By Shayla Quinn
Good health and optimal wellness truly is wealth, but in the fast paced world we currently live in finding the time to actually incorporate the daily habits that support both good health and optimal wellness can feel challenging at best. I think a lot of us (myself included at one point!) can get tripped up on the way we think we need to approach our daily wellness routine based on what we might see on social media, i.e. thinking an hour workout, a gallon of water per day, 30 minute morning meditation etc. is the only way and anything less is just not worth it….but the truth is that while getting in an hour workout, drinking a gallon of water per day and sitting for a 30 minute meditation each morning is ideal and amazing, it’s not the only way. In fact, in my experience what’s more beneficial in the long run is cultivating a sustainable daily wellness routine that you can actually stick to consistently. Just like with your wellness routine, it can be easy to fall into this “all or nothing” mindset with diet as well. But friendly reminder that you can incorporate new health promoting habits AND still enjoy the things you love – like a glass of wine! I love unwinding with a glass of Cupcake LightHearted and since it’s lower in calories and alcohol, it’s the perfect complement to my routine.
Wellness is a long-term practice and small daily habits build over time to yield big long-term results. In today’s blog post I’m sharing 3 simple healthy habits that WILL change your life and giving you some insight on how to simplify each of them so that you can create your own sustainable wellness routine and commit to them for the long haul!
Meditate Daily
Daily meditation has been scientifically proven to yield long-term benefits to the brain and body. The list of benefits is long, but most notably meditation helps to reduce stress and anxiety, can help to improve sleep, lengthens your attention span and is an incredible tool to help bring more awareness and presence. For many years I avoided meditation because I had in my mind that I had to sit for at least 20 minutes each day, and most days the thought of sitting still for that long would discourage me from trying. 20 minutes a day is GREAT! But if the goal of 20 minutes is keeping you from starting, simplify it: just start with 5 minutes a day. Set a timer, sit tall, get still and breathe. If you find yourself still finding excuses or distractions when it comes to getting your 5 minutes of stillness in each day, we can simplify it even more (this trick got me into my meditation practice!): Before you get out of bed in the morning, sit up, set your 5-minute timer and meditate. Yep, right there in bed, pajamas and everything. Remember: 5 minutes a day is far more beneficial than 20 minutes once a year!
Move Your Body
When you move your body not only do you trigger feel good endorphins to be released which…. well, make you feel good (!), but you also move stagnant energy around and out of the body, increase blood circulation and oxygenate the body – which all lead to better overall health and wellness! Daily movement doesn’t have to be complicated; go for a brisk walk outside for 20 minutes, jump rope for 10 minutes, or try this short energizing yoga flow for a quick boost of feel-good vibes.
Hydrate
Proper hydration is KEY for optimal health and wellbeing. Our bodies are made up of roughly 70% water and it is vital that we replenish that water throughout the day to keep our brains and organs working properly. Staying hydrated helps relieve fatigue, aids in digestion, helps your body move through its natural detoxification process, decreases stress and so much more. A good rule of thumb that I follow is this: drink half of your body weight in ounces. So, if you weigh 120 pounds, aim to drink roughly 60 ounces of water each day, which equates to about 2 liters of water (I tend to round-up rather than round down when it comes to my water intake). Invest in a good stainless steel liter sized water bottle and make it your mission to stay hydrated!
As I mentioned, making better choices doesn’t mean you have to give up everything you love and enjoy! Just like these 3 simple habits are easy to incorporate into your life, there are so many simple swaps that you can make that won’t have you feeling deprived. It can be as easy as swapping out sugary soda for sparkling water, fried foods with baked foods, and high calorie cocktails with a glass of Cupcake Lighthearted wine. Cupcake LightHearted is vegan friendly and gluten- free, has less than 1g of sugar, is lower-carb and is only 80 calories per 5 oz. serving. It’s my go-to after a long day because it tastes indulgent and delicious but I never feel like I am derailing my routine. Health is wealth and life is meant to be enjoyed, those two theories can coexist my friends!
