I hate the word "goals" because that, to me, is associated with work. And nobody likes to work, especially on themselves (because that's usually hard and takes time). So my goals are things I started to do slowly and spontaneously and I hope that they will become a habit I can stick with. I noticed that they have helped a lot with improving my mood and even when I really don't feel like doing them and push myself anyway, I feel so grateful to myself afterward. These little accomplishments boost your mood because not only is the process of doing something good for your brain development and stress release, accomplishing a goal makes you feel empowered and motivated and will lead you to stay on track, no matter what your overall goal is. Our lives are all journeys, and it is up to us how we want to lead our journeys. Always stop and reflect on your lifestyle and ask yourself if you are being the best version of yourself. That really motivates me because I want to be setting a good example for those around me. I know I have to be the best version of myself in order to be fulfilled and make myself feel good. Some recent hobbies and practices I have taken up are worth mentioning here and I recommend you to incorporate some of them into your routine, or come up with your own goals that will make you feel fulfilled and motivated.
Now this will definitely not be a daily routine for long because I don't live somewhere warm like LA or Australia, but while the weather is nice in our hemisphere take your workout outside, away from mirrors and other distractions that can demotivate you from working out. There's nothing I hate more than jogging for an hour in place watching the calorie meter move super slow on my treadmill. Go for a run outside away from the numbers and into the fresh air and sun. Not only will you be working on your tan, the fresh air will motivate you to keep going and give you a better all around workout.
Post workout, take off your sneakers and walk around on the grass. Embrace nature, it does so much good for us! Just five minutes of your soles hitting the fresh earth will ground you and calm you down. I love to do this while I walk my dog. Take a few deep breaths and center yourself and it's all the meditation you need.
I try to squeeze lemon into my food or water a few times a day. That extra boost of vitamin C never hurt anybody and with all the outdoor activities you will be participating in this summer, the more energy and immunity you have, the better.
Yoga is my number one form of stress relief and self love. My day is made when I practice yoga and broken if I don't. While we don't always have the luxury of doing a full on hour-long routine, incorporate a few yoga poses into your morning and you will guaranteed be feeling better about yourself before you head out the door. Take the time to listen to your body. Stretch the muscles that feel tense after a long night of sleep. Listen to your breath. When you become in tune with your body, so many more things will begin to make sense in your life, I promise. You already know all of the added benefits of yoga, so just try it. I love this graphic by Free People for a simple morning sun salutation routine. This will take five minutes of your morning, that's it.
I love love love a good cup of coffee. Anyone that knows me know that I am obsessed. Unfortunately, I had to give it up because it doesn't mesh with my lifestyle. I am not saying coffee is bad for you. If you can handle a cup a day and feel great, please don't stop drinking it. I, however, experience a lot of negative side effects from drinking coffee and it causes my anxiety to increase. Ever since I stopped drinking coffee, I noticed I've been feeling a lot better and it took almost two months to start experiencing the benefits. I occasionally have a cup of black tea mixed with herbal at breakfast to satisfy that morning caffeine craving.
Since I cut out coffee, I've been playing around with herbal teas. Lately, I've been buying loose leaf teas and trying out different flavors like pomegranate and vanilla. I even found a probiotic tea made with fermented tea leaves which is really delicious. i bought natural tea bags and add a teaspoon or two of leaves and seep in hot water for around 5 minutes. The flavor combinations tea has to offer are a real treat because there is so much variety and their natural health benefits me feel great inside.
I try to stay away from sugar as much as possible because I am extremely sensitive to it. While there has been a trend lately in using unrefined sugars like coconut sugar and maple syrup, sugar is still sugar no matter what you call it. I try to satisfy my sweet cravings with fruits but fruit can contain tons of sugar as well. the USDA recommends 24 grams of sugar a day and considering sugar is found in everything from complex carbs like quinoa and sweet potatoes to the more obvious apples and bananas, it's pretty hard to avoid it all together. I am inspired by Gabby Bernstein and her 200+ day sugar free lifestyle. She has excluded all sugar-laden fruits and consumes only berries and green apples (the most low glycemic fruits on the scale).
I stumbled upon a really cool bead store in Chicago's Old Town this weekend which led me to discover another bead store called Beadniks in an artsy neighborhood called Wicker Park. I decided to manifest any negative emotions I could be feeling into doing something creative like making jewelry. Not only does it calm me, it allows me to think differently and incorporate something totally new into my routine.
Try any of these tips/goals I have made for myself, or make your own. I want you to be inspired doing whatever it is you enjoy doing. Always remember to love yourself, listen to yourself and and follow your intuition. You will manifest greatness and inspire yourself to be the best that you can be!
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