pc: maria lloyd photography. peep her work … she’s good, guys!
it’s no secret that i’ve spent the better part of the last half-decade focusing on getting myself to a much better place mentally, physically, and emotionally. from a physical standpoint, there are a few priorities i make sure i take care of each day, and my life is SIGNIFICANTLY better because of it. these are the practices i always find myself talking about to coworkers, friends, and family members, and i figured i would take today’s post to list them out. here are my physical wellness priorities:
- movement + exercise. it’s not always something incredibly intense; in fact, most days movement and exercise looks like 30 minutes of walking on the treadmill to me. yes, i know that’s cardio only, but i also up the incline so i’m engaging my muscles. i also [try!! key word try to] do 100 push ups every day. i break it into sets of 30 x 2 and 20 x 2, throughout my day, which makes it more manageable to me. i have found that the increased arm strength has helped when it comes to lifting my kid, and the core muscles i use when doing push ups helps to keep my back in line. i threw my back and neck out earlier this year from lifting logan, and let me tell you, i was in a lot of pain. i do my best to make sure i’m in tip top shape to keep up with my kid. i also mix in other workouts from beachbody and les mills, which are SUPER helpful when i’m traveling and short on time or need to switch things up.
- get those greens! i never used to be one for salads and anything with greens, but reading, hearing, and seeing the health benefits they have, i’m now a believer. i try to make at least one of my meals daily a big green salad with protein and other veggies. another way i incorporate them is by throwing some frozen spinach or kale into my #fab4smoothie. it’s the easiest and best little hack … you don’t taste it, it takes away the need for ice, and it’s a low cal, high fiber way to incorporate more greens into your diet. really, i can’t say enough good things about adding frozen greens into your smoothie. or smoothies in general … what a great and efficient way to get some serious nutrition into your bod. my new goal for the end of this year is to experiment with more smoothie flavors, which i will be sharing on here.
- get that 10k. steps steps steps! get them in, and your body will thank you. i can definitely tell when i go on vacation or am not in the office for work and don’t get my 10,000 steps in. even with working out in the morning, my body feels more sluggish without them. i usually average between 13k-15k steps on a normal day, and that does my body really good. i find i sleep better, my joints are less prone to soreness, and i overall just feel healthier. and when i feel healthier, i make healthier choices. it’s a really great cycle to get into.
- your mom was right – take your vitamins [and probiotics!]. i’ve finally found a regimen that i works really well for my body, but that has come through some experimentation with what made my body feel best. right now i take ritual vitamins and use tula probiotics. i highly recommend you do your research and ask for recommendations from your doc if you aren’t sure where to start. also, read up on ritual. the science and story behind how it started is way cool, and i can get on board with a company that does their research.
these are all daily tweaks i’ve made to my routine. i’m not spending hours at the gym; i still eat pizza, and i’m not on any crazy woo woo wellness plan. i got curious, did some research, and have slowly been optimizing my life. one thing i didn’t touch on is mindfulness and gratitude — that is a post in and of itself, and i want to give it the time and space it deserves, since the basis of my health and well-being hinges on my mental health. want more wellness goodness? check out the in-depth look at the practices i incorporate into my morning routine in this post.
ok, what about you guys? anything i should definitely be trying? drop a comment below, dm or comment on my latest insta!