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FROM THE HEART
If you’re looking for a little wellness inspiration (mind, body and spirit) then you’re in the right place! Here is where you’ll find top tips for health, movement motivation and some deeply personal shares; from my heart to yours! Blog posts bi-weekly.
THIRSTY AF: HOW WATER HELPS YOU LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE
WATER! A glorious little elixir that makes up nearly 70% of the human body. We all know that it’s essential to living (the average person would only survive three days without water) yet most of us (nearly 75% of Americans) are chronically dehydrated.
What gives?
Perhaps it’s our lack of awareness, overconsumption of sugary drinks or our imbalanced diet. Whatever the reason, the health benefits of upping your water intake are vast.
10 SIMPLE WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS
The global pandemic we’ve been living through continues to be an insanely stressful time.
Whether it’s related to job loss, reduced wages, providing full-time child care, being a single parent, lacking motivation, spiked anxiety levels, depression, poor family situation etc. You are not alone. We are all struggling. Our stories may be different but our feelings are the same.
No matter your current home situation, we could all benefit from a little more peace and serenity in our lives. Below are some of my go-to’s when it comes to stress reduction. As with everything, take what you need and leave the rest:
ARE YOU DREAMING BIG ENOUGH?
Remember when you were a kid and you’d say things like, “I’m going to walk on Mars, marry Brad Pitt or work for the Prime Minister?”
As adults, we chuckle at the ambitions of our former, naive little selves; not yet burdened by the realities of present day life - Brad Pitt has like 20 kids and the Prime Minister is....well you can make your own assumptions there.
But what if it was less about the dreams we dreamt and more about the audacity we had to think so big?
20 REASONS WHY LAVENDER WILL IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH
Boy I love essential oils! They’re so multipurpose and safe for the whole family. Of all the essential oils I use in my life, Lavender is my favourite. It’s so multi-purpose that it is a must-have for every home. Need some reasons to get yourself some?
IS FEAR HOLDING YOU BACK?
Staring into my computer screen, I waited for inspiration to strike. Searching the back corners of my mind, I hoped to overturn some untold brilliance or worldly insight. I found none.
They say you shouldn’t wait to be inspired to act, you should act and then you shall be inspired. Funny how that works.
This concept eluded me for years because I’d all but convinced myself that I had nothing interesting to say, therefore I said nothing.
For years I’ve known I would be a professional speaker and coach as well as running retreats, writing a blog and hosting a podcast.
Despite these cardinal truths, an insidious voice nagged from the sidelines and convinced me to play small.
My inner dialogue had concluded that I’m not engrossing nor my perceptions impassioned enough to be heard.
How crazy is that?
10 TIPS FOR GOAL-SETTING AND MOTIVATION
Be honest, how many days has it been since you’ve showered? Or when was the last time you changed from your lunge track pants to your fancy ones? Or how many times have you turned on the dryer to “get the wrinkles out” instead of folding your clothes?
When I first came back to Canada, I left my backpack in a heap on my floor for well over a week. To some, this may not be a big deal. I’ve got friends who will go weeks with their post-vacay clothes still neatly tucked away in their suitcase.
Have you ever left a bag for so long that it becomes part of the room decor? You accept that it belongs in that spot now, so there’s no need to unpack?
I haven’t.
WAVES OF GRIEF
Have you ever been swimming in the ocean when out of nowhere, the violent crash of an unsuspecting wave knocks the air from your lungs? You catch your breath just long enough for another surge to thrust you beneath the surface. You fight to regain balance, saltwater burning with every inhale.
Eventually, the panting will subdue and the physical pain will subside. Then just as you regain yourself, a heavy swell catches you off guard.
That’s what grief is like.
One minute you’re going about the day, then without warning, the air is ripped from your lungs and you’re left reeling; surprised by the rapid onset.
Pain comes and goes in these waves. Will it ever stop? I don’t know. Does the ocean ever stop crashing into the shoreline?
10 WAYS TO BE THE BEST VERSION OF YOURSELF
They say it takes 21 days to create a habit; the idea being that doing something consistently for 21 days will ingrain a new routine that becomes part of who you are. It takes something you once felt you SHOULD do and makes it something you NEED/WANT/HAVE to do. It’s who you are.
Good or bad, it’s what we do daily that determines where we’re headed. Think about it, if you’re overweight, in debt, in a bad relationship or some other less than awesome version of yourself, it’s not something that happened overnight.
Enter: The Compound Effect.
This is the idea that whatever you do daily (all the little things) compound over time to give you the life you currently have (or don’t have.) For example, if you work out for thirty minutes, three times a week, you may not notice a change in the first week but if you do that consistently for a month, six months, a year and so on you’re totally going to have that rockin’ beach bod you’ve always dreamed of!
With this in mind, let’s jump into the ways that will lead you to being the most badass version of yourself:
FALL 10 TIMES, GET UP 11
Change is scary. Diving head-first into a situation is scary. Fear of the unknown is scary. But the scariest thing of all? Regret.
Fear will consequently lead to indecision and paralysis. Sometimes the hardest part is taking the first step, yet the overwhelming anxiety of defeat can leave you spinning your wheels for months or even years.
Ask yourself, what’s the worst that could happen?
Lose your job? Can you find a new one? Could you learn a new skill set?
Declare bankruptcy? Would this be a time to find creative ways to generate a side hustle?
A relationship ends? Could this be an opportunity to focus on personal growth?
Behind on rent? Might this be a moment to re-evaluate your finances and budgeting strategies?
You “fail.” Can you ever truly fail? What is the lesson here? Can you strategize more effective ways to approach this situation?
Gentle reminder: Don’t let fear be in the driver's seat.
10 WAYS TO MANAGE DEPRESSION
I’ve struggled with depression since I was in high school. Was it because I grew up in an alcoholic home? Was it because of the tension and anger that dwelled constantly within those four walls? Was it because of painful experiences I hadn’t dealt with? Or was it because I was a teenage girl; raging with hormones and descending into anarchy on a desperate quest to figure out who I was.
All of the above.
Yet beyond my physical surroundings there are also my genetic ones. I have a predisposition to depression and everyone in my family tree starting with my grandparents and continuing down was or should have been treated for their symptoms.
