Yo!  How you feelin’.

TAKE NOTE: Are you taking in the good?  Allow yourself to focus on positive experiences and let go of the negative ones.  Do you think the grass is greener on the other side? Then water your lawn.

It’s a beautiful day to have a beautiful day.

Hello, my friends, and Happy Summer.  I’m trying to switch up my thoughts about Summer and stay light.  I hope you’re being productive, staying hydrated, checking in with friends and family, and enjoying the season.

Today I’m talking about five [5] daily actions to improve your mind and body.

I’ve found these five (5) simple things done in the morning or evening help my mood and my overall well-being.  But don’t just take my word for it. I did a bit of research to find out how these simple habits can boost your mood, decrease your stress and anxiety and help you live well.

Water

We all know the importance of staying hydrated throughout the day, but starting your day with a glass of water is so helpful to help your body rehydrate after a long night’s sleep.  For me, I can’t do 8 oz, as soon as I wake up, but I can do 8 oz. before breakfast. Also, listen to your body’s needs, and if it works for you, great, and if not, try it a different way.  (Source: Real Simple)

I always take these articles with a grain of salt, because not every things works for everybody.

Stretching

Exercising your body is essential, but stretching is just as important because it does so much more for your body.  Since my knee surgery, gentle movements like stretching that are found in Yoga, Pilates, and Tai Chi are a great way for me to improve my joint health, and build knee and back strength by stretching and holding poses. (Source: Mayo Clinic)

Writing

I’m a huge advocate when it comes to journaling because I know it’s the number one thing that helped me through my depression. Mental health is a priority in our climate, and shouldn’t be ignored.

I continue to write at least a few minutes a day because seeing my thoughts on paper are good gauge of how I’m feeling. According to ChooseTherapy.com, journaling helps with stress management and problem-solving, as well as giving you a vision to work with.

Just using your notepad on your device, Word, a physical journal, or my favorite, Penzu, is a great way to work out some issues and shake out some of those anxious feelings.  (Source: ChooseTherapy.com)

Meditation

Meditation has been helpful to me during a period of sleepless nights for me, but I know it’s also good to help your mind focus.  Just 3 minutes can help you relax, and give you a sense of calm. Medication can help lower your heart rate, improve your sleep quality, and increase your imagination and creativity. (Source: MayoClinic)

Some apps I’ve tried are Calm, Better Sleep, and Headspace, which cost if you want specific guided meditation.  You can also check out YouTube, which is free.

Soaking

My Mom soaks her feet almost every night, but I didn’t really understand the importance of it until I had some issues with my leg and circulation recently.  When you’re diabetic, you’re always looking for things you can do to help improve your body function.

What I’ve learned from a few articles is that soaking feet in the evening for just 10-15 minutes can do more than soften your skin. Soaking your feet can improve circulation, and reduce pain in your back, hips, and legs. According to Well+Good …walking, workouts, and just everyday tasks can be hard on your feet because they bear the weight of your entire body (especially if they are flat like mine).  I found this article to be the most beneficial, so check it out. (Source: W E L L+G O O D)

I hope this information is helpful to anyone looking to live and feel. Thanks so much for visiting the blog today.  Don’t forget to follow and subscribe, as I really appreciate the support. — Peace

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