Being an average human on an average day is not an easy feat — ripe with its own set of challenges — but it can become especially difficult to take care of ourselves this time of year when we factor in the weather, sickness being passed around, lack of daylight, and the holiday season.
For me, it’s extra important to adjust and maintain healthy habits to keep me on track and feeling as well as I possibly can, all things considered. Below are the daily habits that help me get by and stay healthy — mentally and physically.
YOGA. Of course. I make it into the studio a couple of times a week as a student because I need that time for myself. I also take a few minutes every single day to practice at home. I use a space heater to warm up my space (my master bathroom is where I find peace and quiet). I usually choose a couple of simple poses and take a few minutes to stretch and move and breathe consciously. I have found that starting my day with mindful movement drastically improves the overall quality of my day physically and mentally.
LIGHT. I have a therapy light that I start using every October and continue to use through the spring. Every morning, I turn the light on in my bathroom as I prep my physical body for the day. Sometimes, it’s just not possible to get outside in the evening’s before it’s dark. Starting my mornings with this light helps to wake me up and put me in a better mindset to meet the rest of the day.
AYURVEDA. Ayurveda is the sister science to yoga, and I’ve managed to incorporate some Ayurvedic principals into my life long-term: Tongue Scraping and Neti-Potting are my every day rituals. I suffer from severe allergies all year long, so I make time to neti-pot every single evening before bed — rinsing my sinuses out helps keep me healthy with two young kids in school. Twice daily, I use my tongue scraper to clear out my mouth. Tongue scraping clears out bacteria, toxins, and dead cells from the mouth and prevents bad breath. It also promotes overall oral and digestive health and can enhance your sense of taste.
REST. Resting when I need to. Did you know that I deal with TWO health conditions that cause me daily chronic pain? Realizing that life isn’t a race and that it’s OK to rest when my body tells me to has been life-changing. There’s nothing wrong with leaning into the season and hibernating when you need to. Take the nap or the bath. Watch the movie. Read the book. Go to bed early. Sleep in. Do something that feels restful to you. Take time to relax — if you need an idea, give this short meditation a try (as a freebie) in our content library.
GET OUT. I’ve been having an especially rough time of things lately, and it’s been difficult to pull myself out of the malaise. While my job allows me to work from home most days, I have been making it a point to get dressed in nice (non-yoga) clothes and head into the office to be around people and not just my pets. I like to stop for a coffee and chat with a friend at least once a week, too, which makes all the difference in the rest of my day.
If you’re feeling any ill-effects of the season, and you’re not sure how to beat them — let me know. I schedule one-on-one times to map out a practice that suits YOU and your lifestyle. Most importantly, take time daily to pause; to simply be and breathe as a human being and not a human doing. Grant yourself grace, and know that this season will pass.