Life is a constant trial and error of new things we try. Some things stick and become healthy habits and some become unhealthy habits which we subsequently purge ourselves from (often with difficulty), and some just don't stick at all.
As a Naturopath I don't have a magic wand to make everything perfect. I have plenty of stuff to work on and I keep trialing new habits to improve my health and happiness. And like everything in life, some work, and some don't!
In the celebration of a New Year starting, let me share with you a few habits which have worked really well for me in 2021, and which I am happy to continue in the new year. I will also let you in on a thing I have happily given up, and why that’s an amazing thing for me! I hope my new habits can spark some inspiration for you too!
3 new habits:
1. Melatonin for sleep
Seriously, this has been a game changer for me! I sleep so much better since giving in to taking Melatonin. I take 5mg just before bed and I now sleep much deeper and if I wake up, I fall asleep much faster.
I have been resisting taking Melatonin for a while because it doesn’t really solve anything. It’s just a band aid which helps only when taken, and I’m usually adamant to solve the issue instead of just doing quick fixes!
So, what does melatonin really do? Melatonin is a hormone which the body produces more of at night. Release follows our circadian rhythm, more at night and less during the day and it helps us become sleepy. There are many reasons why we don’t produce enough melatonin at night some of which are stress, altered sleep patterns, blue light from our excessive screen use, diet and more. Modern life basically….
Are you having issues with sleep? Give melatonin a go! It’s not for everyone, but you quickly find out if it’s for you. And everyone needs a different dosing for it to be effective. I get mine from here and I get the 5mg https://www.vitabasix.com/produkte/melachron/
As always, consult your health practitioner if you have any doubts and to determine the individual dosing which suits your needs.
2. Regular Infrared sauna sessions
I have wished for an infrared sauna for a looong time. And finally, in our new house, we got one in our amazing wellness bathroom. It is fantastic! It has special deep infrared zones which go a lot deeper into the skin and are extremely beneficial to many inflammatory conditions. Did I mention it’s great for the immune system also? Viruses have a harder time replicating at higher temperatures, so daily sauna keeps them at bay!
What I love with infrared saunas is that the temperature is not as high as in a normal sauna. Optimal temperature is approximately 42-52 degrees C which is much more doable for me.
My sauna also has a hot steam option with salt crystals. This makes the air similar to being in a salt mine. This is so beneficial for the airways and all the mucous membranes – I’m talking beneficial to ALL respiratory issues. And moisturizing those mucous membranes keeps the viruses at bay, just sayin... Our mucous membranes are literally our first port of contact when a virus enters our body. It’s their job to trap and expel them. If the mucous membranes are dry or broken, they can’t do their job!
The last feature of my sauna is light therapy. More and more research is being done on the benefits of various colours on our body. I always have mine set on red – it’s the best for healing.
So, this infrared sauna is literally a multifaceted wellness treatment IN MY OWN BATHROOM! How cool is that! I try to get a 30-40min session in at least 4 times a week in the early morning. So good!
3. Weekly 10K walks
This has been a commitment for the past 3ish months. I started joining a friend once a week who walks +-10K every day (she really does, no weather to grim for her!), and I loved it so much. The 2 hours outside give me so much energy, it gets my creative juices flowing and I just feel the bonding with nature.
And well, the weather has been quite grim – “milk soup” I call it. So getting outside makes the sky seem a little less dull. Somehow, from the inside, the weather gets to me, but being outside in the same milk soup, energizes me! (The photo for this article is NOT the current weather, but taking during the summer!)
I have always been a walker, never a runner. I have tried several times to convert to running, but it’s just not my thing. But walking, that’s right up my alley! I have been on many hikes, both single and multiday ones, but they have always been for “special occasions”. This new habit is a regular thing and it’s just walking on any “boring” track, as long as it’s off the main road and convenient to my schedule.
And then there’s a bit of a competitive edge to it. I keep monitoring my “health app” and love when my monthly and yearly step count average increases every week 😊
1 thing I have given up – Drumroll…..
1. Weight loss
Yes, you read that right, I have given up on weight loss, and it feels amazing! I have purged myself of any clothes I can’t fit and accepted the style of clothes which suits my body. I look at my naked body in the mirror and I accept and love most (still not all!) parts of my body.
I have been striving for weight loss for two decades or so. I have two autoimmune conditions which simply makes everything an uphill battle. I am so over it. Life is too short, and I just want to enjoy it (and me). My motto now is “just” to live healthy. I exercise nearly every day (COVID has motivated us to create a home gym – heaven!), I eat healthy, I enjoy who I am and what I do!
You know what, I actually despise the term “given up”. I haven’t given up. I choose to go a different path. I choose a healthy lifestyle. I choose to appreciate this amazing body and what it does for me every minute of the day. I choose all that over a number on the scales!
If this article has inspired you to take action, kudos to you and may it become a new healthy habit for you to share with all of us soon!
Kristina
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