I made a decision that I needed to start out a brand new month-to-month collection with you all. These will share a few of the highlights, discoveries, and small issues I’ve been experimenting with currently. Typically these are new instruments or merchandise I’m testing, generally they’re small habits which are making a distinction. Typically it’s simply little issues which are making my life extra joyful.
These are issues I’m personally utilizing and discovering useful proper now. Nevertheless, I hope they spark concepts so that you can experiment with in your individual life.
This August, my record features a useful monitoring app, night mild instruments, and a brand new drink that’s grow to be part of my every day routine. Plus how I’m releasing rigidity in my physique and thoughts with some actually useful instruments throughout a tricky season.
Right here’s what I’m loving proper now!
1. dminder: Daylight, Vitamin D, & Circadian Assist
Vitamin D has been probably the most studied vitamins within the final decade, but many people aren’t getting sufficient. It’s technically a hormone and performs a task in immune well being, bone energy, hormone steadiness, and even temper. Research present low vitamin D ranges imply increased an infection threat, fatigue, and sure power diseases.
The perfect supply of vitamin D for many of us remains to be the solar. Personally I’ve discovered that vitamin D dietary supplements do nothing to enhance my examined vitamin D ranges. Realizing how a lot solar is sufficient (with out overdoing it and burning) might be difficult. That’s the place I like utilizing the dminder app. You place in your location, pores and skin tone, time of 12 months, and the way a lot pores and skin is uncovered. Then it helps estimate how a lot vitamin D you’re making from daylight.
I’ve discovered it to be a useful instrument for dialing in on protected solar publicity. Latest analysis factors in the direction of sunburn as a threat issue for pores and skin most cancers, not wholesome mild publicity. Protected, gradual publicity not solely helps vitamin D synthesis but additionally helps regulate circadian rhythm, serotonin, and melatonin.
These are a few of my non-negotiables in my every day routine:
- Morning daylight to set my circadian rhythms and assist me really feel awake and sleep higher
- Noon daylight to maximise vitamin D and different advantages with out burning
- Night daylight to inform my physique it’s time to wind down and free of charge crimson mild
The dminder app makes it simple to trace that steadiness with out overthinking it.
2. White Salt Lamp
I’ve talked so much earlier than about how mild is simply as impactful as meals or dietary supplements in the case of well being. Our our bodies are wired to reply to pure mild cues, and trendy synthetic lighting typically disrupts that rhythm. Particularly the intense blue mild from screens, flickering LEDs, and overhead bulbs after sundown.
We’ve at all times had Himalayan salt lamps in our home, however currently I picked up a wonderful white salt lamp. It provides off a mushy, heat glow and is extra impartial with out the orange tone. It helps me wind down at evening whereas I’m studying and stress-free.
When our eyes see blue mild at evening (like most lightbulbs and screens) it suppresses our melatonin manufacturing. This makes it more durable to go to sleep and keep asleep. Heat, low-level mild (like firelight or a salt lamp) doesn’t have this impact. I’ve been pairing this lamp with blue-light-blocking glasses in my bed room within the night.
It’s a easy behavior, however one which’ introduced me a whole lot of pleasure and helps sign to my mind it’s time to wind down. That is the white salt lamp that I’ve.
3. Slacka for Clear Vitality
Espresso will at all times have a particular place in my coronary heart, however I’m at all times in search of wholesome options. An excessive amount of caffeine could cause jitters and anxiousness for a lot of (myself included). My pal David created a brand new useful well being drink and it’s grow to be a favourite. It’s like consuming a wholesome soda that provides me a day power increase in a gentler manner with out the jitters.
As a substitute of caffeine, Slacka makes use of paraxanthine, a pure caffeine metabolite. Once you drink espresso, your physique breaks caffeine down into paraxanthine, which is definitely what supplies lots of the focus and power advantages. By skipping the center step, Slacka provides you the clear, regular increase with out a few of the downsides individuals expertise from espresso. Like racing coronary heart, sleep disruption, or that “wired however drained” feeling.
I like that it additionally has electrolytes for mobile hydration and 5-HTP to assist stabilize temper. It additionally has pure compounds that assist the physique’s personal GLP manufacturing. This interprets to lowered cravings and higher blood sugar steadiness
For me, it seems like a smoother, extra centered model of caffeine. Plus it doesn’t appear to have an effect on my sleep after I drink it within the afternoon. Paraxanthine is a more recent development, however I wouldn’t be shocked if it turns into the subsequent huge factor in useful well being.
You may try Slacka and check out it for your self right here.
4. Facial Fascia Launch
It looks like an increasing number of persons are speaking about fascia currently. For those who’ve ever had tight shoulders or knots in your again, you’ve skilled tight fascia first hand. Our physique’s connective tissue can maintain rigidity, type of like a foul reminiscence. I’ve just lately realized fascia within the face can do the identical factor.
There are completely different methods out there however I’ve discovered a program that focuses on facial fascia launch. It’s been surprisingly transformative and I actually really feel like Savannah is aware of her stuff. Utilizing light instruments and methods, I’ve been in a position to launch rigidity I didn’t even notice I used to be holding in my face.
Right here’s what I’ve observed to date:
- A lot much less rigidity between my eyebrows (these “11” strains)
- A delicate elevate in my face general
- Lowered jaw tightness
- Higher sinus drainage
Fascia is sort of a net that surrounds and helps our muscle tissues, nerves, and organs. When it will get tight or “caught,” it restricts motion and blood circulation. Releasing it improves circulation, lymphatic circulation, and even nerve communication. Within the face, that interprets into each leisure and visual adjustments.
Better of all, it feels so good. Doing this at evening with my salt lamp on has grow to be one among my favourite calming rituals. You may try this system I’ve been utilizing and fascia instruments right here.
5. Fast Emotional Rewiring: A Thoughts Reset
Ever want you can simply hit the rewind button on life? Whereas time journey nonetheless isn’t doable, Fast Emotional Rewiring will be the subsequent neatest thing.
On a deeper and extra private word, the previous few months have been a few of the hardest of my life. One instrument that’s actually supported me throughout this season is one thing known as Fast Emotional Rewiring.
In contrast to conventional remedy, this course of is extra of a neurological reset. It makes use of guided methods to assist shift the mind out of previous, looping patterns that hold us caught. Many individuals describe it as feeling like the load of months of discuss remedy condensed right into a single session. Personally I didn’t discover a lot enchancment with conventional discuss remedy.
What I’ve appreciated most is that it’s easy and doesn’t require a whole lot of psychological power. Throughout my hardest days, I didn’t have bandwidth for journaling or prolonged practices, however I may do that. Even one session left me feeling lighter and fewer reactive.
Proper now, there are a restricted variety of free 30-minute periods out there (together with a easy five-day at-home program). You may test this system out for your self right here.
Closing Ideas on August Favorites
This month’s favorites might look like an eclectic combine however I’ve observed a typical thread. These easy, constant shifts can ripple into huge adjustments over time. Every of those additions to my routine has helped me really feel extra supported and introduced extra pleasure into my every day rhythms. I’m discovering an increasing number of that it’s not the large, flashy adjustments that take advantage of distinction however the easy ones.
What are a few of your favourite issues proper now? What instruments or rituals are making life really feel extra joyful for you? Depart a remark and let me know!
