5 Simple and Inexpensive Things You Can Do To Reconnect with Wellness

Okay, let’s talk about realistic wellness for a second here. Do you ever find that there’s a disconnect between “wellness priorities” and REAL life? Sometimes the industry can make it seem like you need to have a ton of disposable income, lots of free time, and good genes while you’re at it! But beyond that, even though I know what makes me feel my best, I’ll let certain things slide because I need to work. Or I’ll sacrifice things I’d like to do because I don’t want to seem high maintenance to people around me. Or I just want to feel like I’m a super chill person… even though I’m not really 😉

Finding balance is hard. It’s something I’m ALWAYS working on. I get in a good groove and then I let things get in the way. Before I went full time with blogging, it was juggling both of my jobs. Then changing neighborhoods and moving in with Adam threw me off my routine a little. So did getting Luna! And my personality will always find a reason to work instead of work out, or stress instead of unwind.

But I’m reminding myself…

But the past few weeks, I’ve consciously told myself to reconnect with the things that make me feel my best – and not feel silly for prioritizing them! Saying no to someone who wants to “pick my brain” so that I can recharge is OKAY! My inbox can wait until I take Luna for a jog in the mornings to get the day started on the right foot. Oh, and packing more veggies and fewer carbs into our dinners is actually no big deal! Who knew that Adam would barely even notice?! When I type it out, these feel like such simple things, yet I was convincing myself that it was a pain for myself and other people somehow. As if prioritizing these things makes me entitled or smug or less of a hard worker. Does anyone else do this?!

The thing is, we only have one body, one brain, one heart. Why wouldn’t we try our best to protect and nurture those things? We can say that “wellness” takes too much time or is too expensive, but at the root of it, that’s really not true. That’s the industry telling you it is. It’s one of the biggest reasons I started this blog in the first place! Wellness is for ALL OF US. So today, I thought I’d break down 5 things I’ve been unapologetically prioritizing that most of you can do too, no matter how busy you are or how tight your budget is. 

5 Simple Wellness Priorities

Start each day on the right foot.

Whether it’s meditating, going for a run, drinking a cup of coffee in silence… whatever it is, let yourself have that each day. Obviously, there will be days when you can’t stick to it – but try your best to make it happen as often as possible. For me, I feel my best when I take Luna for a walk (or jog now!) first thing. If I’m not going to a class that day, I’ll follow that with a quick weight circuit (with my trusty 5 pounders – I need to get heavier weights at home!) a shower, and a cup of coffee. So simple, but its been making me feel calmer and more in control right off the bat. 

Schedule Your Workouts

Are you sick of me talking about this yet? Sorry not sorry, because IT WORKS. Want to do more than just a walk or quick jog/run in the morning? Print out my 2019 Calendar and write down what other workouts you want to do that week. I swear, it will help you hold yourself more accountable when you actually write it down.

Plan Your Meals For The Week (even if it’s a rough plan)

I always felt like this was so high maintenance for some reason, but it’s really not! It just requires a little brainstorming before you go to the grocery store at the beginning of the week. Having food ready to prepare/cook in my fridge helps me stick to healthier choices from breakfast all the way to dinner. And it saves money!

PS. I’m hoping to finally get working on my eBook of recipes for 1-2 people aimed at eliminating food waste this month. Hopefully, you can have it in your hands this Fall…I just have to prioritize some recipe testing and shoot over the next few months!

Settle on a nightly routine.

I used to have my computer out until 20 minutes before I went to bed, and then wonder why I couldn’t fall asleep. Honestly, what was I thinking?! I now force myself to shut my computer by 8:30 pm at the latest, even if I’m on a deadline or I wish I could get a new post up for you guys. I take this job very seriously and I want to be committed, but life is about more than what people might think if a blog post didn’t go up on Wednesday, you know? Sleep is important, too!

My new nightly routine now includes some sort of unwinding with Adam and Luna, followed by washing up, taking CBD oil, and reading in bed. The Kindle Paperwhite that I got for Christmas has helped me fall in love with reading again and gives me something to do before bed that doesn’t involve a backlight or news updates.

And in case you missed this post about CBD oil, it has been a huge game-changer for me. Yes, it’s one of the things on this list that does cost money, but it has been so incredibly worth it for me. Also, you can get a bottle with 300mg CBD from Equilibria for $58 ($49 if you subscribe) PLUS 15% off with code LAKESHORELADY. In the grand scheme of things, you can save money to account for that simply by making your coffee, lunches, and dinner at home – or skipping drinks over one weekend. There are tons of ways to budget for that cost, especially if it helps you feel better during the day and sleep better at night!

Ask yourself what you need.

Feeling sluggish and dehydrated? Drink water. Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t feel pressured to go out over the weekend – or if you do, head home at a reasonable time so you can get a good night’s sleep. If you’re like me and want to be informed but also get anxiety about what’s going on in our country, limit your news intake after a certain time each day (I try not to check the news after 8 pm anymore as an act of self-care!). Checking in with yourself isn’t selfish or self-absorbed. It doesn’t even take a lot of time – but it will help you stay in tune with how to be your healthiest and happiest.

Shop the post:

Top: c/o Lululemon (Obsessed with this top! I love that you can tie it however you want to – so it’s flattering on everyone. Plus, the back is so fun! I’m wearing a size 4.)  | Sports Bra: Lululemon (You can see more of this bra in this blog post, along with these leggings! I love that its a little longer than other sports bras – and very supportive!) | Leggings: c/o Lululemon (My favorite align leggings in the most perfect camo print EVER. Cannot recommend these enough!) | Sunglasses: Loft (old) | Water Bottle: Available at the Lululemon store in Lincoln Park | Shoes: Nike (old)

PS. You might also like My 2019 Workout & Wellness Planner and My Experience with CBD Oil.