New Year Life Hacks & Inspiration
Dear Lead with Love Community,
Happy New Year!
At the start of this new year, many of us resolve to make personal shifts in our wellbeing. And often by now, even just a week later, those resolutions may fall by the wayside, defeated due to our finite reserves of willpower.
This year, we hope you will join us in approaching your physical and mental health goals in a spirit of kindness and compassion for yourself. Rather than making an ambitious list of all the things you want to DO, we ask you instead to consider who it is that you want to BE? Oftentimes, the answers to this inquiry reveal to us new habits and rituals that can support us in becoming the best version of ourselves.
This process need not be laborious or dry or painful. In fact, we wholeheartedly believe that the journey to discovering our highest self can be filled with curiosity, playfulness and fun!
And, since we are all in this together, we thought we would check in each month to share our own processes complete with helpful resources, tips and tricks. We hope you find here sparks of inspiration and lots of support. We welcome your feedback, questions and even suggestions on how to make 2021 a year of health, joy and fulfillment for you and for those you love.
Level Up Your Nutrition With Microgreens!
With up to 40x more nutrients than the average serving of veggies, these powerhouse little plants are inexpensive, easy to grow on your counter and can be a fun project to do with the kids in your life.
My daughter received a hydroponic growing kit over the holidays and we have enjoyed planting and harvesting these fast-growing greens from our kitchen window sill. We simply snip a handful off with a pair of scissors and throw them on our sandwich, in our salad or even blend them into a smoothie to for a hefty dose of nutrients and antioxidants.
Instead of adopting a restrictive (and likely hard to keep) diet this year, try just adding some healthier options to your existing palate. Including these simple greens in your regular meals will allow you to nourish yourself without creating a sense of scarcity or deprivation.
Embrace Vulnerability To Find Courage
We are fans of Brené Brown's evidence-based and down-to-earth wisdom about the value of stepping into the arena.
If 2020 taught us anything, it's that it is past time to speak up and to act with courage. If you are in need of some motivation/assistance in finding your voice, I highly recommend studying a bit with Brené.
You can find her book, Daring Greatly, here and you can watch her one hour special, The Call To Courage (full of humor and insight) on Netflix. Need it in a nutshell? Brené's TED Talk is one of the most viewed in history and it's under 20 minutes long.
Sleep Well
I've been preaching about the importance of sleep for as long as people have been showing up asking for my advice on improving their health (15+ years).
Aside from the obvious benefits of more energy, better balanced moods, improved skin and hair quality and overall youthfulness, there are some even better reasons to get your rest each night.
New neuroscientific studies have shown that getting several hours of uninterrupted sleep in which you move through all the various cycles of rest can prevent future chronic episodes of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Realizing that a good night's rest is sometimes easier said than done, here are some quick tips for logging your Z's:
Discontinue using any electronic devices or screens for at least two hours before you plan to fall asleep.
Avoid citrus scents in your bedroom (like what is commonly found in floor and furniture cleaning products) as they can make you more alert and awake. Opt for fragrances like lavender which are calming.
Enjoy a warm bath before bedtime.
Remove any devices with LED lights from the bedroom. If they cannot be removed, cover the lights with black electrical tape. These lights are known sleep disruptors. Or, invest in a quality silk, sleep mask.
Keep a notepad and pen bedside to jot down any lingering thoughts or concerns before bedtime. If you find yourself lying awake and fretting over a to-do list, grab the notepad and write it down -- get those distractions out of mind.
Actually climb into bed at least a half hour before you plan to sleep. Read a book, try some deep breathing, write down your notes -- but get into the bed and start to wind down.
If you awaken in the middle of the night, do not turn on a light or grab your phone. Rather, roll onto your back and find a savasana shape on your bed. Beginning at your toes, start to relax every part of your body and let the weight of it sink into the bed and into your pillow. Once you've released the tension in your body, do this 4-7-8 breathing exercise.
4-7-8 Breath
empty the lungs of air
breathe in quietly through the nose for 4 seconds
hold the breath for a count of 7 seconds
exhale forcefully through the mouth, pursing the lips and making a “whoosh” sound, for 8 second
repeat the cycle up to 4 times
Recommended - Love In Action Toolkit: Tools for the Heart-Centered Activist
It is through caring for our selves that we find the courage, strength and motivation to meet each day with purpose. Our program, Love In Action, is all about showing up to do what needs to be done on behalf of humanity. So, please, do fill your cup -- and then advocate for those who may not be so fortunate.
in gratitude and service,
Jess
Jess Ewart has been teaching yoga and meditation for 15 years. She completed her 500AWC at Kerala Ayurveda Academy in 2011 and she's been a proud member of the Lead With Love family for almost 6 years.