Healthy Habits: Back To The Basics

Today’s post is all about health and getting back to the basics of healthy habits and routines. I talked about my three main resolutions in this post, one of which focused on reducing the amount of stress I feel each day and taking better care of my body. I’m the type of person that likes to make small incremental changes (usually one at a time) before moving on to the next improvement. And so in an effort to improve my healthy habits this year, I’m committing to making small, sustainable changes over a longer period of time than just starting cold turkey. So today I’ll be covering what this first step looks like for me.

The first step in this process is getting back to health basics, which includes providing the right nutrients for my body to be successful. These include vitamins, cleansers, moisturizers, and other products that supply me with the things I need, while taking away the toxins I don’t. It’s a step that focuses on changes to my daily routine. Below I’m detailing my morning and nightly routine, as well as some of the small changes I’ve been making in my diet. I’ve linked all the products I’m using if you are interested in trying one out for yourself! But everyone is different, so this is my subtle disclaimer that what I have listed here is what works best for me. It’s come through trial and error and has definitely evolved (and continues to evolve) over time.

My next step after perfecting (a relative term) my daily routine will be to define a practical weekly routine that includes both my work schedule and a manageable exercise regimen to follow. But I’ll have a full post on that soon! Throughout this process I am aiming to hit all my major health goals as outlined in my 101 in 1001 list.

Morning Routine:

Moisturizer + SPF – Even though I’m indoors 95% of the time these days, I still know it’s important to apply a moisturizing with SPF in the morning. I love Aveeno’s moisturizer + SPF and have been using it for a couple years now. I’ve also ordered this daily moisturizer with SPF by Kieh’s to try out, and I’ll let you know how I like when it comes in!

Stretching – For those that don’t know, I’ve had a terrible back/shoulder pain for a while now. We aren’t sure where or when it originated, just that it gives me pain every single day and mostly likely stems from stress. When I went to see my doctors about it earlier last year, they gave me stretches I could do each day to strengthen those particular muscles giving me pain. Like many people though, my stretching bands and information sheet ended up in a drawer somewhere only be pulled out when the situation got bad enough. (Which isn’t a good course of action btw!) So I’ve started making time in the morning and at night to do my back/shoulder exercises and stretching in general. I also go this back massager for times when the area needs extra attention.

Good Eats During The Day:

Gluten Free – I’ve had a lot of issues (IBS-related) for as long as I can remember, so I’ve decided to go gluten free for 2-3 weeks to see if cutting wheat products out of my diet helps with bloating and constipation. If that doesn’t completely fix the issue, the next thing to go will be dairy. And for those that know me, I LOVE cheese…so that will be a tough one. Already from cutting out gluten, I’ve seen a dramatic rise in the number of vegetables, beans, and fiber overall that I’ve been taking in. I also found this brown rice pasta that is an adequate filler for those days that I just need pasta or this rice mac and cheese when I’m feeling extra Kraft-y. I’ve also found that eating popcorn satisfies my cravings to munch on wheat-based snacks, and roasted potatoes or tater tots seem to do the trick as well. (Related: My Journey Going Plant-Based)

Meal Prep – Preparing my meals the night before has been such a godsend for the 14-hour days I have two times a week, and perhaps even a necessity to making those days possible at all. In addition to packing my food the night before so I don’t forget anything in my rush out the door, it’s also been super helpful to make meals in large batches, such as sauteing all of my chicken for the week once (rice pasta mac & cheese with chicken , chicken and rice teriyaki bowls, chicken Caesar salad) and relying more heavily on my slow-cooker (minestrone soup, Mexican chicken soup).

Healthy Snacks – Surrounding myself with healthy snacks has been essential to my success at staying gluten- and junk food-free. I keep baby carrots, sweet sugar peas, fresh berries, pistachio nut mix, and the occasional dark chocolate at work for when I get hungry. I also keep oatmeal and granola at work for those mornings I miss breakfast or just need a little something extra between meals.

Probiotics + Fiber – I’ve also started back at taking probiotics each night, eating 1-2 cups of beans each day, and substituting in Activia yogurt with fresh raspberries for ice cream as a dessert in the evenings. I’ve used a number of things over the years to try to help with my digestive issues, but these (paired with regular exercise) seem to be the best for me.

Sparkling Fruit Water – I’ve never been a huge drinker of pop/soda…I just wasn’t raised having that as an option. But recently I have started to really enjoy the fizzy drink as a fun reward at the end of the day or as a relaxing treat on the weekend. As a healthier alternative, I’ve starting stocking IZZE Citrus Ginger for those times I’m craving something sweet and fizzy. It’s made of 70% real fruit juice and sparkling water, with no added sugars or preservatives, so it’s a much healthier option I can get behind. (P.S. – This isn’t sponsored, I just love IZZE! And they come in tons of different flavors.)

Vitamins – I’ve also been supplementing my meals by taking vitamins at night, specifically a multi-vitamin, extra vitamin C, and Calcium + D3 since I’m indoors all day (I was deficient in vitamin D on my last blood work). It’s important to enrich my diet with calcium and vitamin D now, before problems start arising later (and there’s less I can do about it). Just something I tell myself when I think these deficiencies aren’t affecting me right now (because they are!).

Night Routine:

Shampoo & Conditioner – I only wash my hair ever 2-3 days to keep it from getting too dry. I switch off between the Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger Shampoo and Conditioner and the Tea Tree Lavender Mint Shampoo and Conditioner. I’ve used both for years now and love them! My hair dresser even mentioned how much of a difference moisture-wise she noticed in my hair after using the Tea Tree Lavender Mint set in particular, so if your hair is in need of some extra moisture, those are the best I’ve found!

Leave-in Conditioners – As for leave-in products I use the Awapuhi Wild Ginger Styling Treatment Oil over all my hair while it’s still damp, and this Living Proof Instant Repair or Frizz-Free Leave-in Conditioner to the ends. Those products are good all-around conditioners that also protect against heat damage when I curl my hair. I also just ordered this Oil Fruit Oil Hair Masque by Kiehl’s to try and will let you know how I like it when it comes in. I’m not sure if it’s because I live in the dry climate of Colorado or if previous coloring has dried out my hair, but I’ve noticed more breakage on the ends of my hair and am working to fix this. Based on Julia’s recommendations, I’m also looking to try out this Alterna Kendi Oil to help with frizz, repair, and heat damage.

Facial Cleanser – I rinse off the day with Cetaphil Daily cleanser, as recommended by my dermatologist. I usually do this as a last step when I’m taking a shower and actually keep the bottle in there so I don’t forget to use it each night!

Moisturizers – I love thicker creams when it comes to types of lotions, so the Cera Ve Moisurizing cream has been a dream. I use this one only at night, as it doesn’t contain an SPF for sun protection during the day. I apply this generously over all my face after my shower in the evenings. I also add it to my hands, which suffer from extreme eczema in the wintertime. Although if you are like me, this Eucerin Advanced Repair Cream (+ gloves) at night is the only thing that truly works at repairing my cracked hands. I also use this unscented lotion or this scented body cream on my legs after showering.

Face Mask – Once per week, I use this Kiehl’s Clay Cleansing Masque to reduce toxins and soften my skin. It’s a nice excuse to treat myself for 15 to 20 minutes each week. I’ve loved this mask so much that I’m thinking about trying some of Kiehl’s other masks, like this Tumeric & Cranberry Energizing Masque or this Cilantro & Orange Defending Masque. Any other recommendations of masks you love?

Essential Oils – I just starting using essential oils via a Petal Diffuser and am already addicted! I started off small with Peppermint (all-around), Lavender (calming), and DigestZen (aids with digestion). I usually add in two drops of two essential oils and let my diffuser run when I go to sleep. The Petal Diffuser automatically shuts off after 1, 2, or 4 hours, so you don’t even have to worry about it after you set it up! It’s so good! I feel like I’m sleeping in a spa each night!

What about you? What do you incorporate into your daily routine?

You might also like…My Three 2017 Goals and 5 Simple Ways To Stay Healthful.