As a modern woman and mother of two active school-aged boys, I meet stress head on every day. From Los Angeles traffic to school-rushed mornings, to action-packed workdays and nights, I am immersed in the fast pace of life. For me and many others, this everyday grind can begin to take its toll on our bodies and our health, big time! I see it in my clients and myself. Unless we are consciously taking moments to slow down, reflect, and practice self-care, we run the risk of depleting our energy, reducing our stamina, and hindering our well being.
Each week in my practice, the number one goal I hear most from clients whether entertainment professionals, high powered entrepreneurs or busy moms is “to feel better.” When I ask,”What does that look like to you?” the top three replies are to have more energy, to lose weight, and to have a better night’s sleep.
With all the good efforts and love we are putting out into the world, I’ve come to see a huge pattern of a lack of self-care. I’ve noticed many feel guilty for taking time out for themselves, while others may lack the discipline it takes to make self-care a priority.
By the time we reach 45 or 50 plus years of age – having raised kids, held together the household and/or worked super hard in our professions and careers, we are burnt, spent, tired, and flat out drained. This is also known as “adrenal burnout”. Unsure of what to do or where to turn next, many of us rely on consuming high amounts of sugar, highly processed foods, and large amounts of caffeine to give us more energy and get us through the day. This pattern may go on for weeks, months or even years until one day we wake up and say “ENOUGH!”
If you have had enough and are ready to bring more energy, stamina, and vitality back into your life, I commend you. Summer is a great time to slow down, reassess your priorities and rejuvenate
Below are 5 steps to reclaim your energy, release the stress and reignite the fire within this summer:
1. Upgrade your Food – Start with the simple step of purging your pantry of all the foods that contain chemicals, additives and refined sugars. Bring in real foods such as lean meats, fruits, veggies, nuts, and healthy fats. Swap out your snacks for some fun and nourishing wholesome new treats like sliced apples and almond butter, homemade guacamole with jicama sticks or my–new favorite–Jillz gluten-free paleo crackers with wild salmon and sliced cucumbers.
2. Add in Adaptogens – Consider trying adaptogens like ashwagandha, magnolia, theanine (from green tea), and phosphatidylserine, which have all been shown to help calm an overactive stress response, improve sleep, increase energy, and enhance mental clarity.
3. Try some Solé – Solé (pronounced Solay) is essentially water that has been fully saturated with a natural Himalayan salt. It’s a powerfully detoxing and rejuvenating elixir. When Himalayan salt dissolves in water, it results in a concentrated, electrically charged matrix of the 84 trace minerals in the salt. When ingested, the ionic salt and trace minerals nourish each cell in your body. Solé benefits have been shown to support thyroid, adrenal and hormone balance as well as energy and blood sugar. I like to take about a teaspoon a day, mixed in a glass of water.
4. Go out and Play – Research shows good old fashioned “play” is one of the best anti-aging tools around. Playing helps create good hormones like oxytocin and dopamine which lower stress and help us feel good. When was the last time you frolicked in the ocean, tossed around a rubber toy with your dog or rode a roller coaster?
5. Love & Let Go! – As we learn to nurture the good relationships in our lives and let go of the hurt, anger and frustration, we give ourselves the precious gift of health. Holding onto anger is like holding a hot stone in your hand and thinking the other person will be the one to get burned! Letting go, as difficult as it may sound, is your pathway to healing and rejuvenation. Here’s a few ways to begin the process. Send loving energy from your heart each day. Do some breath work. Silently breath in the word “let” for a count of four, hold for two, then breathe out the word “go” for a count of four. Repeat 3 times. Take a walk in nature, hang out by the beach or chat with a good friend. All good ways to shift your energy and move towards deeper love and peace.
Here’s to you and to a summer filled with good food, playful days and loving connections!
What a good artical!