5 Daily Habits for a Healthy Mind and Body

Welcome back to another journal entry, friend. After several weeks of feeling unmotivated, uninspired, and, quite frankly, unbothered, I sat back and thought, “What phase is the moon in?” No, I’m kidding; I love astrology, but my skepticism is starting to creep in the more I learn about priming and the brain (look it up if you don’t know, insane). Anywho, I sat back and thought, “I haven’t been feeling great, and I want better for myself,” meaning I want to kick my afternoon coffee surge to the curb and break up with my puddle of stress that kicks in just before it’s my bedtime leaving me feeling of so relaxed and ready for a goodnight's rest; sike.

So, I stepped back to basics and listed 5 daily habits for my mind and body. After all, wellness is truly about connecting the body and the mind, and sometimes, it’s as simple as noticing your breathing or eating a well-balanced meal. I think it’s easy to over-complicate wellness, especially today, but I’ll leave that rant for another time.

5 Daily Habits:

1. Mindfulness

   Are we over this word yet? I’ll take it to a vote. Until then, I’m sticking with the word ‘mindfulness’. It originates from the fifth century BC and comes from the Buddhist concept of “Sati,” which translates to the “moment-to-moment awareness of present events.” Some practical ways to tap into mindfulness range from meditation to slow stretches before bed. My favorite way to practice mindfulness is to connect to each of my senses throughout the day, cuddle up on my couch with a thriller novel with a cup of steaming hot tea, or simply hug my fiance. Hot take: I ordered coloring books and crayons to keep in my office; that way, I have access to mindfulness activities at my fingertips.

2. Sleep

   It’s actually comical how important sleep is. We hear it all the time: sleep is so important for you to function. We know it’s true, and yet here we are curled up in bed, dead to the world, scrolling tikTok like our thumbs have a mind of their own. Guilt as charged, ok. Hear me out; take one week, put your phone to the side a couple of hours before bed, and see what happens. I take these mushroom gummies to help me doze off while I, surprise, surprise, read a thriller novel and wisk away into dreams of who knows what. Did you know that you practice all the things to achieve wellness: meditate and work out, but if you’re not getting enough sleep, your body starts working against itself? Here’s to warm showers before bed and tech-free evenings.

3. Movement

   I’d like to coin “movement” the term of 2023, well that and the word “boundaries.” But the influencers on social media who annoyingly remind you to get movement to better your health kinda have a point. Our bodies want to move; it helps us elevate stress and release oxytocin, giving us a much-needed break from the monkey mind and the back-to-back work days. I started going on evening walks with my fiance and pups, and now we look forward to getting outside, being together, and coming home with worn-out pups so we can peacefully watch an episode of Grey’s.

4. Nourishing Meals

   Did you know that your body only absorbs protein if you eat it with a source of fat? Yeah, cue me two years ago, pounding endless protein shakes and cutting fat from my meals in order to grow muscle. Not anymore, Satan (aka diet culture). Today, we eat chicken sausage with avocado, and we enjoy it, ok. The importance of a well-balanced meal is under-appreciated, but if you take an extra minute to give yourself a balanced plate of protein, fats, and carbohydrates, you’re saving yourself from doom searching the cabinets for a quick snake because you’re starving and quite frankly, depleted and cranky. My favorite breakfast atm is warm cinnamon oatmeal with a scoop of protein powder, almond butter, and blueberries. I actually crave it most mornings.

5. Social Moments

   Last but not least, social interactions. It sounds so simple, right? Socialize and feel better; we do it all the time: at work, at home with roommates or loved ones, at the local coffee shop, even. Did you know that social connections increase our self-esteem and improve our sleep quality? If you’re anything like me and tend to hermit because the anxiety of meeting new people feels looming, give yourself a chance. Challenge yourself to two dates out a week where you catch up with an old friend a new friend, or take yourself on a solo date. We can only grow outside of our comfort zones, and trust me, the world needs more of you. I started bringing some of my favorite items with me when I go out. Recently, I met my fiance's coworkers for the first time, and the social anxiety was ~real~, so I snuck to the bathroom with a cute smile on my face, inhaled my essential oil in a dirty stall as though I’d never been able to smell again, and told myself, “Proud of you, babe.”

That’s it! I hope these habits find you well. If you’re implementing them or have any other practical suggestions, comment below, and let’s chat.