If I’m being honest, I started out this year like a steam train, then once everyone went back to school and work, I fizzled out. Did that happen to any of you or are you still full steam ahead? The thing is, I know how to get my mind right, I just have to do it. And it all goes back to healthy habits.
I’m a huge procrastinator and my very worst critic. I’ve been in a bit of a funk this past week, and I can’t really pin down why. At the start of this new year, if you’ve been feeling a case of the Januarys, let’s link arms and say hello to new, healthy habits and intentional living. Easy? Not always. Doable? Absolutely. I do know that these 10 things I’m about to tell you will undoubtedly steer us back to living our best life.
Who’s ready for fresh, healthy habits? I’ll be sharing how I incorporate essential oils into my daily habits, too, so let’s dive right in!
Healthy Habits & Fresh Starts
INTENTION.
I want to share an excerpt of a recent blog post by one of my business leaders and mentors, Casey Wiegand, with you; it’s about picking a word for the year. This is something I have done for the past several years, and it truly does make a world of difference. A “word of the year” sets you up for mindful intention and should inspire you! I know it does for me, and I hope it will help inspire you, too. Here is a little bit from Casey’s post about being intentional.
“It’s that time of year again! And as you know, I love being intentional and especially as we head into a fresh new year! For several years now I’ve been choosing a “word for the year”, and I can’t tell you the huge impact this has made as I walk out the year, seeing God’s hand in it, and setting intentions that line up with that word. I want to encourage you today to try it for 2020.
While a New Year’s Resolution can seem like a ridged rule you attempt to follow, a Word of the Year is an always-there, gentle reminder toward the change you want and the dreams in your heart. It’s positive and heart felt and much easier to connect to every part of your life.
Often we are longing for positive changes, but we don’t really have anything that helps point us in that direction, something that keeps us on course and in the right direction. You get to determine how you want your year to flow in so many ways, and having a word to think about and weigh things against is sooo helpful!”
Have you set an intention for 2020? I’d love to hear your “word for the year” if you’ve done so already. And if you haven’t, I challenge you to do so this week.
HEALTHY HABITS OF THE SUCCESSFUL.
Habits are a behavior that you repeat. That simple action, repeated over and over, becomes a habit. In 2020, is it your goal to form more healthy habits? Maybe kick some not so good habits?
How do we form a habit? The first step is to choose your intention and ask what is your goal with this habit? For example: Do you want to wash your face more? Apply your serum nightly? Diffuse essential oils every morning instead of burn a candle?
How can you track your behavior to see where a habit is formed or where a well intended goal is knocked off track? Do you need to make sure your bathroom is always stocked with clean towels? Should you leave your beauty products out on your counter to help you remember to apply your serum nightly? What about pre-filling your diffusers at night to make sure you turn it on bright and early in the morning? These are the types of things you can you do to ensure that you will follow through with your intention. Make sense?
I want you to think of 3 daily habits you’d like to form and trace the behavior it would take for those habits to not only happen, but for you to continue to be successful. Once you’ve got those 3 habits down, you can try for 3 more!
Life Hacks for an Easier Week
I asked you in InstaStories what some of your habits were to make sure your week runs smoothly, and these are some of them!
- Wake up before the sun to get in an hour of alone time. (Mamas who can’t manage this because of super early baby bird risers, I feel your pain, but let’s try anyway!)
- Meal plan for the weekdays.
- Outfit plan at least 7 outfits for your 5-day work week. Plan out your kids’ outfits for the week, too.
- Drink 100 oz. of water.
- Ditch the toxins from your household cleaners and personal care products and replace them with chemical-free, clean products instead.
- Block schedule your day.
- Leave your cell phone away from your night stand at night.
- Monitor your scroll time on your cell phone with an app like Flipd.
- Commit to a skincare routine, daily & nightly.
- Stick to a weekly budget.
- Intermittent fast during the week.
- Ditch the sugar from your diet.
- Get at least 7 hours of sleep.
- Move your body, even if that means dancing in your car.
- Take one day a week to unplug from social media.
- Pick one day to conquer all the laundry (wash & put away). What a concept, right?!
- Keep your bedroom a no-dumping zone. A clutter-free bedroom is sure to make everyone happier.
- Commit to learning daily.
- Write in a gratitude journal.
- Start your day with a prayer.
What are some healthy habits you’d love to conquer this year? Hint: pick three from the list above.
MOVE.
MOVE! Yes, friend, you need to move every single day!
When you move your body, your heart beats, your blood flows, and you FEEL BETTER! Start small; a walk around the block in the sunshine, a few arm circles in your kitchen, a dance session to Alexa and Spotify. Set a timer and move, move, move! It doesn’t have to be a full workout or a workout class, just move your body. I started dancing the other day to music in my head, and it made me smile. That’s what we’re going for here!
Your energy will be boosted, your mood will be lifted, and you will instantly feel the rush.
Essential oils I love to get me moving… peppermint oil! A drop on the back of my neck, 3-6 drops in the diffuser, and I am cruising!
I also LOVE to roll our Deep Relief pre-made roller down my sore muscles after a day at the gym or a long run. Another favorite of mine is R.C. with Lemon in a roller or Raven, rolled on my chest before I go for a run outdoors!
What are some ways you like to get your body moving or your favorite way to work out?
COMMIT TO 90 DAYS
Commit to 90 days! Whatever intention or goal you set for yourself, I want you to give it 90 days.
Are you wanting to add supplements into your life? Now is the perfect time! But guess, what… it takes time to feel the changes. Small changes are hard to notice day by day, but when you compare day one to day ninety, you’ll be blown away!
I’m a huge believer in supplements, and it’s what propelled me to change my diet to the Keto lifestyle.
I want to challenge you to choose 1-3 supplements to try over the next 90 days. Take note in your phone on day one of how you feel. And then compare and look back on it in 90 days. I bet it will be night and day!
I take quite a few supplements, because I’m very in tune with what my body needs. But for those of you just starting out, my favorite supplements to start with are:
- NingXia Red – A superfruit, antioxidant-rich, whole-fruit puree, drink supplement. This delicious supplement packs a big punch, offering benefits that include support for normal eye health, cellular function, and energy levels.
- Multigreens – MultiGreens is a nutritious chlorophyll formula designed to boost vitality by working with the glandular, nervous, and circulatory systems. In other words, it’s going to help keep your body ticking the way it’s supposed to. MultiGreens is made with spirulina, alfalfa sprouts, barley grass, bee pollen, eleuthero, Pacific kelp, and therapeutic-grade essential oils.
- Sulfurzyme – Sulfurzyme combines wolfberry with MSM, a naturally occurring organic form of dietary sulfur needed by our bodies every day to maintain the structure of proteins, protect cells and cell membranes, replenish the connections between cells, and preserve the molecular framework of connective tissue.* MSM also supports the immune system, the liver, circulation, and proper intestinal function and works to scavenge free radicals. Also known as our skin, nails, and hair supplement.
What are your favorite supplements?
SELF CARE.
Schedule YOU in! This is a must, no matter the stage of life, single, mom, dad, wherever you are in life. You need to take time to refuel and recharge.
I want you to ACTUALLY pencil yourself in. If you have a schedule or you just fly by the seat of your pants, you need to find time for yourself.
Some FAVORITE ways to get self care in are…
- Turn on the diffuser with my current favorite oil and read a book and putting away all technology.
- A girl’s night in! Snacks, DIYs, wine, maybe? Having my girls over to unwind is the best!
- A bath bomb in the tub or shower steamer in the shower, diffusing, and the lights off. It’s like a spa at home. I also like to have music playing.
- A solo run on the weekend, whether that be a solo run in your running shoes or a solo run to Target, live your best life, friend!
And because I’m obsessed with oils, here are some amazing diffuser blends for self care:
- Lavender and Stress Away
- Peace and Calming (by itself is amazing!)
- Sacred Mountain (also love alone!!)
- Valor (I mean seriously roll this everywhere and diffuse!)
What are some ways you make sure to have time for yourself?
REFLECT ON WHAT WORKS.
Reflect on what worked and what didn’t. What went well in 2019? Anything you want to improve on? What do you want to repeat?
These are questions I want you thinking about in both your personal life and business. Reflection is an incredibly valuable tool we should all be using.
I love to diffuse while I’m writing in my planner or gratitude journal. Some fantastic oils to help set the tone for reflection are:
- Envision essential oil blend contains scents that stimulate feelings of creativity and resourcefulness, encouraging renewed faith in the future and the strength necessary to achieve your dreams.
- Clarity essential oil blend contains Basil, Rosemary, Peppermint, and other essential oils for an aroma that invites a sense of clarity and alertness.
Have you reflected on this past year yet?
BEAUTY.
Beauty is whatever you want it to be. For some that is lip balm and out the door and for others that is taking a little more time being creative.
If you are wanting to change up your routine in 2020, maybe get dressed head to toe everyday (hello, work from home mom here in my pajamas!), then I have a few ideas.
Organize your makeup and skincare products. Ditch the toxins, toss and release the products you don’t use anymore, and assess what you might be missing. Savvy Minerals makeup line has hands down become my makeup holy grail products.
Once you’ve organized your products, I recommend putting them in a travel bag. That way you can take them with you on the go, and do your makeup anywhere.
Do you have beauty goals in 2020? Maybe just drinking more water for healthier skin, or washing your face nightly?
POST IT.
Post it everywhere! I mean literally.
Grab those post-it notes, write yourself a thought, intention, or literal reminder and post it! Visual cues are a way to help you remember the most important of things.
I don’t keep post-it notes up all the time, but when I am trying really hard to reach a goal, it can be so helpful.
It can be as simple as a positive affirmation on your mirror, a note on your fridge with the words “drink more water” on it, or a note on your computer with your office hours (because hey, we all need to shut it down sometimes).
Do you like visual reminders? If you are more new age and less old school, consider using the reminders app on your phone. I have reminders for all sorts of things.
If you haven’t given this method a try when you’re trying to laser focus on an intention, I challenge you to do so.
BALANCE.
The age old question, is balance possible? Does it exist?
In some ways, I think it does. I think you choose how you want balance to look in your life.
Do you LOVE essential oils but still love the way a candle looks so you buy the flameless candles for all the cozy vibes? Balance. ;)
Do you sometimes work from your phone on the way to your kids soccer game? Balance.
The point is, balance is what you make it. Set boundaries in your personal and work life, and stand by them. But when you need to re-prioritize, let yourself do so. It’s a constant shift in making your priorities a PRIORITY.
Figure out what the non-negotiables are, and let the rest go!
What are some ways you find balance in your every day?
STOP.
Stop, collaborate, and listen. To yourself. Your body. Your gut. What is it telling you?
Take a moment to sit and just let your mind be quiet. This is hard for some, which is why I personally love to sit quietly in my room (it can be anywhere, but for me, my bedroom is a safe space) and diffuse Frankincense or Sacred Sandalwood. And I just LISTEN to my thoughts. What are limiting beliefs I’m experiencing? How can I counteract those beliefs? How can I shatter the glass ceiling?
Grounding is another essential oil I will pull out when I need to sit with my thoughts and mindfully pay attention to how I’m feeling. Grounding essential oil blend is a unique combination of White Fir, Black Spruce, Ylang Ylang, Pine, and other essential oils. It complements feelings of stability, clarity, and spirituality. Grounding’s warm and entrancing aroma can create an atmosphere that is perfect for finding self-awareness and confronting negative emotions.
Have you taken time to stop and listen to yourself lately?
CHEERS TO HEALTHY HABITS & INTENTIONAL LIVING!
And that’s it, friend! How are you going to set the tone for this year? Use these tools to help you live your best life!
