Self Care
(IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)
Keep in mind that change takes time to incorporate into your daily life. Biting off too much at one time will often lead to feelings of overwhelm or failure. Even small changes need time to find their place your daily routine. You are more likely to succeed when you choose a project that feels timely and authentic. Choose something that you relate to, and give it time to become a habit before picking the next thing.
Simplify:
Live Mindfully: Living at a pace that allows you to be grounded in your body supports mindful living. Keep it simple you do not need a guru or life-coach to enjoy the present moment. Modern society pushes the idea that “busy people are important people”, that stress is a sign that you are busy and important. Find ways to unhook from this notion. Start simple, sit and enjoy the sun for a few minutes during the day. Take the time to relax and enjoy the meal in front of you without distraction. Leave your phone at home when you go on a walk.
Cut Yourself a Little Slack: Allowing yourself the time and space to relax and enjoy yourself without having “earned it” is important. Stress from high expectations and pressure is hard for the body to process.
Declutter: Everything that you own, owns you. You are connected to everything you own through an energetic string. This means that physical clutter becomes spiritual clutter. There are so many unnecessary products being advertised everywhere, stuff that ends up filling our closets, guest rooms and storage units. Stuff that eventually ends up in the landfills. Some things get there faster than others, like those little stocking-stuffers and party bags fillers. Owning less stuff frees up energy in your life. Purchasing less stuff saves natural resources and money. You feel better and the Earth feels better.
Spend Time Unplugged: Social media, and messaging have become a major focus of our consciousness. This constant external monitoring can create an unsustainable, social to-do list. It can also leave us feeling lonely or “less than” when we compare ourselves to others. Create a designated time of day that you check-in with social media. Set a time limit. Then spend time without internet connectivity. Find ways to trust and enjoy the here and now. Spend time with friends and family, in person, without posting photos of every occasion.
Turn off the News: Our society has gotten addicted to the endless fear inspiring drama of the daily news cycle. It is negative, divisive, compelling, and repetitive. Fear and worry create tunnel vision, which prevents us from seeing the bigger picture. Even if your mind is able to process the negativity, your body ends up carrying the stress load. It is OK to check-in, with moderation, so you feel informed. Then turn it off and enjoy your life. Constantly watching the news is not ‘being part of the solution”. If you want to be proactive, find a local political organization to support or join.
Eat Healthy:
Drink Water: Staying hydrated helps increase brain function and energy levels. It helps reduce inflammation, muscle cramps, headaches, and insomnia among other things. Water has no unnecessary calories, salts, or harmful chemical additives (“natural Flavors”) Drinking local water helps connect you to the Land, as water carrier with it the memory and wisdom of everything it passes through. Filtering the water does not effect this, ignore the raw water movement. If you get bored with water add a splash of lemon juice, a cucumber slice, or herbs like mint, lemon balm, or saffron.
Eat More Plants: Eating more vegetables and fruits will help in two important ways. First, your health will improve. All vegetables reduce inflammation, risk of cancer, and other diseases. They are high in fiber and micro-nutrients. You may also reduce your dependency on supplements and medications. Second, it decreases the amount of meat and grain you consume. Which in turn lightens the load on your body and the Earth.
Eat a Variety of Vegetables: Mix it up, branch out, variety is good. Eat the vegetables that taste good to you. Health trend industries tend to hold one fruit or vegetable above the others. And as a result we tend to over consume one product. This is bad for two reasons. First, there is no such thing as a miracle fruit or vegetable. If we over-focus on one, we miss out on the health benefits of the others. Secondly, when western society follows a health trend, the developing nations and their lands suffer. Consider, for example, what will happen to the farmers, in impoverished regions, who clear cut land to grow coconuts once we, inevitably, lose interest in coconut based products?
Eat Herbs: all herbs contain healing, strength building, and empowering properties. There are times when a specific herb might be needed, but in general holistic health is simply adding herbs and spices to our meals. Parsley, for example is an often overlooked power herb. Teas can be a great way to consume herbs, although, keep in mind that commercially produced “herbal Teas” often contain various “natural flavors” and Sweeteners to create a more mainstream flavor. Check out the Earth Spirit Market for organic herb and spice blends.
Eat Local: Eating local, seasonal food connects us to the spirit and wisdom of the Land. It creates a food tradition that our bodies can depend on as it works to maintain wellness. It avoids trend eating, which knocks our bodies off balance.
Consume Less Sugar: Sugar has no health benefit and many negative side effects like obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Fats in our foods do not make us fat, sugar does. Sugar is used in many industrial foods to cover the lack of flavor due to inferior ingredients. It is worth the time to read labels. Some foods like marinara sauce, and tortillas contain unnecessary sugars. Keep in mind that not all sweeteners are created equal. Fruits contain fructose in a natural state, and the fiber of the fruit helps the body process the sugar. White cane sugar and high fructose corn syrup (now re-branded as “natural sweetener”) have been so refined that they are too concentrated for our bodies to process in a healthy way. Likewise, there is no such thing as a healthy, safe calorie-free sweetener. When you reduce the amount of sugar load in your daily food, your body can process the occasional treat.
Eat Natural Foods: Industrial foods contain any number of ingredients that are not actually food. Chicken nuggets, for example, contain butane. Focus on foods with fewer ingredients; ingredients that your great grandparents would recognize as food. If most of what you eat is real food, your body can easily handle some junk food here and there.
Skip Diet Foods: The low-fat food industry has done an amazing job convincing us that their products are healthier than the original. But consider the processing and additives required to make something with no fat taste creamy. In many product they add corn or other carbs to create a creamy texture. It turns out that our bodies process these just like sugar. Avoid “diet” foods. If sounds too good to be true, it is. Eat less and enjoy the real thing.
Eat Organic: Organic food has fewer chemicals and higher nutrient levels. Although it is true that some industrial organic foods do not actually have more nutrients. Again local is better. Eating organic is also better for the Earth, as it uses fewer chemicals. If money is a consideration, focus on the foods that are on the Environmental Working Group’s annual dirty dozen list, plus meat and dairy.
Avoid GMO foods: It may not always be possible to know if the foods we are eating contains GMO products, so do what you can. There is much disagreement about the safety of these foods, and no clear answers. The simple, safe solution is take a “wait and see approach”. What we do know is that bees and other insects are dying at an alarmingly high rate due to GMO roundup ready crops.
Take Care of Your Body:
Get Enough Sleep: Getting enough sleep improves brain function and immune response. It reduces blood pressure, inflammation, and risk of heart attacks. It also gives you more energy to enjoy your daily life.
Move Your Body: Walking is excellent for your health. It reduces stress. Any time spent outside will also help you stay in touch with the seasons and the daily weather, which is good for your spirit. It is reduces air pollutants as well, if you walk your errands when possible. A few regular, upper body exercises strengthen your arms and keeps your neck and shoulder muscles from tightening, which in turn reduces neck pain and headaches. A few simple, regular, core exercises strengthens your whole body, improves posture and reduces lower back pain.
Stretch: Keeping things loose and moving is the goal, not over taxing the body with strenuous, repetitive stretches. It is cheaper and healthier to find a handful of stretches you can do at home that address your body’s needs, rather than sign up for an expensive and/or time consuming yoga class. A growing number of young people are having hip replacement surgeries these days due the popularity of intense yoga classes.
Use Natural Beauty Products: The FDA does not regulate which chemicals can be used in lotions, shampoos, and makeup etc. Chemicals like phthalates and sulfates are harmful to our health, while others like palm oil and argon oil are unsustainable and harmful to the Earth. Look for products that have fewer ingredients and have not been tested on animals. Consider that if they have to test something on an animal, they are asking questions like does it cause cancer. Things like rose water and lavender oil have never required such testing. But again, keep it simple, replace what you can. If a particular product works for you, do not feel obligated to give it up.
Consider Natural Remedies: Our society seems to have a pill for everything. They are often hard on our body, and often have undesirable side effects. If you can find a natural remedy that works, use that instead. But also be realistic and kind to yourself. Sometimes the prescription drug is the right choice. Do not flush unused pills. Rather find a drugs store that will recycle them. Drugs that we take and drugs that we flush, enter the local water ways and are hard to filter out.
Simplify:
Live Mindfully: Living at a pace that allows you to be grounded in your body supports mindful living. Keep it simple you do not need a guru or life-coach to enjoy the present moment. Modern society pushes the idea that “busy people are important people”, that stress is a sign that you are busy and important. Find ways to unhook from this notion. Start simple, sit and enjoy the sun for a few minutes during the day. Take the time to relax and enjoy the meal in front of you without distraction. Leave your phone at home when you go on a walk.
Cut Yourself a Little Slack: Allowing yourself the time and space to relax and enjoy yourself without having “earned it” is important. Stress from high expectations and pressure is hard for the body to process.
Declutter: Everything that you own, owns you. You are connected to everything you own through an energetic string. This means that physical clutter becomes spiritual clutter. There are so many unnecessary products being advertised everywhere, stuff that ends up filling our closets, guest rooms and storage units. Stuff that eventually ends up in the landfills. Some things get there faster than others, like those little stocking-stuffers and party bags fillers. Owning less stuff frees up energy in your life. Purchasing less stuff saves natural resources and money. You feel better and the Earth feels better.
Spend Time Unplugged: Social media, and messaging have become a major focus of our consciousness. This constant external monitoring can create an unsustainable, social to-do list. It can also leave us feeling lonely or “less than” when we compare ourselves to others. Create a designated time of day that you check-in with social media. Set a time limit. Then spend time without internet connectivity. Find ways to trust and enjoy the here and now. Spend time with friends and family, in person, without posting photos of every occasion.
Turn off the News: Our society has gotten addicted to the endless fear inspiring drama of the daily news cycle. It is negative, divisive, compelling, and repetitive. Fear and worry create tunnel vision, which prevents us from seeing the bigger picture. Even if your mind is able to process the negativity, your body ends up carrying the stress load. It is OK to check-in, with moderation, so you feel informed. Then turn it off and enjoy your life. Constantly watching the news is not ‘being part of the solution”. If you want to be proactive, find a local political organization to support or join.
Eat Healthy:
Drink Water: Staying hydrated helps increase brain function and energy levels. It helps reduce inflammation, muscle cramps, headaches, and insomnia among other things. Water has no unnecessary calories, salts, or harmful chemical additives (“natural Flavors”) Drinking local water helps connect you to the Land, as water carrier with it the memory and wisdom of everything it passes through. Filtering the water does not effect this, ignore the raw water movement. If you get bored with water add a splash of lemon juice, a cucumber slice, or herbs like mint, lemon balm, or saffron.
Eat More Plants: Eating more vegetables and fruits will help in two important ways. First, your health will improve. All vegetables reduce inflammation, risk of cancer, and other diseases. They are high in fiber and micro-nutrients. You may also reduce your dependency on supplements and medications. Second, it decreases the amount of meat and grain you consume. Which in turn lightens the load on your body and the Earth.
Eat a Variety of Vegetables: Mix it up, branch out, variety is good. Eat the vegetables that taste good to you. Health trend industries tend to hold one fruit or vegetable above the others. And as a result we tend to over consume one product. This is bad for two reasons. First, there is no such thing as a miracle fruit or vegetable. If we over-focus on one, we miss out on the health benefits of the others. Secondly, when western society follows a health trend, the developing nations and their lands suffer. Consider, for example, what will happen to the farmers, in impoverished regions, who clear cut land to grow coconuts once we, inevitably, lose interest in coconut based products?
Eat Herbs: all herbs contain healing, strength building, and empowering properties. There are times when a specific herb might be needed, but in general holistic health is simply adding herbs and spices to our meals. Parsley, for example is an often overlooked power herb. Teas can be a great way to consume herbs, although, keep in mind that commercially produced “herbal Teas” often contain various “natural flavors” and Sweeteners to create a more mainstream flavor. Check out the Earth Spirit Market for organic herb and spice blends.
Eat Local: Eating local, seasonal food connects us to the spirit and wisdom of the Land. It creates a food tradition that our bodies can depend on as it works to maintain wellness. It avoids trend eating, which knocks our bodies off balance.
Consume Less Sugar: Sugar has no health benefit and many negative side effects like obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Fats in our foods do not make us fat, sugar does. Sugar is used in many industrial foods to cover the lack of flavor due to inferior ingredients. It is worth the time to read labels. Some foods like marinara sauce, and tortillas contain unnecessary sugars. Keep in mind that not all sweeteners are created equal. Fruits contain fructose in a natural state, and the fiber of the fruit helps the body process the sugar. White cane sugar and high fructose corn syrup (now re-branded as “natural sweetener”) have been so refined that they are too concentrated for our bodies to process in a healthy way. Likewise, there is no such thing as a healthy, safe calorie-free sweetener. When you reduce the amount of sugar load in your daily food, your body can process the occasional treat.
Eat Natural Foods: Industrial foods contain any number of ingredients that are not actually food. Chicken nuggets, for example, contain butane. Focus on foods with fewer ingredients; ingredients that your great grandparents would recognize as food. If most of what you eat is real food, your body can easily handle some junk food here and there.
Skip Diet Foods: The low-fat food industry has done an amazing job convincing us that their products are healthier than the original. But consider the processing and additives required to make something with no fat taste creamy. In many product they add corn or other carbs to create a creamy texture. It turns out that our bodies process these just like sugar. Avoid “diet” foods. If sounds too good to be true, it is. Eat less and enjoy the real thing.
Eat Organic: Organic food has fewer chemicals and higher nutrient levels. Although it is true that some industrial organic foods do not actually have more nutrients. Again local is better. Eating organic is also better for the Earth, as it uses fewer chemicals. If money is a consideration, focus on the foods that are on the Environmental Working Group’s annual dirty dozen list, plus meat and dairy.
Avoid GMO foods: It may not always be possible to know if the foods we are eating contains GMO products, so do what you can. There is much disagreement about the safety of these foods, and no clear answers. The simple, safe solution is take a “wait and see approach”. What we do know is that bees and other insects are dying at an alarmingly high rate due to GMO roundup ready crops.
Take Care of Your Body:
Get Enough Sleep: Getting enough sleep improves brain function and immune response. It reduces blood pressure, inflammation, and risk of heart attacks. It also gives you more energy to enjoy your daily life.
Move Your Body: Walking is excellent for your health. It reduces stress. Any time spent outside will also help you stay in touch with the seasons and the daily weather, which is good for your spirit. It is reduces air pollutants as well, if you walk your errands when possible. A few regular, upper body exercises strengthen your arms and keeps your neck and shoulder muscles from tightening, which in turn reduces neck pain and headaches. A few simple, regular, core exercises strengthens your whole body, improves posture and reduces lower back pain.
Stretch: Keeping things loose and moving is the goal, not over taxing the body with strenuous, repetitive stretches. It is cheaper and healthier to find a handful of stretches you can do at home that address your body’s needs, rather than sign up for an expensive and/or time consuming yoga class. A growing number of young people are having hip replacement surgeries these days due the popularity of intense yoga classes.
Use Natural Beauty Products: The FDA does not regulate which chemicals can be used in lotions, shampoos, and makeup etc. Chemicals like phthalates and sulfates are harmful to our health, while others like palm oil and argon oil are unsustainable and harmful to the Earth. Look for products that have fewer ingredients and have not been tested on animals. Consider that if they have to test something on an animal, they are asking questions like does it cause cancer. Things like rose water and lavender oil have never required such testing. But again, keep it simple, replace what you can. If a particular product works for you, do not feel obligated to give it up.
Consider Natural Remedies: Our society seems to have a pill for everything. They are often hard on our body, and often have undesirable side effects. If you can find a natural remedy that works, use that instead. But also be realistic and kind to yourself. Sometimes the prescription drug is the right choice. Do not flush unused pills. Rather find a drugs store that will recycle them. Drugs that we take and drugs that we flush, enter the local water ways and are hard to filter out.