My 5 Top Tips For Staying Healthy During Winter
Happy (and Healthy) New Year, Friends!
“New Year, New Me.”
This quote is surrounded by positive vibes, excitement, newness, and its all amazing! But how can we actually live it out? Keep reading to find 5 of my top ways to start and keep a healthy lifestyle throughout the year (especially during the colder months).
“H e a l t h y N e w Y e a r”
5 t i p s t h a t w i l l h e l p y o u a c h i e v e y o u r h e a l t h i e s t y e a r y e t!
1.) H Y D R A T E
This tip has been shared by thousands of other people. Probably because it WORKS! Keeping your body hydrated helps with so many things, a few being muscle recovery, detoxifying the body (flushing out sicknesses or other germs that are floating around) and helping with skin health!
Drinking enough water throughout the day can be a challenge, especially when it’s cold outside and all you want is a cup of hot coffee to sip on all day long. T r u s t me, i fight this battle almost every day! A great way to make sure your getting enough water is to start the second you wake up. Literally as soon as you step (or roll) out of bed, grab a glass and DRINK. Set a glass next to your bed the night before if you have to. Starting this habit first thing in the morning makes you more likely to drink more throughout the day.
Another tip for making sure you’re hydrated enough, is getting yourself a water bottle that you can carry EVERYWHERE with you. One that looks cute, is functional and that will remind you to keep sipping. There are thousands of bottles to choose from. My favorite water bottle of all time is my BEVANDA.
It’s sleek and fits into my purse perfectly. It also keeps my water at the perfect temperature, so I want to keep drinking. Get yours in your favorite color here!
2.) K E E P M O V I N G
Moving our bodies is one of the most crucial things we need to do in order to stay healthy. However, there is not a ‘one size fits all’ rule for this tip. There are so many ways, big and small that we can move and it looks different for everyone. Weather it’s going to the gym and lifting heavy weights, joining a class, doing some light stretching, following a yoga tutorial on YouTube, or simply going for a walk around your neighborhood, any and all movement can be beneficial for your body to help keep you strong and healthy.
Each day is different for me. Some days, the only exercise I feel I need is light stretching. Other days, I’m ready to crush an at home HIIT workout. Don’t know where to start? Try this SIMPLE workout as soon as you get up tomorrow morning (after hydrating of course!):
10 Minute Morning Workout:
- 10 Jumping Jacks
- 10 Squats
- 10 Pushups
- 10 Sit ups
- 10 Jumping Jacks
“ Life is a balance between rest and movement.”
3.) U S E / I N V E S T I N E S S E N T I A L O I L S
My husband and I have been using Grade A essential oils as a source of health and healing for years now. Essential oils are an amazing example of how nature can heal. They are made directly from plant extracts and have SO many uses!
One of my all time favorite oils to use is Thieves Essential Oil from Young Living. I always have a bottle (or three) at home, and i almost never forget to pack it when i am traveling! It is known for killing 99.96% of bad germs! It is 100% natural and it truly works. Any time Jesse or I feel a cold or any other sickness coming on, we add a drop or two to the heels of our feet, on our glands, on our chests, and you can even ingest the Thieves Vitality Bland for an extra immune boost!
A few of my other favorite oils and uses include: Peppermint to combat headaches or nausea, lavender to help with sleep support and Digize to help me deal with any stomach bloating. Truly this is just barely scraping the surface when it comes to the different uses for essential oils.
If you have ANY questions at all, or would like help with purchasing any, just send and email and I’d be happy to help!
Along with ingesting and using essential oils topically, you can also diffuse them to receive the benefits aromatically + they make your house smell AMAZING without giving off harmful chemicals (like candles can).
4.) C O N S U M E N U T R I E N T D E N S E F O O D S
It is so important that we are filling our bodies with foods that are packed with nutrients. The more we get in a day, the stronger our immune systems will be to fight off the germs, infections and many sicknesses that may come in the winter. Nutrient dense foods will also boost your energy levels throughout the day!
Low energy is a common theme during the winter as many of us want to curl up and hibernate until the warmth comes back. However, when you consume foods that are packed with vitamins, minerals and nutrients, you’ll have more energy than you know what to do with!
A few examples of ‘Nutrient Dense Foods’ are bean sprouts, dark leafy greens, nuts + seeds, various superfood powders such as maca powder and spirulina.
^ Bean Sprouts add extra nutrients and a delicious crunch to any salad.
5.) E A T A L L T H E V E G G I E S
This tip is very common, and similar to the last tip, BUT it cannot be stressed enough! There are literally endless options for when it comes to choosing what kind of veggies to eat. And it doesn’t stop there! They can be prepared tons of different ways, giving them so much depth in flavor.
Add some natural spices and a bit of olive oil to a pan of mixed veggies before roasting them for a warming side dish. Add some spinach to your salad at lunch for an extra serving. Hide them in muffins or a fruit smoothie. Eventually, your body will begin to realize how AMAZING it feels when you are taking in all the benefits that these natural foods come with, and you’ll even start to crave them. Yes - it is possible to CRAVE vegetables!
However you prepare or eat them, just make sure it’s often and you’ll be well on your way to feeling your best!
Hoping these 5 tips will help you to make small changes to your everyday life to help you achieve your healthiest year yet!
Follow along on instagram for more quick recipes, health tips, fitness inspiration and more!
Happy and Healthy New Year!
xo Makayla