5 Ways to RENEW your mind..
Our minds and bodies are constantly processing food, drink, thoughts, and emotions. In our 100 miles-per-minute world, we can easily feel overwhelmed. When you start to feel like you need to take a step back, it can be helpful to carve out a little time for a mini-break focused on self-care and relaxation.
Take a break from technology
There are a number of benefits to doing a digital detox, but even a brief period of time away from your digital devices can be refreshing. You can start small by leaving your device inside while you enjoy some time outside or even try leaving your tech tools switched off all day long.
Some other tech-free activities you might want to try:
Attend a yoga class in person or find a video online.
Go for a walk in the park. Find a quiet place and try some easy meditation techniques.
Make it a low-tech day. Keep your television, computer, cellphone and other electronics turned off.
Stretch at home.
Take a bath. Leave your phone in a different room while you focus on and enjoy your time in the warm water.
2. Try tongue scraping
Start your day by gently scraping your tongue (don't worry, it doesn't hurt!). In Ayurveda (a form of alternative medicine practiced in India), tongue coating is called "ama" and reflects metabolic debris. Tongue scrapers can be purchased in a drug store or health food store for a few dollars. They are used to clean the tongue.
3. Take care of your body
Dry brushing is a technique that is often used in Ayurvedic medicine that may have relaxing benefits. This technique is a fast and inexpensive way to feel refreshed. All you need is a regular body brush. Rather than using the brush in the bath or shower, you simply brush your dry skin gently.
Once you are done dry brushing, shower or bath as normal and then apply lotion or body oil to moisturize your skin.
Start with your upper body and work your way down, being careful not to scrub too hard to avoid irritating your skin.
Another idea is to try taking a contrast shower, which some alternative practitioners recommend to boost circulation and energy.
Contrast therapy is a technique sometimes used to aid in recovery that involves alternating between hot and cold water.
To try this technique at home, start by turning the water in your shower as warm as you can handle. This should be hot, but not unbearable or scalding. Use caution and common sense in order to avoid burning yourself.
After standing in the water for two to three minutes, switch the temperature to as cold as you can handle. The cold water will be uncomfortable, but you may also find it invigorating. Repeat this cycle two to three times. *I like to just slowly turn the hot water down and back up and then take the water and cup it in my hands and apply it to my face and body to get used to it - anything counts*
4. Cleanse your body
It can also be helpful to focus on your diet during a cleanse day. Make sure that you are getting plenty of hydration.
Make sure you are getting enough water. *Half your body weight in OZ a day Example: 200lbs = 100oz
A cold weather cleansing tea is ginger tea with the juice of a lemon wedge.
If you are a coffee drinker, switch to green tea for your detox day.
Drinking bone broth can be super beneficial and quiet easy to find, unless you want to get fancy and make your own! GO FOR IT!
5. Cleanse your mind
On your cleansing day, try to take steps to free yourself from the past events that continue to bother you. Start a personal ritual, such as writing a letter (you don't have to send it!) to get out your feelings. Or buy a beautiful journal to give yourself a regular outlet for all your emotions, regrets, and worries. Don't push these emotions away. Harness them and move on as a smarter person. *I like to write down all things that pop into my mind that cause stress and anxiety and then burn the piece of paper or rip it up and throw it away*
The moral of the story is we can not be the best version of ourselves without a little (or a lot) of self-care, and contrary to popular belief, self-care is NOT selfish. It is actually very thoughtful if you have anyone in your life that depends on you for anything.. we can only give as much to others and their needs as we have stored up to take care of our own, and I don't know about you but I like to have a little left over when it comes time to tend to my own needs.
Repeat after me: "I am worth it!", now go and do at least one of these things for YOU and I'd love to hear how it made you feel or how it impacted your day :)
