My Wellness Secrets
Age has taught me so much cool shit. First of all the fourties are incredible. I love myself deeply, I know who I am, my boundaries are clear AND above all, I understand that feeling good in my body is the gateway to it all. Staying mind & body focused and being consistent with it is a daily priority. Always growing, always improving has become my mid-life motto. So with that said, here is my secret to feeling fantastic every damn day.
Movement
On any given week, I am participating in a shmorigishborg of physical activities. From walking or hiking, to doing at-home workouts in the backyard, taking a hot-yoga or pilates reformer class and playing tennis. And depending on the day (or time of the month), having so many different options is what keeps me craving it and coming back every single day.
Also, changing my mindset to focus on consistency over time spent was a deal changer and allowed the idea of movement to be much more approachable and attainable.
Time spent outside, in the sun & being alone
There is nothing like a dose of Vitamin D and a big old breath of fresh air. Both are an instant mood booster for me, even if it’s just a few minutes.
Another thing I’ve noticed, especially the older I’ve gotten, is that I need to have alone time, “me time”, uninterrupted time to wander and explore new ideas. This quiet time is how recharge my social battery.
Inferred Sauna
On that note, I look forward to my sauna time as “me time.” The experience itself is meditative and relaxing and I will usually use this time to do a guided meditation or breath work. Problems do seem to “melt away” when laying in the sauna. I always leave feeling refreshed and inspired.
I’ve been consistent with the sauna for about 18 months (2-3 x’s/week) and other benefits I’ve noticed for me, personally, is better sleep, less aches and pains, faster muscle recovery, glowing skin and just overall less stress.
Meditation & Breath-work
Both of these have become HUGE for my wellness practice. The reason they work so well for me is because they’re easy to access.
I really stepped into my breath-work practice during covid-times. Having a toolbox of breathing techniques that reduce stress, increase my energy and improve my focus AND that are free and available to me 24/7 has become instant therapy.
On the contrary, maintaining a daily meditation practice is easier said than done. To ensure that I reap all the benefits of meditation, I must prioritizing it into my wellness routine and over the years, I have adopted a few things to help me do that. Keeping it familiar, therefore associating meditation with bath or sauna time has helped me stay on track. I also do a “walking meditation” when I’m on a walk or run. Associating meditation with my weekly routines has been instrumental.
Best part, I can combine both practices for advanced benefits when I have the time.
Remember my point about the easy access? Open (guided meditation & breath-work app) and MWH & FORM have guided mediations that continue to use weekly.
Activations
The newest member of my wellness routine. Activations are motivational audios that I listen to that inspire and empower. I felt like I was missing something in my practice, especially when an eyes closed peaceful meditation wasn’t possible.
Unlike traditional meditation, Activations are designed to fit seamlessly into busy lifestyles which has allowed me to listen while walking, driving, cooking, or during my other daily activities. There are over 700+, across 16 categories. The app is so easy to use and has helped me incorporate more personal growth into my daily life.
Thoughts? I would love to hear more about your wellness routine!
xx, Shawna
