4 Ways to Restore Your Mind, Body and Spirit

Words no one wants to hear:

• “You look tired.”
• “You seem kinda sluggish today.”
• “Are you going to be able to keep up?”

Have you been hearing any of these a lot lately? Have you asked yourself why people keep saying such things to you?

Are you actually feeling tired, worn down, and maybe even feeling older than you are?

Maybe it’s time to reevaluate.

Here are 4 major questions to consider that could help you perk up, restore your mind, body and spirit, and look and feel more amazing (because you are amazing…why not show it?).

1. How are you sleeping?

Not getting enough sleep effects your mental capacity, stifles your spirit, and takes a toll on your appearance. To truly restore itself your body needs quality sleep.

Getting at least 7-9 hours of solid sleep each night will kick those eye bags to the curb! You’ll look rested, and you’ll get the energy back that’s been hidden behind those yawns.

Here are some ways you can improve sleep on a nightly basis:

• Avoid stimulants such as caffeine after noontime.
• Manage your blood sugar levels by eating well and at regular times each day.
• Stay well-hydrated throughout the day.
• Get some physical activity during the day (but not too close to bedtime; some people are stimulated by high impact cardio in the evenings while some feel relaxed after evening strength workouts).
• Try meditation or progressive relaxation.
• Avoid screen time a couples of hours before going to bed.
• Try relaxing yoga methods or gentle stretching.
• Writing in a journal can help clear your mind before bed.
• Planning out your next day before bed can ease your mind that you won’t forget those important to-do’s, and your brain won’t keep relaying them to you all night long.
• My son and I love chamomile tea with a little honey about 30 minutes before bed.
• Avoid excessive amounts of alcohol (more than 1-2 drinks).
• Avoid late and/or heavy dinners.
• Using magnesium in a bath or body oil can be helpful.
• Diffuse lavender, chamomile, or sweet orange essential oils (or all three).

There are many more strategies to help get better sleep. It is imperative to figure out what’s keeping you from a good night’s sleep if you want to restore your mind, body and spirit daily. Experiment with strategies that could help.

Need some help practicing SELF-CARE? Check out my email course RENEW! It’s a Good Start Guide to Help You Restore Your Body and Mind. You’ll get TONS of ideas for eating, exercising, sleeping, and just taking care of yourself well….including my Food-Mood Recipe Guide! Click HERE to see why you will love it.

2. What kinds of food are you putting into your body?

Everything that you eat and drink has an effect on your mind and body. The gut and brain are connected in numerous ways, so consuming foods that don’t provide enough nourishment can affect how you feel.

Your body may not be properly nourished if you experience:

• constant fatigue
• blood sugar imbalances
• craving and consuming excessive sugar
• impaired cognitive function

Also be aware that….

• sugars and artificial sweeteners promote inflammation….hello under eye bags…and also spike your insulin levels, which will quickly drop and leave you feeling sluggish.
• alcohol is dehydrating, and drinking it excessively can slow you down the next morning, dry up your skin, and sallow out your glow.
• eating lots of foods deep fried in oils with high amounts of trans fats can stiffen blood cells and dull your appearance.
• too many carbs can weigh you down.
• too much caffeine could be the culprit causing those under eye circles.

Taking care of your mental health should always go hand in hand with taking care of your physical health, and a nourishing nutrient-rich diet full of whole foods supplying you with vitamins and antioxidants throughout your day will have you feeling refreshed, recharged, and reenergized all day long.

Eat revitalizing foods such as:

• watermelon
• berries
• apples
• pears
• figs
• peaches
• apricots
• nectarines
• leafy greens
• cucumbers
• broccoli
• sweet potatoes
• fatty fish

Reduce your consumption of these items (or just eliminate them):

• Processed Meats
• Processed Frozen and Boxed Foods
• High-fat & High-Sodium Snacks
• Flavored Low-Fat Yogurt
• Pasteurized Dairy
• Fried Foods
• Refined Sugar
• Gluten
• Alcohol
• Coffee
• Soda

Consuming too much of these foods and beverages will age you and bring you down or exacerbate your anxiety. Period.

Also, don’t overcook foods and strip them of their nutrients, especially veggies.

Here’s the down-low on gluten:

Gluten is everywhere. It gives bread its chewiness, helps pasta maintain its shape, and gives baked goods their airy crumb. This wheat protein even sneaks into unexpected places like canned soup, salad dressings, oatmeal and beer.

For some people, gluten is no big deal. But here’s why I believe gluten is not your friend: your body can’t really break down gluten completely. When it ferments in your body you might experience bloating, diarrhea, headaches, skin rashes, or other more painful and serious symptoms or illnesses. Too much gluten can cause your skin to lose its suppleness and elasticity as well.

Personally, gluten often makes me feel heavy. I do enjoy eating some foods that contain gluten, but I limit my intake because although I do not experience digestive issues, I just feel better and lighter after meals without gluten.

My clients who have removed gluten from their diets due to real digestive upsets report that in addition to the relief of their belly issues they have more energy and notice positive differences in their skin.

That’s proof enough for me that gluten should be limited for anyone looking to reenergize their body, revitalize their mind, and raise their spirit.

A few more suggestions:

• Enjoy some yummy coconut water! Coconut water’s electrolyte content rehydrates the body and boosts energy as it provides amino acids, antioxidants, and vitamin C and several minerals.
• Try taking a break from coffee and caffeine and starting every day off with fruit and a glass of water. That’s what your body really needs to get going! An apple will give you sustained energy instead of a quick, short-lived jolt. Also your morning cup of Joe will be more effective if you take periodic breaks from drinking it.
• It’s also important to consider your emotions when you reach for certain foods. Being intentional and mindful around how and why you eat is important for your overall health and self-care. Get help with emotional eating with my FREE “End Emotional Eating Guide” which includes a “Self-Love Recipe Guide” to help you get started on your clean eating journey and quickly restore your mind, body and spirit.

Note: Check with your doctor before beginning a new diet or changing your eating style.

Related Reading:

My Top 5 Daily Life, Love and Wellness Practices

Your Summer Wellness and Self-Care Guide

3. How active are you on a daily basis?

Staying active is hard for most people. When people hear active, they immediately think 7 days a week at a gym, sweating ferociously, and lifting endless weights.

There is a simpler solution: Have fun!

Staying active does not have to involve going to the gym. It can be anything from taking a walk with your spouse, playing outside with the kids, or going dancing with some friends.

What do you love to do that keeps you active? Or what would you love to do?

Energy creates energy; the more active you are, the more energy you will gain. Plus you’ll look and feel better and younger.

Get some movement outside for even more mental and physical health benefits.

Here are some great ways to start moving your body:

• Nature walks or jogs
• Swimming, biking, hiking
• Swimming
• River rafting
• Visiting and walking around parks, forests, farms, ranches, bird sanctuaries, bat caves, etc.
• Horseback riding
• Gardening
• Family time outside (rock or shell collecting, scavenger hunts, physical challenge courses….playgrounds offer a lot of ways for adults to exercise, too)
• Dancing
• Kickboxing
• Zumba
• Yoga or Pilates
• Strength training using body weight or simple equipment at home

Two important notes:

Don’t overdo it; and allow yourself plenty of recovery time. Exercise stresses your body, too. You want to restore your mind, body and spirit, not overtax yourself. Also, check with your doctor before beginning a new exercise program.

Further Reading: Working Out and Staying In (as in….staying home and NOT going to the gym)

I also have some great suggestions to ignite your workouts in this post: Your Summer Wellness and Self-Care Guide

4. How much are you exposed to toxins?

Between what we eat, the air, and other environmental factors we’re exposed to countless elements and toxins on a daily basis. Most of us don’t often think about how our bodies, minds and spirits are affected and by what exactly they are affected.

Our lungs, skin, digestive tract, liver and kidneys work hard to eliminate a lot of the toxins from our body, however, when your body is filled with too many toxins it isn’t able to efficiently flush out the toxins naturally.

Talk about draining your energy and bringing down your mood and spirit….

To truly restore your mind, body and spirit, give your body’s detoxification processes a boost by doing things like:

• dry brushing
• tongue scraping
• oil pulling
• messaging your lymph system
• engaging in a temporary detox or an elimination diet

You want to get your organs and digestive tract functioning like they’re supposed to, so you don’t continue to suffer the struggles of the toxins building up and preventing your body from naturally detoxifying itself.

Try following my “Summer Rejuvenation Plan” or my “Hormone Health Good Start Guide”. Both of these offer guidelines for giving your body a gentle detoxification boost through clean eating meal plans (recipes included) and supplemental self-care practices you will LOVE.

*** Click here to learn more about my “Summer Rejuvenation Plan”. ***

*** Or for my “Hormone Health Good Start Guide” click here to send me a message and I’ll send you the details right away. ***

Here is one suggestion to start reducing your exposure to draining toxins:

Clean out your cosmetic and skin care cabinet. Most of your makeup and skin care products are probably loaded with toxins. These toxins can cause skin dryness, rashes, blemishes, wrinkles, and under eye circles. They’ve also been reported to negatively impact hormones, fertility and moods. Some people have developed cancer after long-term use of toxic skin care products.

Natural beauty products are all the rage right now, and it’s no wonder why! Making the conscious decision to embrace a pure, organic, and toxin-free beauty regime will not only lead to better skin, but an overall improved lifestyle.

Most ingredients found in toxin-free beauty products are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, meaning skin can receive a myriad of skin-loving nutrients to help with its regeneration and revival.

That sounds much better, doesn’t it?

Setting Goals to Restore Your Mind, Body and Spirit

Asking yourself these four questions and considering these four parts of your lifestyle will give you a great start in restoring your mind, body and spirit.

Choose ONE question and area to focus on right now. Within that area, choose ONE goal to set for yourself.

Then, print or bookmark this blog post so that as soon as you’ve created that first new habit for yourself you’re ready to move on to another one. These things will have an everlasting effect on how you look and feel.

Imagine….

Soon you’ll be feeling and looking better than ever, and you’ll start hearing these words:

• “You look so refreshed.”
• “You seem to be in high spirits today.”
• “What is your SECRET?”

Be the beautiful, or handsome, strong person you are!

If you need support to make some changes in your life and to make those changes last, get in touch with me today. Let’s schedule a free call and see how we can work together to get you feeling great in mind, body, heart and spirit.

You also might like to read: “How to FEEL Great to Lose Weight Peacefully Without Die-ting or Abusing Your Body”