I made a decision that I needed to start out a brand new month-to-month sequence with you all. These will share among the highlights, discoveries, and small issues I’ve been experimenting with currently. Generally these are new instruments or merchandise I’m testing, generally they’re small habits which might be making a distinction. Generally it’s simply little issues which might be making my life extra joyful.
These are issues I’m personally utilizing and discovering helpful proper now. Nonetheless, I hope they spark concepts so that you can experiment with in your individual life.
This August, my checklist features a useful monitoring app, night mild instruments, and a brand new drink that’s grow to be part of my each day routine. Plus how I’m releasing rigidity in my physique and thoughts with some actually useful instruments throughout a troublesome 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 job in immune well being, bone power, hormone stability, and even temper. Research present low vitamin D ranges imply larger an infection threat, fatigue, and sure persistent diseases.
One of the best 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 satisfactory (with out overdoing it and burning) will be tough. That’s the place I like utilizing the dminder app. You set in your location, pores and skin tone, time of yr, 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. Current analysis factors in the direction of sunburn as a threat issue for pores and skin most cancers, not wholesome mild publicity. Secure, 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 each 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 without spending a dime purple mild
The dminder app makes it simple to trace that stability with out overthinking it.
2. White Salt Lamp
I’ve talked rather a lot earlier than about how mild is simply as impactful as meals or dietary supplements in terms of well being. Our our bodies are wired to reply to pure mild cues, and trendy synthetic lighting usually 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 phenomenal white salt lamp. It offers off a smooth, heat glow and is extra impartial with out the orange tone. It helps me wind down at night time whereas I’m studying and enjoyable.
When our eyes see blue mild at night time (like most lightbulbs and screens) it suppresses our melatonin manufacturing. This makes it tougher 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 lots 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 Power
Espresso will at all times have a particular place in my coronary heart, however I’m at all times searching for wholesome alternate options. An excessive amount of caffeine could cause jitters and nervousness for a lot of (myself included). My pal David created a brand new practical well being drink and it’s grow to be a favourite. It’s like ingesting a wholesome soda that provides me a day vitality increase in a gentler method with out the jitters.
As a substitute of caffeine, Slacka makes use of paraxanthine, a pure caffeine metabolite. If you drink espresso, your physique breaks caffeine down into paraxanthine, which is definitely what supplies lots of the focus and vitality advantages. By skipping the center step, Slacka offers you the clear, regular increase with out among 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 help the physique’s personal GLP manufacturing. This interprets to decreased cravings and higher blood sugar stability
For me, it appears like a smoother, extra targeted model of caffeine. Plus it doesn’t appear to have an effect on my sleep once I drink it within the afternoon. Paraxanthine is a more moderen development, however I wouldn’t be stunned if it turns into the following large factor in practical well being.
You’ll be able to take a look at Slacka and check out it for your self right here.
4. Facial Fascia Launch
It looks like increasingly more persons are speaking about fascia currently. When you’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 not too long ago discovered fascia within the face can do the identical factor.
There are totally different methods accessible 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 mild instruments and methods, I’ve been capable of launch rigidity I didn’t even notice I used to be holding in my face.
Right here’s what I’ve seen to date:
- A lot much less rigidity between my eyebrows (these “11” strains)
- A refined elevate in my face total
- Decreased jaw tightness
- Higher sinus drainage
Fascia is sort of a net that surrounds and helps our muscle tissue, 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 rest and visual modifications.
Better of all, it feels so good. Doing this at night time with my salt lamp on has grow to be one in all my favourite calming rituals. You’ll be able to take a look at this system I’ve been utilizing and fascia instruments right here.
5. Speedy Emotional Rewiring: A Thoughts Reset
Ever want you could possibly simply hit the rewind button on life? Whereas time journey nonetheless isn’t attainable, Speedy Emotional Rewiring could be the subsequent neatest thing.
On a deeper and extra private be aware, the previous few months have been among the hardest of my life. One instrument that’s actually supported me throughout this season is one thing referred to as Speedy 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 preserve us caught. Many individuals describe it as feeling like the burden 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 lots of psychological vitality. Throughout my hardest days, I didn’t have bandwidth for journaling or prolonged practices, however I might do that. Even one session left me feeling lighter and fewer reactive.
Proper now, there are a restricted variety of free 30-minute periods accessible (together with a easy five-day at-home program). You’ll be able to test this system out for your self right here.
Remaining Ideas on August Favorites
This month’s favorites might appear to be an eclectic combine however I’ve seen a standard thread. These easy, constant shifts can ripple into large modifications over time. Every of those additions to my routine has helped me really feel extra supported and introduced extra pleasure into my each day rhythms. I’m discovering increasingly more that it’s not the large, flashy modifications 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!
