WINTER BLUES WELLNESS ROUTINE

This blog post is sponsored by OLLY Wellness. As always, all opinions and recommendations are my own.

This year I am focusing on listening to my body more & giving myself grace on a daily basis. Taking time throughout the day to slow down and reset has become one of my favorite mindfulness practices. I will usually either just take five minutes to light a candle & journal about how I'm feeling, or go outside for a quick walk in the sunshine. When I take time for these things, it affirms that I am actively drawing awareness & love towards the way I'm feeling -- to acknowledge whatever is stressing me out, let it flow, and refocus. 

In 2021 I am choosing to listen to my body better, to be more in tune with my physical, mental, and emotional states. As I’ve been reflecting on some mindful aspirations I have for this year, I came up with a new wellness routine I hope to use as a guide for myself, and hope you can find something that resonates with you to bring into the year ahead as well. This is a list of things we can all come back to, pick & choose what feels right for our bodies on any given day, and implement into our daily practices.

MAKE ART

As a creative person, who mainly focuses on photography, writing, and styling for work, I think it’s so important to set aside time to create just for fun. Sitting down at my kitchen table with some watercolors and an empty sketchbook page is such a calming activity. I also enjoy taking a drive to the beach and shooting film photos of the colors of the sunset. Even writing poetry in my journal or arranging a bouquet of flowers recharges my creative energy so much.

SPEND TIME OUTDOORS

Just being outside energizes me more than anything. Going outdoors to feel the sunshine on my skin is the most healing thing I can do for my body when I feel stressed. Even if I only have a few minutes to step outside, each moment is so restorative. If possible, consider even bringing your work outdoors for a change of scenery and breath of fresh air. These practices don’t always have to be a “break” from work -- they can be incorporated into your daily routines. 

EAT NOURISHING FOODS

At the beginning of quarantine last year, I’ll be the first to admit I was side-tracked by the stress of the state of the world, and I craved comfort foods all the time. I’ve learned to reframe my mindset of what is “comforting” to my body to consume when it comes to food. At the beginning of 2021 I decided I was going to be more conscious in the decisions of what foods I was eating, and I have never felt better. Eating fresh, organic fruits & veggies has made my body feel so invigorated and cared for. There is something so empowering about choosing to eat foods that are good for you, and something even better about taking the time to cook something nourishing for yourself.

TAKE YOUR VITAMINS

I have a daily practice of taking many different types of vitamins! For me, I currently take these daily supplements: Vitamin B,  Vitamin C, Vitamin D + K2, & Omega 3’s. As an OLLY Wellness Ambassador this year, I am so excited to try out so many of their amazing, natural supplements, to see what works best in my overall wellness routine. Lately I have been trying out taking a few Goodbye Stress gummies -- which has an herb called lemon balm for helping to quiet the mind. I’m so inspired by the power of plants, and how they can help restore, support, and invigorate our bodies & minds. 

MOVE YOUR BODY

I always used to make excuses about not working out. I used to go in waves of working out a lot consistently, and then long stretches of not at all.  I recently realized that if I wanted to be kind to my body consistently, and take time each day to let my body move, it was just a decision I had to make. I found a new path around a lake near my house that I love doing a morning walk or jog around. I also found that my local yoga studio was doing zoom classes, and even started doing a cardio dance class I now love, that I found on YouTube. Working out looks different for everyone, you just have to find what practice brings you joy. I promise that you will always feel better after working out, than you felt before. Even if you only have 15 minutes, give yourself that time to create those endorphins that will recharge your day.

HYDRATE

Make sure you are drinking enough water throughout the day -- listen to your body and what it’s telling you. There’s no magic number for how much water everyone should drink in a day, but I have found that having a big mason jar filled with water sitting at my desk encourages me to stay hydrated throughout the day. When I wake up in the morning is usually when I feel the most dehydrated, so I always make a cup of tea, and pour myself a small glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. 

CLEAN & ORGANIZE:

If I feel stressed and unfocused, cleaning and organizing my space always seems to help. I feel like I can always do my best work in a calm, clean, peaceful, quiet environment. It also alleviates stress because I usually am able to get rid of things -- and decluttering is something I’m constantly trying to do this year. If something doesn’t bring me joy, I’m choosing to donate it, sell it, or give it to someone who could use it. I don’t like throwing things away, which is where the clutter comes from sometimes. I’m always looking for ways to reuse or repurpose clothing, glass jars, containers, tote bags, etc. But also always trying to simplify and only have what I really love, wear, and use.

REST & RECHARGE

It’s so important to carve time out in your day to just be. Whether that is laying on the couch and reading a book, or vegging out and watching a show, it’s okay to allow yourself that time. My favorite way to rest and recharge from work is spending time with the people in my life. As an extrovert, I always feel so happy after having a good conversation with friends or family. Maybe it’s just taking an evening to do a face mask, light candles in your room and listen to quiet music. Whatever recharges you, I would encourage you to take some time each day to do those things.

Wishing you all a restful & mindful 2021.

-A