On Mindfulness - Do you need more energy?

 
your LIFE!

Do you lack energy, need a boost, want to do so many fun things but can't seem to have enough fuel to get things done? When was the last time you felt energized, your body felt strong, your mind clear and your emotions at ease? Do you feel like you get enough sleep, or do you wake up tired? Are you thriving or just surviving? Do you find that half way through the day you'd like to take a nap, or you feel like you need an energy boost to keep you going? Are the kids keeping you busy, work is draining your brain and you have no time to exercise and feel good?

Physical, emotional and environmental stressors can wreak havoc on our body. When we stop to think how many toxic substances we are exposed to every day it is no wonder we cannot get ahead with just an average diet and living habits. We need to step it up! We are continuously exposed to pesticides, heavy metals, gasses, deodorizers that are present in our foods, water and the air that we breathe. And on top of it all stress creates chemicals in our systems that are detrimental to our body and our mind. Releasing high amounts of the stress hormone cortisol has numerous negative effects in our body. Negative emotions create toxic flow in our system. Toxins can bring about physical pain, create brain fog, lower our vitality, our energy levels and our joy of living. Ultimately it brings about dis-ease in the body and mind.

Don't worry, you are not alone and you can fix this. Many of us suffer trying to juggle life and set our priorities. I've been there, and had to make a change or suffer the consequences. Are you continuously running to catch up and most of the time there is little time left for just "YOU". Are you running your life like an emergency? Isn't it enough already? Quit struggling and get ready to reach your full potential. If you are not feeling 100% in your body, mind and spirit chances are you will benefit from a spring LIFE cleanse. And that can show up in many ways. 

Here are 6 healthy living tips to consider:
 

1.     Get plenty of rest each night - and good quality sleep. If your schedule does not allow you to wake up later then try going to bed a little earlier. Good, wholesome sleep nourishes the body and the mind. If you have a chance for midday naps then take it. Simply close your eyes and breathe easy. Try the 4/7/8 breathing technique if you have trouble falling asleep and getting some shut eye. Use Sundays as intended - for rest! Or at least designate one day or even half a day in the week for relaxation or "ME" time. Do we always have to be on the go?

2.     Check in on your nutrition. Do you eat too many carbs and consume too much sugar? Did you know that 80% of packaged and restaurant food contains sugar in it? A good way to keep you addicted and craving it! Refined sugar is a toxin to our body. In order to nourish your body make sure to add fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet. Cook from scratch so you may control the ingredients. And fuel your body with healthy greens and all the colors of the rainbow fruits and veggies. Soon farmers markets will be at full swing again; make sure to take advantage of the locally grown juicy produce.

3.     Eat mindfully.  Try to not eat on the run. Noticing and chewing your food, enjoying the flavor and allowing your meal to settle are all important parts of how you absorb the nutrients you take in. Take a moment to look at your food, noticing the color, texture, shape and smell - when you take the time to appreciate your meals you are more likely to savor and enjoy it. Take delight of a nutritious breakfast, benefit from sitting down for a yummy lunch and spend some family time over a delicious dinner. Wherever you happen to be take the time to savor the flavors and enjoy each minute of it. Your body will digest your food much easier, and you will be left with a satisfied full feeling instead of gulping down your food and feeling hungry again in a short while. Did you know that mindful eating has been shown in studies to reduce overeating and binge eating, can help with weight loss and can reduce BMI (body mass index)? It also has been shown to help cope with chronic eating problems such as anorexia and can improve the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes.  Simply re-awakening the connection between mind and stomach helps achieve subtle changes that are beneficial to our bodies and health.

4.     Drink plenty of water. As a rule of thumb take your weight, divide it in half and this will give you the minimum oz of water your should drink in a day. So if you weigh lets say 150 lbs you will need at least 75 oz or 9 cups of water a day. Aid the detox by adding some fresh lemon in your water every day. It lowers the acidity in your body, facilitate digestion and adds vitamin C among other benefits. Water is an essential element for the body to detox and flush out toxins. It is also essential for keeping the cells healthy and for the proper function of all the processes in the body. Our body is 75-90% water. We loose a lot of that from elimination, sweating, toxin clearing etc. so our body needs a lot of water during the day to keep going. A healthy amount of water will also help your skin stay moist, hydrated and young looking. Think of a grape and a raisin. They are essentially the same but one lacks the juicy and plum look - keep hydrated!

 5.     Meditate, Breathe easy. In our hectic lifestyles we forget to breath. I mean take nice full breaths. We slouch at our desk, our chest is constricted and our body gets overwhelmed by the negative effects of stress induced hormones. An excess production of those hormones, such as cortisol, can inhibit our absorption of nutrients, tax our organs and stop the natural flow of our systems. By doing some breathing exercises every day, meditating and quieting the mind, we allow the stress levels to lower and subside. We start producing feel good hormones such as oxitocin and DHEA. That sends the signal to the body that we are "safe" and all is well, which in turn slows down breathing, calms the body, relaxes the organs and clears the brain. A great breathing technique from the HeartMath Institute is the Quick Coherence® Breathing Technique. Just three steps: Focus on the heart, Breathe through the heart and breathe through a positive heart feeling. Those are just some of the benefits of meditation and calm breathing. I am sure you can discover more. An easy habit, you can do it anytime, at home, at work, in the bathroom! Give it a try!

6.     And of course there is exercise. It can be as easy as walking, gardening, yoga, tai chi, or as energized as running, weight lifting, aerobics and whatever else makes you happy. You pick the rhythm that is most enjoyable by your body and get yourself moving. Now that the weather is warmer and sunnier it is even more inviting to go outside and enjoy the fresh air. And let's not forget the essential 20 minutes of sunshine every day. The sun is our life force and it helps the body produce Vitamin D, which regulates our mood, promotes bone growth, and keeps the body healthy. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to certain cancers, heart disease, depression and weight gain. So get yourself out there and soak some warm rays.

Cleansing, nourishing and resting your body and mind from the inside out can be a very effective way of achieving health and wellness and turning your life around.
Are you ready to feel great? 

 

 

 

www.CorinnaKromer.com