Honing Self Esteem

Honing Self Esteem

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As cheesy as it sounds, there really is some truth to the following maxim. “You have to love yourself before you can begin to love others”. 

At first glance, this seems like a simple thing to do. However in reality it can be quite difficult. In fact, at times we can often be our own worst critic. To break these negative habits, take a read through the following 2 tips to remind you to check up on yourself and make sure you are receiving enough love.

Self Love Check! #1 Love Notes

Write yourself a love letter, leave a sticky note on your mirror, podcast just to yourself, or even write in a journal. Reminding yourself of your worth can make such a difference, especially during a tough day. There is no need to write a long, detailed message if you don’t want to. Sometimes I have written something as simple as “You are going to have an awesome day!” to pump myself up. Other days when I've had more time I write a dated letter to describe how I’m feeling. I've found that doing this provides me with a lot more clarity if there is anything I am stressing over or feel overwhelmed by. 

Self Love Check! #2 Be Forgiving

It is human nature to mess up. In fact, the whole idea of being perfect is unrealistic and can be quite hurtful to you if you are in constant chase of being flawless. Unfortunately, the pressure to be perfect has only become stronger through our increasing use of social media in which we only share our best moments. It is important to be able to forgive yourself in the times that you mess up, because the imperfect experiences in your life are what help you grow as a person. Finding peace with what makes you most uncomfortable may release a heavy weight you didn't realize you were carrying.

Hopefully these tips inspire you to share a little love with yourself because you deserve it! Even if some of these tips may not speak to you, what is important to take away from this is that making sure you feel loved and worthy should always be an priority.

Healthy Travel

- Healthy Travel -

When it comes to planning for travel, it is easy to let stress take over and dictate the decisions you make and the attitude you carry. When stress takes over, it inhibits us from the whole purpose of taking a trip which is to relax and enjoy ourselves. Although it can be difficult to push past this realm of anxiety-induced stress, traveling should be the escape in which you may find an escape away from your stress and dive deep into full relaxation mode!

With that being said, it is extremely important to take care of both your body and mind during a time of travel in order to fully optimize your experience. Here are a few tips below to help ensure that you are traveling safe and healthy.

#1 Wash Your Hands

Being on the road, you will come into contact with tons of new faces every day. Washing your hands consistently or using hand sanitizer will help protect you from any germs that may be spread throughout that airport, bus stop or tram you may be utilizing for the day.

#2 Hydrate

Although being on the move all day during a trip can be fun, it can also be quite exhausting. Dehydration is a common issue that weakens people’s immune systems, and thus leads to them catching a cold or other sicknesses. Of course no one wants to be sick while on vacation, so taking the small extra step of staying hydrated can be so worth it when it comes to attending to your health during times of travel.

#3 Manage Your Time

While everyone holds different ideas of what a vacation should look like, the overarching goal that mostly everyone seeks to find is a time to relax and reset. So if you find yourself at a crossroads in deciding how to use your time, please make sure to really listen to your heart! It is easy to get caught up in getting an experience that you feel you should have when traveling. But at the end of the day, what matters most is how fulfilled you feel from the activities you choose to take part in while on your trip. For example, if you prefer to be exploring the city all day everyday because that is what makes you happy, then do it! But if sitting in a chair under the sun at the same beautiful beach is something that speaks to you more, then that will also be a wonderful use of your time. So long as you follow the path and schedule of what makes you feel the most happy and fulfilled, you really can’t go wrong with your strategy of vacationing.

Overall it is so important to take the reins and be proactive in attending to your own health when you travel. Taking extra precautions to attend to your health will not only ensure that you experience smooth traveling, but also have an experience that is the best fit for you!

The Performance Pickup

The Performance Pickup

As we head into fall, it seems that our schedules just keep getting busier and busier. While some individuals may thrive having an on-the-go schedule, others may feel overwhelmed trying to keep up. 

At times I myself feel exhausted at the end of my week, no matter how fun and exciting it may be. In order to pick me up and make sure I am fueling my body with enough energy, I love making this awesome smoothie to help me recharge. Here are the ingredients below!

STAR INGREDIENT: WALNUTS

Why: Walnuts are high in omega 3 fatty acids, which protect the brain and improve cognitive health.

Their high levels of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals also improve mental alertness. The properties of walnuts also protect against inflammation which can effect the brain.

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cups frozen blueberries

1/2 cup frozen raspberries

1/4 cup raw walnuts

1 scoop plant based protein powder 1 cup almond or coconut milk

1 tablespoon hemp seeds 2 teaspoon honey

Take all of your ingredients and blend them together. After that, pour the smoothie into a glass and enjoy!

Your Circadian Rhythm

Your Circadian Rhythm

Your circadian rhythm is a natural and internal 24 hour process of your daily cycles such as sleep & wakefulness, hunger and digestion, hormonal activity and other bodily functions. Overall it is critical in helping you perform your daily activities.

There are a number of ways an individual’s circadian clock can fall out of balance such as travel across different time zones, or changing jobs. Thankfully, there are different known strategies to set your circadian clock back onto a healthy schedule. 

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One tip that may seem obvious is waking up everyday at the same time to create a new and stable rhythm.

Another option involves using melatonin supplements to assist in falling asleep at your desired time, or using caffeine as a temporary energy booster to push through that lull in the day where you seem to always feel drowsy.

If you find yourself having a difficult time falling asleep, taking extra care to limit the stimuli near your bed may help create a calming atmosphere.

While sleep may not be number one on your list of priorities, it is crucial to your overall function; and therefore is important to attend to. So go ahead and give these strategies a try to develop a good circadian rhythm.

Top 3 Benefits of Tequila

- Top 3 Benefits of Tequila -

It has been a long and crazy summer; and let's be real here, nothing sounds better than a nice refreshing cocktail as a reward at the end of the day. If you are trying to eat healthy and be mindful of the ingredients you are using to fuel your body, don't worry. There are many healthy options to select from to still enjoy that drink at happy hour. 

One of my favorite go-to alcohol selections is tequila. In fact, there are several benefits from drinking Tequila that I believe are worth sharing. Here they are below.

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Tequila Speeds Weight Loss

• Tequila contains Agavins, natural sugars that are not refined. Agavins promote faster fat metabolism and reduces body weight.

• There are no carbs, and fats in tequila, which makes it a good choice for weight management. It lowers cholesterol levels and controls blood pressure as well.

Controls Diabetes

• Agavins in Tequila are low on the glycemic-index and help in insulin production. It lowers glucose levels in blood controlling type 2 diabetes.

• Agavins are indigestible so they do not increase the sugar level in the body.

Promotes a Healthy Gut

• Agavins act as fiber while passing through the intestine and aid the digestion process. A tequila shot before and after meals could help increase appetite and faster metabolism rate.

• Also acts as a probiotic compound favoring the growth of good bacteria in the gut. Tequila supplies good bacteria to your stomach, which maintains a healthy digestive system

Succeed Your Way

- Succeed Your Way -

Success can be present in many different ways. It all depends on the type of person you want to be. Some individuals may want to be an interior designer, an IT sales rep or a social worker. Yet, despite these goals being quite different, the pressure to obtain success remains overwhelming for many people. At the end of the day, it is important to remind yourself that there really is no right way to succeed. Answering the following 2 questions below will help you identify what success means to you, and how you will get there.

#1 What Makes You Happy?

What is it throughout your day or week that most excites you? Is it having the opportunity to meet new people while running errands? Or maybe it's that 2 hour session at the cafe by yourself sending emails out and getting computer work done. There is no wrong answer to this question. But, answering this will give you a lot of insight as to what you should be prioritizing in your life. 

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“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you” - Oprah Winfrey

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#2 How Do You Function Best?

Just as there is no right way to define success, there is also no right method to obtaining it. As long as your process helps you be the best version of yourself, you will be on the right track. So do some soul searching and ask yourself, how do you work best? The answer to this question will help you learn more about yourself and hopefully make you feel more empowered to lead a lifestyle that sets you up for success!