1. Water, water, water: Water is seriously the cure for everything… Thirsty? Drink water, hungry? Drink Water. Sick? Ocean water will cure that – perfect reason to take a vacay, right?
Other benefits:
- Keeps you full
- Gives you energy
- Flushes out toxins
- Helps muscle recovery
But seriously, water is that propellant you need for a happy, healthy you. And for those people who don’t like water, be on the lookout for my next post, or try some naturally flavored sparkling water. (Some of my faves… here and here).
2. Start your morning with a green tea/matcha: top it with some non-dairy milk of your choice and some agave or honey for a little sweetness. This is much healthier than coffee and will also help you detoxify and give you that energy you need to start off your day on the right foot.
3. Take the long way or the stairs: Before making the move to D.C., I lived in South Florida and from driving everywhere and sitting in my chair at work I barely walked at all. Even though I went to the gym every day and worked my booty off, I still didn’t see any changes. Finally, I got an activity tracker and realized I was taking MAYBE 3,000-4,000 steps, so by the time I hit the gym, that hard work was basically going towards making up for all the sitting I was doing. Long story short, keeping active is key to kickstarting your journey to a healthier you!
Here’s some things you can do to be more active throughout the day:
- Park further away – you’ll have an easier time finding a spot and you’ll get your steps in.
- Take the stairs – going up OR down as each one works different muscles and it’s great for lean legs and a nice booty!
- Drink up buttercup! – (Water that is) this will help you flush out the toxins, keep you hydrated, and bathroom breaks so you also put in more steps.
- Taking a short walk every 45min. – walk about the office or down the hallway.
4. Meal Prep: I know, going out can be so fast AND cheap (ballin’ on a budget here, so trust me, I understand). But if you add up all those outings and the effects they have on your body, all you’re really doing is taking steps in the wrong direction. So with a little time and some natural ingredients you can get your kitchen up and running, and both your wallet and body will thank ya!
- Pre-cook some protein – my go to’s are tofu, chicken, and tilapia – quinoa or sweet potatoes, and veggies (and make a variation if you don’t like eating the same thing every day). Once you’re done separate them all into containers and you’re good for the whole week.
- For breakfast my go to is a smoothie or overnight oats – both can be pre-made so they’re quick.
- For the smoothie: put all of the solid ingredients into a ziplock bag and in your fridge. Once you’re ready to make them simply take them out, throw em in the blender and add your liquid and TA-DA!
- For the Overnight oats (this makes 1 serving): take 1 banana, 1 scoop of protein, 1 cup of rolled oats, 1 cup of almond milk, 2 tbsp. of PB, 4 tsp. of chia seeds, and a dash of maple syrup for sweetness. Mix it all together and stick it in the fridge and in the morning it’ll be all ready to enjoy.
5. Stick to the outside of the grocery store: If you didn’t know, processed food tends to be in the middle isles of the grocery store (this isn’t ALWAYS the case, but for the most part this will be true). By keeping to the edges, you’ll have the opportunity to buy more natural, healthier options and if you don’t even go there then temptation is knocked out.
6. Pamper your face every day: Take time to wash your face and keep it fresh. Toxins and dirt can enter our system through our skin too, not just the things we eat so cleanliness is key. The better your face looks the better you feel which all goes towards a happier, more confident you. (Plus: a clear face = less need for make-up, and moe time for other things you love to do!)
7. What you put ON your body is just as important as what you put IN your body: Going further into the point I made above, how you treat your entire body is just as important as what you eat. So many products out there have so many chemicals that they only make you more dependable on them instead of actually “fixing” the problems.
Ever since I switched to all organic products (body and hair, makeup is a little harder), I have seen so many changes in myself and I feel so naturally confident. It’s also great to know you are treating your body well and it will thank you by becoming more and more beautiful than it already is.
P.S. all the natural ingredients will have you smelling like a summertime goddess (check out my favorite products here)
8. Take some time for yourself every day: One of the best pieces of advice I’ve received from ALL of my professors is to take some time for yourself every day. Whether this means some time to meditate or pray, read the book of your choice, jot your thoughts down, dance in your undies, or whatever else makes you happy and RELAXED, you should take some time to love YOU.
In the words of Elle Woods (my personal inspiration for getting through law school), “endorphins make you happy. Happy people don’t kill anyone, they just don’t!”
9. Sleep is key: It’s actually funny i’m saying this because out of all the tips this is the one I have the most trouble with – once I get home from classes I have so much to do that by the time I’m done I’m not even tired any more (go figure). Butttt, its also SO important!! Not only does lack of sleep sabotage your gym time, it also makes your cravings worse, and can even change your fat cells. This makes getting rid of fat cells and building that lean body mass or weight loss harder.
So here are some things that help me the most:
- The bed time app (or any app that tracks your sleep for that matter) – this way you get a reminder to start prepping for bed so you can make the most of your time to get your rest and take on the next day like bad A** you are. It will also help you with when the best time to wake up is so your sleep cycle isn’t messed up by waking you up during the deep sleep period.
- Setting my alarm to a relaxing tone – I love waking up to some soft music that will make me want to wake up instead of shake me awake.
- Open up your blinds – Nothing says wake-up and do your thing like seeing the sun shining on your beautiful face (okay, maybe not your face). A dark room will make me want to hibernate so as much as I may not want to wake up, seeing the world rising helps me as well.
10. Don’t be too hard on yourself: We all fall off the wagon sometimes, (guilty!) the important thing is getting back on it. Either way, you should be SO proud for taking those stops to love on yourself and a tiny slip should not deter you from keeping on with the journey. Cheesy, I know…
If you do, look at some of the things you can do to treat your self (#’s 6,7,8) and forget about the slip.
Annndd ther it is!… these are my 10 tips to a healthier you.
Remember at the end of the day, what matters is that you are working towards a better you, and than in itself is already so healthy so you’re well on your way to letting that inner goddess out. Obviously some cardio and strength training are also important and I think all of the tips above will boost your energy and confidence so getting exercise done is much easier.
P.S- Leave your Instagram username below, and we can keep each other accountable! (Or just leave some of your tips, I’d love to hear them!
Honestly Ade 