Well, January 2018, it was nice knowing ya. I feel like I haven’t even had time to THINK about making resolutions, and already this month is gone just like that. But in general, I’m one of those people who is always trying to get the most out of life, especially when it comes to health and wellness. I’ve always been into little tricks to up my self-care game, and I want to continue into the new year. I mean, who DOESN’T want to feel their best all of the time? Answer: no one.

But surprisingly, people generally do very little to actually contribute to their personal wellness. WTF is that about??? In an effort to save you from walking around every day feeling like crap, I’ve compiled my favorite wellness routines and favorite wellness products. This is something I’ve gotten into much more in the last few years since adulting (because I mean really, who thinks about *wellness* when you’re busy going out 4 nights a week in college?) and I am always trying, or at least reading about, the newest wellness trends.

1. Spend Ten Minutes a Day on an Acupressure Mat

Ok, I’m starting off with the craziest routine first because I’m not messing around here. This thing is magical. I found out about the ProSource Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set through my friend Kelsey at Bananas and Bellinis. Kelsey is a health and wellness blogger (who is also a friend I used to figure skate with decades ago) and she recently wrote an entire post about this mat and it’s benefits. From relieving stress and back pain, to increasing energy to improving sleep, this thing has SO many health benefits and all you have to do is lay on it for 10 minutes a day. Plus it’s only $19.99 on Amazon prime. SOLD. Disclaimer: it’s mildly uncomfortable for the first 2-3 minutes until your body gets used to it, but distract yourself and stick it out because when you get up, you’ll feel so much better!

2. Add Some Local Honey to Your Tea

Whether you want to enjoy a cup of green tea to get your morning going or wind down with a cup of caffeine-free herbal tea, drinking tea has countless health benefits from antioxidants. I absolutely love having a cup of Yogi Bedtime Tea before bed each night! Using local honey will not only cut out white sugar or Splenda (because it’s bad for you and stuff) but will also help combat local allergens. You can usually find local honey at a local farmers market or Whole Foods/Sprouts, but the allergy relief benefits won’t work unless it’s LOCAL. I’ve gotten allergies in each of the different cities I’ve lived in, and I swear by this method! The local bee pollen within the honey is basically like giving your body a vaccine against the local allergens.

3. Up your Vitamin Game with Ritual Vitamins

I will admit, I used to be very lazy about taking my vitamins. It’s one of those things I knew I should be doing daily but most days, I would just skip over them. Besides that, I was always unsure of the weird ingredients in most brands. This all changed when I started taking Ritual vitamins. This monthly delivery of extremely good-for-you vitamins keeps me in check because first of all, they’re an investment so I’m more motivated to stay on schedule, and second of all, their branding is on point. They contain the 9 ingredients that women need most in the purest forms possible, including Omega-3 fatty acids without the nasty upset stomach side-effects. Since using Ritual vitamins for the past few months, I’ve noticed better sleep (thanks to magnesium), a more consistent energy level (thanks to B12), clearer skin and just felt better overall. Click HERE for 50% off your first month!

4. Make Morning Workouts a Habit with ClassPass

I know the whole “OMG getting out of bed is the worst, I could NEVER work out in the morning” struggle is real, but honestly if I can do it SO CAN YOU! I am the worst morning person in the history of humanity and I am newly obsessed with morning workouts. The trick is just getting out of bed before you can even think about the fact that it’s 5:30am (have ya’ll seen the viral “make a decision and act on it in 5-seconds rule” video? It’s just like that.) My best advice for this is try a few classes in the morning and do it every day for 4 days straight, by the 3rd day I guarantee you’ll already be hooked! I use ClassPass to add variety to my workout schedule, and if you follow that link you can get $30 off your first month! ClassPass offers classes at tons of different studios in almost every city, so you get switch it up with all sorts of new workouts from yoga to kickboxing. Cya later boring treadmill.

5. Switch to Collagen Peptides Protein

I’ve never really been a protein shake kind of girl, but a friend introduced me to Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides and I LOVE how easy it is to use. Collagen is great for your skin, hair, nails and even joints and bones. The best part is that it’s virtually taste free, so you can dissolve it into whatever you like! I’ve added a scoop to my morning coffee, yogurt, oatmeal and smoothies, and I’ve never tasted it once. It’s like biotin on steroids (sans steroids obviously) and with protein so it’s a win win! Perfect for your new routine post-morning workouts!

6. Get Involved with Community Yoga Classes

Yoga is my jam as it is, but there’s something about doing yoga in community settings that just gets all the feel goods pumping. I’ve noticed yoga classes popping up everywhere from breweries to parks, you just have to do a little bit of research to find them. By searching the events page on Facebook and Meetup.com, you’ll be surprised at what you can find. One of my personal favorites is “Yoga on Tap” which entails yoga at a brewery followed by beers (shocking, I know..) Most community yoga classes are donation based or cost around $10-15, which is typically cheaper than taking a class in a studio. Stay tuned, because I’m planning on sharing more about this on the blog in the near future!

Like I said, I’m always up for trying new things. I’d love to hear what your favorite wellness habits and routines are, or any questions you may have, so please leave them in the comment section below!

xx

*This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small portion of the price for recommending the product (at no additional cost to you of course!)