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Wellness is everywhere nowadays.
And it’s mostly a good thing – taking care of ourselves should be a priority especially in today’s stressful, fast-paced world.
But with the growing popularity of wellness came a couple of not-so-positive developments as well.
Namely that wellness became an industry in itself.
A multi-billion dollar industry, to be more precise, that’s flooding us with new “it trends” and fancy products that are “a must” for our well-being. CBD oil, intermittent fasting, various detoxes, IV drips, adaptogens, staycations, meditation apps, mushrooms, blue light, circadian rhythm monitoring, mesonutrients (still have no idea what those are), Ayurveda, crystal healing, foam rolling, shaking meditation – it’s literally impossible to keep up with the wellness trends of the moment.
Personally, I find some of these things fun and intriguing (not the detoxes and crystal healing though), but I don’t think that fancy trends are what wellness is (or should be) all about.
I have a quite broad definition of wellness, for me, it’s everything that’s good for my physical and mental wellbeing. Basically, healthy habits that make me feel good. It’s not that complicated.
Don’t let Gwyneth Paltrow persuade you that wellness is exclusively about $500 gadgets, supplements with impossible-to-pronounce names, or elaborate spa or fitness routines.
Treatments, vacations, daily exercise, healthy eating, meal prepping are incredibly important, but there are a lot of smaller things we can do as well that provide great health and wellness benefits.
Wellness doesn’t have to be time-consuming either. It can be as simple as daily habits that take 5 minutes or less. And we all should have 5 minutes a day for our wellbeing.
Simple wellness habits to practice daily
Drink a big glass of water in the morning //
Preferably with lemon or mint or some other herbs/fruits, not because infused water has particular health benefits, but because it tastes better than plain water. I’ve realized that every time I start my day with water, I have a much better chance of drinking the recommended amount. If I skip it, I can go a whole day without drinking water. Bonus habit: keep a water bottle on your desk and/or make it a habit to drink a glass of water every single time you drink coffee or tea. With this “drink pairing” trick, you’ll reach the required water intake in no time.
Stretch //
Stretch after you wake up, when you take a break from work, after a gym session. Even just a couple of moves will release tension and help you feel more energized. Here are 21 great stretching exercises or check out this 5-minute morning stretching routine video.
Eat 1 piece of fruit //
I love smoothies, juices, or fruit salads, but sometimes I don’t want to take the time to prepare and make them. Eating an apple, an orange, or a banana takes no effort whatsoever – no excuse to skip the daily vitamin intake.
Spruce up your morning coffee //
Why not add some cinnamon for some extra wellness? Cinnamon has a lot of impressive health benefits due to its antioxidant content and anti-inflammation properties. Plus, it makes coffee drinking a bit fancier.
Stand up from your desk for at least 2 minutes every hour //
Sitting in front of a computer for 8-9 hours every day has seriously damaging long-term effects. Most importantly, it can distort your neck muscles and hurt your waist. Break that bad habit and remind yourself to stand up regularly. (Also, check whether your chair and desk are tailored to your body).
Walk and talk //
Make the most of your phone calls – get up and walk around while you talk. It’s an easy way to achieve some extra steps and stretch your body. Advanced level: schedule meetings outside and take a walk together if you can.
Use an overnight mask //
As much as I love skincare, masking is not a regular feature of my skincare routine. It always seems such a hassle, 9 out of 10 times, I’m just too lazy to mask. And that’s why I love overnight masks. I put a mask on like a normal face cream and it just works its magic while I sleep. My favorites are The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Sleeping Mask and the Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask.
Make overnight oats //
Yes, I love overnight everything. Overnight oats are the simplest healthy meals ever. You mix some yogurt, milk, oats, honey, chia seeds, flaxseed and whatever superfood/fruit you fancy in a bowl or jar and put it in the fridge for the night. It literally takes 2 minutes. Here are a couple of recipes to start.
Open the windows //
This is easy when the weather is warm, but most of us skip it during wintertime, even though we shouldn’t. Just open your windows for 5 minutes while you make your morning coffee and refresh your room.
Burn essential oils //
This is an essential step of my slow morning routine. I love how essential oils invigorate the senses and can transform my mood. Once again – it takes like 20 seconds. My new favorite essential oil blend is sweet orange, ginger, and bergamot.
Brew a cup of loose leaf green tea //
I drink at least one cup of green tea every single day – for its taste and the antioxidants it contains. Dropping a tea bag into a cup may seem easier, but brewing fresh tea requires maybe 90 more seconds. Read about my tea ritual here and why loose leaf tea is the healthier and more sustainable choice here.
Skip the elevator //
The elevator became the perfect symbol of how lazy we’ve gotten. I’m very guilty of automatically opting for the elevator instead of taking the steps. Most of us do not work on the 52nd floor, so we cannot really justify skipping 2 minutes of simple, health-boosting exercise.
Dry brush //
Full body exfoliation spa sessions or massages are awesome. The next best thing that is cheaper and takes 5 minutes max? Dry brushing. It exfoliates your skin, increases blood circulation, and promote lymph flow.
Practice deep breathing //
Even if you haven’t taken up meditation yet (I still struggle with it), you can enjoy some awesome health benefits without sitting in one pose for 30 minutes. Just learn the skill of deep breathing – it helps relieve stress, releases muscle tension, and boosts your concentration and energy. Try one of these deep breathing exercises.
Daily acts of kindness //
Being kind to others is the ultimate wellness habit. Random acts of kindness increase our wellbeing, positivity, happiness, and gratitude as well. Practice it every single day.
What are your favorite daily wellness habits?
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