Use these health habits to build the life you desire and revolutionize your health.
Welcome to Part 2 of my Holistic Health Habits Series. Click here to access Part 1 if you’d like to read the first 10 habits. Please bear in mind, this is not medical advice, simply health habits that I have incorporated into my life that have helped me improve my energy, both mentally and physically. Now, let’s dive in.
11: Exercise Appropriately
Everyone knows you need to exercise for better health. But did you know that how you exercise affects your health even more? Many of us are continually either over or under-exercising each week. So how can you tell if you are exercising appropriately? I find it helps to once again turn to our ancestors. From this, we can see how we are biologically designed to exercise. And our ancestors used to walk, A LOT. They walked to gather food, to perform daily chores, to chase after children and to hunt prey. Walking is your best friend.
Strength training is next. Our ancestors used to lift heavy objects, far more than we do. It helped them to build strong bones that would carry them well into old age. Protect your bones by building muscle. This is essential to health. If you would like to avoid the risk of injury from heavy weight lifting, I recommend these resistance bands here. They are a much safer way to lift. Finally, we have cardio. Our ancestors used to get their heart rates up far more than we do. Find a cardio activity that brings you joy. Running, hiking, swimming, dancing, etc. Do this at least 3 times a week, but no more than 5 for optimal health benefits. But be sure to push yourself, exercise shouldn’t be easy or quick.
12: Switch to Non-Toxic Products
From household cleaning products to personal care products, it is essential to purchase non-toxin ones. Below I have linked several of my favorite products and brands. If you have a brand in mind, but aren’t sure if it is non-toxic, check out the Environmental Working Group’s Database, by clicking here. They will rate products on a scale of 1 to 10.
For laundry detergent and soap, I love the brand ZUM, click here for a link.
Next for household cleaning products, I love the brand Molly’s Suds, click here for a link.
For shampoo and conditioner, I love the brand Attitude Super Leaves, click here for a link.
Lastly for makeup, I love the brand Toups and Co., click here for the link.
13: Embrace Nature
Our connection to nature as a species has dissipated over the last few centuries. Compared to our hunter gatherer ancestors, we have almost zero connection to our true environment. We spend all of our days indoors in front of screens. This is especially dangerous to our children. I find that when you connect to nature, you can be more in tune with the seasons. From the feel of fresh falling snow on your face, to the warm breeze of spring, to the hot sun on your skin and sand under your toes, to the smell of crisp falling leaves. The seasons bring their own form of joy, that I bet you haven’t fully experienced since childhood.
The Moon and Female Health
I also find that enjoying time outdoors beneath the moon and stars is helpful to female health. Our menstrual cycles align with the cycle of the moon. And the more in touch with the moon you are, the better you can embrace your menstrual journey. Most women align with the New Moon Cycle (White Moon) meaning they ovulate with the full moon and menstruate with the new moon. This represents fertility and motherhood. These are the women who are trying to get pregnant, nurturing children or nurturing others in their life, and is the most common.
A smaller percentage of women align with the Full Moon Cycle (Red Moon). I myself fall into this category, it is when they menstruate with the full moon and ovulate with the new moon. These women have historically been the wise women, healers or medicine women. They are the ones being called to guide or teach. From this you can see just how important nature is to the woman. We are tied to it in ways our modern selves cannot comprehend. But unless you are outside enjoying the presence of the moon, your cycle will not sync up as it is meant to.
So get outside, hike mountains, ground to the earth barefoot, swim in natural bodies of water, watch the flames of fire dance under the full moon and stars. And watch your perspective on life change for the better.
14: Listen to Music
Listen to music as often as you can. It is such a mood booster. Especially classical music. This kind of music can truly move you, and it is when you are moved that you often reach the highest of insights. Music also simply brings joy. And that’s one thing we need more of in our modern lives. Music and dancing were such a large part of our past, and we almost never do it today. And no I am not talking about club “dancing”. Real dancing that is beautiful and elegant. That intertwines the masculine and the feminine energy. Finally, music can be most healing when listened to at 528 hz. This frequency has been shown to actually heal people from illness. Check it out, I find it quite fascinating.
15: Laugh Until it Hurts
Don’t take life so seriously. Be your weirdest and wildest self. If you’re worried about how you’ll appear to others, simply let that go. If someone cannot appreciate your quirks, then they aren’t meant to be a part of your life. This is something I have struggled with my entire life. I have strived for the outward appearance of perfection so much that sometimes I would refrain from talking, so as not to say the wrong thing. This made me appear quiet or shy. When in fact, I simply wanted to appear perfect. But I have since learned to “become unhinged”. I speak my mind, even if it upsets someone. I make jokes and laugh hard at others. So surround yourself with people who allow you to be your “unhinged” self.
16: Eliminate Stressors
Another helpful habit is to identify your stress triggers. This could be something large like your office job, or small like checking emails. Or it could even be a specific person. Work to eliminate this stress from your life, because stress is the number one cause of disease. Eliminating the stress does not simply mean to remove that task or person from your life. It could mean working on yourself to find out why that task/person is causing stress and fixing yourself to ensure it no longer causes you stress.
17: Switch to Natural Fiber Clothing
This habit has recently been gaining traction in the holistic health realm. Natural fiber clothing includes cotton, bamboo, silk, wool and linen. By switching from unnatural (synthetic) fibers such as polyester to these more natural fibers you can greatly improve your health. Choosing clothes that are naturally dyed takes this another step further. You skin is your largest organ and it absorbs what you put on it. But I understand this is an expensive task. I myself have not made the switch, apart from my son. I only purchase natural fiber clothing for him, and organic when possible. So use this as a long term goal. Try to have your wardrobe switched over throughout the next decade.
18: Ditch Plastic
This is another long term goal. Switching your home care products such as Tupperware from plastic to glass can be expensive. Start small and get creative. I use mason jars to store a lot of my leftovers. I also make sure to never heat up anything in plastic. Even using a coffee pot can leach plastic into your coffee. Using a French press or percolator can eliminate this problem. If you can’t give up your fancy coffeemaker (I completely understand), at least give up coffee from places like Dunks or Starbucks where they put your hot coffee into a plastic cup.
19: Shut off Wifi
EMFs are another topic that has been gaining traction lately. The best course of action is simply to shut off your wifi at night while you sleep. Don’t fall for the gimmicky EMF protection devices, they do not work. Keep your phone and laptop away from your head and body. Turn your phone into airplane mode if it will be in your pocket or near your bed at night. And do not use bluetooth devices such as airpods or apple watches. All smart devices need to be far away from your body. Used wired headphones when possible.
20: Get Help from Alternative Medicine
Lastly, if you are suffering from a serious health concern, please seek out medical advice from a functional medicine practitioner. If you are suffering from something like infertility, seek out alternatives like Chinese Traditional Medicine or acupuncture. In addition, chiropractic care can be quite helpful as well. Don’t rely on self diagnosis for serious medical concerns. But know that traditional western medicine doctors are not your only option. As good as their intentions may be, they are often swayed by pharmaceutical companies and do not have the time in their busy schedules to stay up to date on the latest nutrition and health practices.
**This is not medical advice. Please seek out appropriate medical care when needed.
***Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through one of my links, I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you.
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