matter What!
1. Sip warm, juicy water all day long – We are all running around dehydrated without realizing it. Sipping water throughout the day, rather than coffee, soda or juice, will help to clear and calm your mind and body. Room temperature or warm water with a little juice in it is easier to absorb than ice cold water.
2. Awareness of your breath – Whenever you feel tired, stressed or anxious – stop! Close your eyes if convenient, and take a few slow deep breaths. This also will calm your mind and your body.
3. Awareness of your thoughts – Is your mind zooming from one task to the next or filled with worry and hurrying? Practice focusing in the present moment. Observe thoughts of the past or the future and come back to this moment. This is called Mindfulness practice – simple and profound.
4. Healthier food choices – Lifestyle choices that you are able to sustain. Less sugar – more fruit. Less caffeine – more water. Less meat – more vegetables. Here’s my favorite green smoothie recipe: 1-1/2 – 2 cups of water, cut up an apple or banana, 2 large leaves of chard or kale (without the hard stems), a handful of mixed greens, ½ cup blueberries or pineapple chunks, one tablespoon of flax or coconut oil. Yum!
5. Rest and Sleep – Do you consistently get less than six hours of sleep per night? For one week try going to bed one hour earlier. Turn off the TV, don’t eat before going to bed, give yourself some quiet time to give thanks and release the day. Keep your bedroom quiet, clean and only for resting, making love and sleeping. See how this improves your waking hours. When you are tired – rest! Really – you have my permission.
If this is too much all at once – choose one practice and try if for 30 days, and let me know how it works for you.
The good news is that these practices are all things you are able to do for yourself all day throughout the day – no matter what! This simple awareness will improve your physical and emotional health, mental clarity and well being.
When you feel ready to try a few more:
1. Reduce the amount of TV, radio, newspapers, magazines and internet you consume, especially the news before bedtime.
2. Clear the clutter from your home, office, car and yard. It is truly amazing how much energy our stuff takes up!
3. Get moving – Our bodies are designed to move. If you are not enjoying at least some exercise every other day, find someone to walk with at lunch time, ride a bike, go dancing, walk the dog, take a yoga or spin class. It doesn’t matter what you do so long as you enjoy it and you do it consistently. You will sleep better, have more energy, make wiser food choices and smile more, I promise.
I’m also posting more personal essays on Substack: