5 Wellness Habits To Add Into Your Routine

Creating healthy and sustainable habits has been the ticket to healthy living for me. Like a lot of you reading this, I at some point struggled with achieving what I perceived as healthy. I tried fad diets that didn’t work and I exhausted all of the ways to deprive myself of things that I loved. I found numerous ways to lose a quick five pounds and found more ways to gain a quick ten pounds. I at some point had thought a certain “weight” meant healthy, but it wasn’t until I started changing my lifestyle that I realized what healthy actually was (feeling good inside and out, having energy to do what I love, doing things that I loved, feeling less stressed, etc. - basically just feeling really good!)

As soon as I was able to start creating healthy habits, I started to realize that it is possible to feel good and remain that way (and most of them had nothing to do with working out or eating healthy foods). Below are 5 healthy habits that I recommend to not only my clients but to the people in my life as well as myself. These are the 5 habits that have changed my life in some way.

Warm lemon water

I drink this every single morning right when I wake up (even when I travel). Warm lemon water helps to balance blood sugar levels throughout the day, ease digestion and help promote healthier skin. It is also packed with Vitamin C (aka skin loving vitamin and immune health). I also love adding a dash of cayenne pepper to help boost my metabolism.

stretching

I stretch almost everyday (even on days that I don’t workout). Before I even get to the benefits of stretching I have to say that just laying down on a yoga mat is so relaxing in itself. Stretching is a calming practice. I love to stretch and a lot of us aren’t stretching enough. I used to stop my workout and just go on with my day and I never realized how bad that was for my body. Stretching is just as important as the workouts that you do (it may actually help to improve your performance in your workouts). Stretching is amazing for improving flexibility, preventing injury and it brings blood flow to the muscles to reduce muscle soreness.

Develop a Skin Care Routine

I never realized how little I took care of my skin until I started taking care of it. There is so much more that goes into skin care than soap, water and moisturizer. There is a reason why it is called “skin care”… it is taking care of the skin you are in. This (at least for me) is one of the greatest self care rituals that there is. You do not have to go out and purchase new or expensive products, but I do recommend taking extra time during your skin routine and assess your skins’ needs. Pay attention to what your skin is trying to tell you (dull, tired, dry, oily etc.) and listen closely. Sometimes it is just the act of slowing down before bed to really take care of your skin and give it a little massage that can make the biggest difference in how you feel on the inside and out. Some things that I have added to my skin care routine are gua sha and facial steaming. Check out my blog post on gua sha here and this one here for some of my favorite skin care products.

Make time to be with nature

There is so much healing from being in nature. You don’t have to be a seasoned hiker or rock climber to get the benefits of nature. You can simply just put your feet in the grass and feel the earth under your toes or bringing house plants into your home (I think of this as bringing nature inside). Nature is grounding. For those of you who are vattas (ayurvedic term), getting in nature and grounding is crucial. This process of grounding has been shown to help reduce stress and inflammation while promoting better blood circulation and better sleep.

Develop a morning routine

My morning routine is non negotiable. This is what sets me up for a good day. I encourage you to explore what works for your morning. I personally love having my lemon water while journaling or filling in my planner, getting in a workout, going for a walk with my dog then getting into my skin care routine. When I have time I will meditate with my crystals and palo santo. This morning routine for me helps keep me present and it creates a non stressful start to the work day. Your routine can be anything you want it to be (as long as it makes you feel good). Check out my blog post here about how to create a killer morning routine.

3 tips to make a habit stick

1. Stack the habit on top of another habit. I love drinking my morning lemon water while I either journal or fill in my daily planner. Both are healthy habits that I can do at the same time. When I wake up now it is the first thing I do no matter what.

2. If it involves tools, have them easily accessible. If you want to go out for a walk every morning, set out your clothes and shoes ahead of time every day or the night before. If you are doing dry brushing, have your dry brush next to your shower so you have the visual reminder to do it before you shower. If you make lemon water in the morning, juice a bunch of lemons at the beginning of the week and then freeze them in ice cube trays so they are easily accessible.

3. Try tracking your habits! There are so many bullet journal style trackers to help track all of your habits (it is also a fun way to get creative).

Check out my blog post here for how to create and prioritize healthy habits.