As we all start into the journey of motherhood or any type of life-altering change we sometimes lose sight of ourselves. I can honestly say there are days when I don't feel like I give myself even 5% of self-love or appreciation. It's tough because we literally take care of all these tiny humans and our significant others with so much love and passion that there is literally almost nothing left. I thought I was doing it right.
I was wrong. So it's time to get i nto the wellness hacks.
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Why Are Wellness Hacks so Important?
One week ago I was reminded how important self-care and love are to our health. My face broke out in a swell of hives from what we thought was stress. I am still having further testing done, but it happened again the other day when I was placed in a uniquely stressful situation. How scary is that? To be okay in one minute and then the next be covered in large hives. That's the moment I realized that I needed to get it together for my family and for myself. So, I started to research.
I researched high and low. I read, listened to podcasts, watched YouTube channels, and collected a list of the things I thought made the most impact on other people's lives. Unfortunately, I was overwhelmed. I was so overwhelmed by how successful people manage their morning, day, and evening, that I had to focus on what I could do in my day. These are the 8 things I came up with that are easy to fit in your day and that don't change the day so much as bring change to the day if that makes sense.
Wellness Hacks and Practices that Will Give You an Abundance of Gratitude
1. Exercise
Yes, I know this is generic and not anything earth-shattering but it's a no-brainer. There are so many benefits when exercising. We are talking about endorphins, EPOC, muscle gain, fat burning, mental clarity, and overall improved health. I truly believe that exercise is a major mood booster and it makes you feel so powerful and strong afterward. If you haven't adopted a fitness routine I highly suggest it. I also suggest crosstraining over anything else. Crosstraining is putting everything together cardio, strength, and flexibility. I can go into this on another post but you definitely want to be well-rounded and not focus on one certain way of training.
2. Cold Plunge
I am very new to the cold plunge crew and I have to tell you I go back and forth with it, but it really is easy to implement. I don't actually have a cold plunge, but I have a cold shower so I call it the "poor girl cold plunge". Cold plunge benefits are vast ranging from decreasing cortisol, attacking brown fat cells, stimulating white blood cells, managing anxiety, and so much more that I had to give it a try. Not going to lie it sucks during but afterward is so invigorating and you do feel a new sense of control in your body.
3. Eating Good Food
When I say good food I mean food that comes from nature. I have increased my vegetable and fruit intake. I have tried to stick to limited processed food for 2 weeks now and the moment I ate processed food my stomach developed this huge rock and let me tell you the result was not wanted. Food is medicine and if you don't believe that then you really need to invest in that thought. It's such an easy process and we're definitely not taking advantage of it. This is a lot easier than we think, but processed foods are always pushed to the forefront in the store, so try to stick to the perimeter of the grocery store or head to a farmer's market.
4. A Yoga Practice or Meditation
I am not good at meditation or breathwork. I have a hard time sitting still, so there are types of meditation that are referred to as moving meditation and that's where yoga comes into play. I need guided practice, so I use yoga to disconnect and move with my mind focused on me and the movement that my body produces. When you truly disconnect from the world around you and focus inward it is so amazing. For me, this doesn't happen often, unfortunately, but when it does it feels so good.
5. Getting Out in Nature
This can be difficult when you live in a winter state, but getting an increased amount of vitamin D and just grounding in nature can truly provide a mood-boosting experience. Both my husband and I were blood tested and both came back with vitamin D deficiencies so I can only assume my children are the same way. So, getting outside when it's warm enough can add so many benefits to our health. Once again these wellness practices are so easy and right at our fingertips that we really need to take advantage of what we have and what costs little to no money.
6. Pre and Probiotic
Last but not least, gut health. Gut health is extremely important. The gut is our second brain so if it's not thriving then we are not thriving and this is where a probiotic comes into play. I recommend Seed or Mary Ruth prebiotics.
I started a probiotic when I was placed on several antibiotics for chronic sinus infections and my gut was basically destroyed it's helped so much with energy, bowel movements, and just a better feeling gut.
Wellness is Important to Longevity
As we get older, have children, and life's stressors get in the way of optimal health we need to remember that we can control what we put into our bodies and how we handle our stress. It's not easy and sometimes we forget especially if a domino effect of craziness. These wellness hacks are a great start.
I hope this helps you gain clarity and increase your self-health and love on your ride through parenthood or just change.
Xo, E
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