Welcoming in a new year feels vastly more important this year. Although a new year will be appreciated on many levels and brings with it the potential for needed change, it is not a free ticket to better or easier times. But the cool thing is there are some awesome habits you can adopt to increase how well you feel and how resilient you are this new year.
I could easily name 10 (or 20) but I am going to keep it to 3 and they will all be about adding, not taking away……..
1. Add booster foods to your life. I love booster foods. They are such a simple way to add nutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, clean proteins and fiber to your day. They will help you become more resilient in so many ways as your body restores and refuels a little bit more every day. What are booster foods exactly? They are a group of foods that are nutrient dense power houses. They are loaded with the constituents your body needs to function its best but are sorely lacking in so many foods today. The key to incorporating them into your life is making a place for them in your home that you see everyday which helps you to remember to add them. Here is a post I wrote on booster foods if you want more. I have a special shelf in my fridge dedicated to these foods alone. Some of my favorites include flax seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, camu powder, maca powder, a mix of sesame/pumpkin/sunflower seeds, gogi berries, mulberries, kelp flakes, nutritional yeast, collagen, and cacao. I try to add them when I can throughout the day to salads, yogurt, smoothies, soups, toast, nut butters, potatoes, bars, etc. Sprinkle that nutrient dense magic everywhere. The key is being organized and creating the space.
2. Eat the rainbow, seriously, I know you’ve heard it, but do it each time you eat. It’s not about eating perfectly is’s just about adding color. At every meal and snack ask yourself, “how can I get more color?”. Colorful whole foods are loaded with important phytonutrients (which means nutrients from plants) that our body needs to operate it’s best. Our immune system needs colors, we need colors to fight off cancer, our brain needs colors, our gut needs colors, colors fight of oxidative damage, our heart and our hormones all need colors. I know you know it, but now let’s make it happen. -Eggs and toast for breakfast? What can you add? Blueberries and kale chips. Great. The rainbow. -A bowl of chilli for lunch? What can you add? Sliced cucumbers on the side and chopped cilantro and pumpkin seeds on top. Yum. A rainbow. -Roasted chicken, potatoes and a simple salad for dinner? Get out the grater and grate a couple carrots and beets for the top of your salad and add a few chunked pieces of broccoli to boot with, a squeeze of lemon of course. Rainbow beauty there. -Your kids having mac and cheese again for lunch? Ask them what colors they want to add on the side. Roasted brussel sprout chips, strawberries, a tamari seaweed snack, green apples, red pepper strips, or carrots would bring in awesome colors. Find what works for you but just think ‘what other colors can I add?’. The key is shifting your mindset each time you eat to consider the rainbow.
3. Make time for quiet. Shhhhhhh. Honestly, it does not have to be fancy or timed or structured. Although those things help some people, find small things you can do daily that are quiet, just for you and that feels good. For me I love lighting a candle every morning in the fall/winter/spring. I take some breaths there, think of what I am grateful for, that’s it. My sweetie walks outside each morning and spends just a few moments breathing in the cool air. Some people spend time meditating, or doing breathwork. Doing some gentle stretching is lovely each day. Even a walk, all alone, with no phone. Maybe watch the sunset each night. Give your brain, your heart and your soul some quiet where there is nothing to do, no electronics on, no to do list. Not even reading or music. No pressure. Just quiet. And it can be only a few minutes each day. What quiet will you add each day? The key is doing it every day and keeping it simple.
I hope 2021 brings you calm, health, and resilience.
Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.
Wildly, Janel at Mountain Rebalance
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