Habits Archives - Page 6 of 10 - Healthy Happy Life Secrets

Uncertainty Turned To Joy

Uncertainty can be made certain and joyful when you cook dishes you can’t mess up.

Most of life is uncertain. Some days we have some certainty over planned future events and in yesterday’s events.

But we have uncertainty about tomorrow and sometimes what will happen today.

And uncertainty can come with all sorts of flavors and emotions.

Some uncertain days are filled with excitement, so those are double bonus… and are often few and far between over routine days. But that gives us a buffer so we feel the good effects compared to the previous nothing-special happening days.

And on uneventful days, it’s good to be grateful for our own contentment good.

That will get rattled up eventually with the sudden news that changes the direction of our day and possible season.

The way to best handle every situation is to find your joy. And if there is none that a sad or stressful situation can bring, then shed the cleansing tears and find peace. No matter what.

…Because the situation will happen regardless of your misery or staying calm and happy. So why not lean into the healthy positive expressing feelings that your body will reward you for?

Plus, you make more sound decisions that way.

A decision can be as simple as whether to react or not react. Because whatever our actions are, especially when others are involved, there are consequences.

And my best advice for you in uncertainty is if you don’t know what to do, don’t do anything you could regret until you know what to do.

Then bringing this to your awareness, an answer follows at some point. It’s not an automatic response like a knowing that comes with practice and habits and then builds confidence the next time.

Trained professionals know what to do in their specialties, and you know what to do in yours, but not necessarily in theirs.

And when you take an action or make a reaction from a place of peace of wanting to give, then you know you’ve done your best.

So often we take action because someone else has projected the situation onto us and put the burden on our shoulders. It’s our modern protective job (since we’re not running from tigers) to evaluate objectively.

And not always jump on what is asked if the hoops are the wrong ones where we don’t set boundaries. And we end up resentful or bitter about what could have been handled differently.

Give yourself first the chance to think:

What are the facts?

What do you know about the entire situation that may have a history?

And if we can sleep on the idea over a night or two, then we see how we feel after we think or pray about the idea in peace and meditation which can be starkly different than the knee-jerk reaction. Time and rest allow for wisdom to enter instead of our worry-fear actions.

…Which BTW, this is a great life skill habit to learn and practice.

We’ve all had examples and some practice over the past few years. Our worlds were shaken by the disruptions of the global crises we all experienced on our planet from climate to pandemic.

This led to the greatest uncertainty that may end up being the most in our lifetime.

The toughest unique situations we each had to individually go through may still feel like open wounds. And those are maybe ones we don’t want to think about since we just went through them and are still processing.

BUT, the healthiest thing we can do is to not delay and think about the effects on us this year. We each had trauma of sorts and we want to prevent post-trauma effects that our mind-bodies will cling onto.

The trauma could have been the change in jobs, relationships, losses, lifestyle habits, and where you live, or all of the above. Or that you’re still in those situations. And the bottom line is: there was and is uncertainty.

And on top, there could be fresh wounds mounding on top of older ones.

All of that is part of the adult life. And when you’re super tested during difficult times to take on additional stressors, you can choose to feel like throwing in the towel… or you can look at the upside!

Your tough trials, situations, and setbacks get you ready for what’s on the other side. 🌈

So in the mud, find the hope vision. That could be as simple as recalling the thoughts that when you’re down, there’s nowhere to go but up.

And when you’re feeling Kapha tired, you plow through anyway… not because you feel like doing the work or task, but because you know you’ll feel better after you do. And you’re looking for that victorious after-burn feeling! 😎

It always gets better… and that’s not cliche if you’ve already lived to mid-life.

In the down, you become the resilient person that is needed to appreciate the pot of gold if you fight for your own victory that’s inevitable in your beliefs and if you don’t give up.

So today and every day, find a ray of hope and glimmer. ✨Borrow from nature that hums and runs 24-7 without pause on any part of the globe.

Where I was the year before the pandemic started, was working in close-knit quarters. I was at large-scale annual events where as many as 100,000 global members were invited. And I traveled internationally more frequently than non-existently.

Working in my local offices, I recall appreciating the time I had working remote for years prior in my early 30s. That also made adapting to 2020 life easier.

…Similarly, leaning into your positives in your situations can be your saving grace. Recalling your past that helped you in the tough times and today can make you feel that all will be well. And it will!

…It’s that same knowing from experience, that if you have a bad day, the next ones will be great.

Focus on those optimistic thoughts and look forward to your next steps.

Find your blessings amid uncertainty. Staying in joy is going to help you not lose precious years of productivity.

Maybe look at life as a learning opportunity?

Each year comes with different situations and dreams. And you want to keep your head high and ride the cloud through the stormy and silver linings as though every opportunity is a joy to learn something.

And when you look down, you notice that the ground below you offers a chance to jump on a new landed opportunity and experience.

Make this year a triumph in how you see life and learning… and maybe someone you know needed to hear this that you can pass this on to, especially since we just passed Mental Health Awareness month that’s now part of our every month.

You’re never alone. And life is on your side. 🎉

Healthy Habits Today Matter Big-Time for Tomorrow

Healthy habits matter today big time for results tomorrow. And we can get a good dose of influence from the Blue Zones (discovered by Dan Buettner), where their habits feel like worlds apart from our modern, Western world.

But we can adopt their healthy ways. And I share a few of mine below along my journey including a healthy potato habit I have. 🥔

As for healthy habits, I’ve been eating whole-wheat bread and foods since I was young. I don’t think I ever had a slice of white sandwich bread. It was wheat, rye, or pumpernickel… but never white.

Whole wheat cherry glace pancakes with frozen Greek yogurt for Sunday brunch! 🥞

I’m so glad I didn’t let those past years of dissatisfied field trip bag lunches hold me back. Those and other healthy habits are happy keepers.

Below you’ll learn about some Sunday brunch inspo that came from healthy habits and endings too.

And what you create as eating healthy habits today becomes your tomorrow’s habits. And can be part of happy memories.

Some of them stick around from when you were younger, and still work. They need no replacement.

When I was younger, working smart was en vogue. Why?… je ne sais quoi.

…Maybe we were trying to learn how to cut corners? But working hard never went outta-style. Work was (and is) what made the world go round but talking about grunt work especially would be like going rogue.

And today, in a sharing society, we learned that there are no shortcuts. The good stuff is in the work and comes from the working hard process. So glad we kept the healthy habits. 🌱

And even the tough work proved useful for growth and experience.

Especially when we’re young, we need all the experience we can get…

In those years, I walked everywhere. I had no wheels. I walked to the bus, to the dentist, to school, on the paper route, and to my friends’ houses.

And when my high school friend got a new set of wheels, a brand spanking new red Cabriolet convertible for her 16th birthday, she offered to pick me up in the mornings to take me to school. It surprised me when I turned down that exciting offer.

My young mind told me that I shouldn’t count on that routine. Our young intellects were at work even when we weren’t fully conscious. 😉

And in a higher gear, I knew I made the right choice.

At that moment I solidified the habit of counting on myself… and not taking shortcuts that breed laziness.

No lazy (Kapha) mind is a better mantra…

And a good way to break out of that mold is to exercise even when we don’t feel like doing it. You always feel better after the burn.

An easier way is to step outside. Because there you don’t feel the sting. You don’t count calories burned. Your wristband does it automatically for you.

And you breathe in new air and let your senses do the rest.

And when you naturally go up and down steps, you’re doing exercise without having to convince your brain to work. It’s automatic to your mind and legs.

Simply, if you want to get to where you’re going, you need to take steps… or even better, the stairs. Fair, right?

Too often we automatically think of exercise as cardio and keeping up our heart rates. That’s just one type.

And the kind that makes a difference will be the exercises and moves you do.

Another habit area is consistently showing up.

Your presence becomes known. And you’re seen as someone who’s accountable and takes the time to be available. We all like to know people like this.

It’s a form of welcomed dependability.

And there are ways we all can be consistent whether it’s online or in-person. And where we can be part of our community.

For some years, I was part of organizing a regular brunch group. It fit what I was doing. I was helping others plan their hosted events, so why not host my own? It was volunteer mixed with fun healthy habits.

What made the group special was that we (I had a co-lead with me) opened the event to everyone. There were always newcomers to the group and the DC metro area. And the restaurant of choice had to set up several tables.

It was fun to try out new local restaurants including swanky Michelin Blue Duck Tavern places, historic National Press Room restaurants, and mod-deco fare ones on the Potomac River. Many celebrated Cherry Blossoms 🌸 like this one (speaking of en vogue):

And we met restaurateurs like this distinguished chef who put foodie restaurants on the maps in the 90s before Jose Andres.

Restaurant lunch time for brunch isn’t usually busy like dinner so that was a good fit for all. And being plugged in that way became part of healthy habits that season.

And during those years, as a theme, I was also inviting my own bunch to the restaurants where I ran the group events.

Similarly, if you take a look at your healthy habits, you’ll notice some repeats. Your regular habits that stick become what sticks out in your life tomorrow and years later.

Taking inventory of your healthy habits will help show you the gaps so you can have a fulfilling life.

You can consider:

Where are you spending most of your time?

What do you wish you were doing more of?

Are you plugged into your local community in some way?

How are you helping the world?

Just some food for thought as you go about your week.

For anti-inflammatory food shopping inspo, check out this 200 anti-inflammatory food grocery guide/list. 🛒

And these spuds could be part of your healthy habit start.

Healthy Loaded Baked Potato Skins

This used to be one of my favorite lunch meals when they had a loaded potato fixins' bar at my work. The skins are often tossed out and are loaded with fiber and vitamins that can be cooked, baked and enjoyed in our daily meal healthy habits!

Course Side Dish, vegetables

Cuisine American

Author Brandy @ Healthy Happy Life Secrets

Ingredients

Russet potatoes (or favorite potatoes)
Greek yogurt
Herbs (chives, thyme, and/or tarragon recommended)
Alliums (scallions or minced onions)
olive oil (optional)

Instructions

Cook your potatoes until soft on the stove.
Cut each potato in half and face down halves on baking sheet drizzled with a little EVOO if you like.
Bake on 350°F until browning occurs.
Let potato cool sligthtly and then add your healthy Greek yogurt topping and herbs to garnish and enjoy!

Spice Up 2023 With An Intermittent Fasting Lifestyle

This isn’t what it looks like (or doesn’t look like!). It’s actually a honey-saffron-pistachio-dates-sea salt whole wheat dessert inspired by baklava and the layers are filled with a wintery nut trio mix (walnuts, pistachio, and pecans). Healthy and happy!

Intermittent Fasting has become a popular way for those of us who want to be healthier and improve mental clarity (and is not just for losing weight).

It’s something I’m embracing in 2023. And I’m sharing my points with you in this jam-packed post that also includes 15 great spices I love… for good food inspo you can appreciate on feasting days if you’re on a sustainable healthy fasting lifestyle.

But first, let me back up two points as you may not be familiar with Intermittent Fasting.

#1. Fasting or Intermittent Fasting (within time windows) is becoming uber popular these days as a way to lose weight sustainably. It’s the opposite of a fad diet that I’m opposed to because the long-term effects can backfire.

#2. Weight loss for a healthy body mass index or waist circumference is one great benefit that shouldn’t be downplayed… and has side benefits that are even greater. Losing weight also reduces the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic breakdowns and developing adult-onset type-2 Diabetes that’s soaring in our modern world. T2D oftentimes can be better managed, prevented, and restored with healthy lifestyle choices.

And another point… is if you know me, you know I’m not doing IF for weight loss. It’s the sustainable, healthy lifestyle and side health benefits that I’m super excited about on my end!

…So I hope the information here gives you some insight and can help you decide if IF is right for you. There’s no shame or awkward feelings like “being on a diet” can have because Intermittent Fasting (IF) is a sustainable lifestyle.

…And actually, no one during your day will be able to note when you’re IF fasting or feasting if you want to keep it to yourself (as your choice). Drinking water and coffee is pretty normal stuff for most of us. 😊

And I use sleep time for almost half of the 16 hours I’m fasting these days. But the schedule you decide is completely flexible and changeable from season to season… and actually is better when you mix it up if you get stuck e.g. not losing more weight or you’re on your cycle for women (that’s different than 🚴‍♀️).

There are so many health benefits from switching in and out of glucose and ketones. I list a few below, but I can’t get into all of them here as the list is long (and this article is already pretty long)… but, if you want to seriously learn more about this, just fill out the 2-minute body balance quiz and mention your IF interest in the optional notes area, and I’ll pass on some good resources.

And in case this is your first time visiting my weekly blog, I’ve been into preventative health my entire adult life that started when I was marketing high-end nutritional supplements in my early 20s. Lowering fat calories (where even “nuts are bad”) was part of the zeitgeist I grew up in. …and, well, these days that macro-talk has switched to carbs.

Personally, I like to focus on the macro positives like increasing healthy proteins and veggie-forward carbs.

But today, we’re on the brink of health research that’ll help us live longer optimally by biohacking our bodies. I think we need this to offset the toxins and global warming effects that we daily intake (and didn’t experience decades ago).

And I believe Intermittent Fasting will help our individual healthy e-missions as our world advances. More women and men are looking at IF as a healthy lifestyle choice. Here is a good reason why:

Because IF is good for chronic cardiovascular-related prevention (heart disease is still the leading cause of death, along with certain cancers, and now cognitive decline and T2D)…

So this is why IF is good for all of us (Vatas, Pittas, and Kaphas). All our bodies perform autophagy cell clean up, and efficiently better with IF. And that helps us to reduce oxidative stress that leads to the chronic stresses that lead to chronic diseases. And if you get into a 24-hour fast, you can optimize this one benefit.

You can also look up autophagy: a new kind of recycling we can do, but with our bodies. 😊

…that benefit alone should raise an eyebrow! And is good news.

As a health and wellness freelance writer having spent countless hours consuming IF facts, benefits, and science-backed expert advice, Intermittent Fasting is aligned with my current healthy ways.

So, I’ve added this to my 2023 health and wellness plans.

And in my weekly Intermittent Fasting, what I eat and drink complements my anti-inflammatory diet and balancing Ayurvedic-lifestyle (from yoga to spices)… below, I share some of my fave Ayurvedic spices-and-everything-nice list that helps to enhance self-awareness by appreciating the foods put in the body.

On my “fasting days,” I eat from 8-4. I know that sounds like an “on the clock” job, but that’s hardly the way it feels. It’s so easy and actually makes my daily life easier.

…In my case, it keeps me from snacking all day and night, like so many of us. And even though my snacks are usually simple and healthy, like carrots, nuts, popcorn, and dark chocolate, my body rewards me for not snacking at all.

That includes giving up the habit of chewing gum that I stopped a few years ago.

All gum, sweet mints, cough drops, creamers, and flavored drinks all count as part of the calories that can unintentionally swing the “napping” fasting body back into work mode, and easily break a fast.

Breaking a Fast

The snack elephant in the room (on feasting days) for me is a few soft Twizzlers (strawberry, cherry, and black licorice). I was so going to say fresh Twizzlers, but you’d laugh at me because there are few if any fresh foods coming from a packaging manufacturing plant. 😉

…And just so we’re clear, that’s not a Twizzler endorsement for any of my weekly healthy food lists and plans (anti-inflam, Ayurvedic, or IF). I’m not trying to steer you down a Twizzler diet path (…lol).

Licorice is the happy food in my life. And you have your non-negotiable faves. Hopefully, they’re worth it!

…So, swinging the needle back to the healthy (and happy) body, here are some ways I use spices.

I like to go into my spice cabinet regularly and open up the small containers to cook and bake with. It’s an Ayurvedic balancing practice (not usually practiced when fasting).

Spices heighten the senses. And are a good way to develop recipes and come up with spiced-up! new meals. I’m a free-pour type of gal so rarely do I use teaspoons to measure spices. And sometimes being heavy-handed makes for a better dish or bake anyway.

Balancing the Body with Spices

And not only are spices a good way to appreciate your sense of taste and smell, they’re also a good indicator of where you’re balanced and off-balance. I mentioned the Body Balance Quiz earlier which uses this same concept.

This is body-mind self-awareness from the mind-body’s perspective.

Here’s how it works: whether you’re anxious/worried, irritated/angry, feeling critical, or feeling lazy, these emotions and moods all show up in your spice preferences!

This is one of the fun experiences I had when I learned Ayurveda in 2008. And then years later hadn’t forgotten, so I thought would be fun to give “the spice test” to my office-mate catering colleagues. It made for a nice break when we were all swamped and I had up to 7 events going on in a day.

…And somehow I found time to help out and work at one of The WeddingWire HQ catered events in those imbalanced hour days.

…So when I gave my officemates their personalized results, I think they felt like I magically 🪄knew them better than themselves that season (…and just with a few everyday seasonings I brought in!). Of course, I provided the counterbalancing solutions they specifically needed.

And these ordinary ones are some of the faves that can make an EXTRAORDINARY dish.

Sweet Spice:

✅Star anise. A spice blend with star anise as the star is Ras el hanout. You also get some punchy notes with cloves, balancing fennel, and mild-spicy black pepper.

✅Curry. Surprisingly I used to think this exotic spice smelled like an old shop full of food knick-knacks. And then grew into this sweet spice. It goes really well with chicken or potato dishes.

Bitter:

✅Sumac. This is not as common a spice. You would know if it was in your cabinet because it stands out with a dark purple color. It has the quintessential bitter taste along the same lines as dry mustard.

📝And bitter spices would probably not spike insulin on a fast (aka Intermittent Fasting), but the foods that went with it definitely would!

✅Pungent:

Ginger. Freshly grated ginger is great for everything. It has a calming effect even though it has a distinctive spice kick at the end. And of course, ginger spice is great for gingerbread in the gingerbread house in the winter holiday seasons.

✅Cardamom. This takes a sophisticated taste. You either like it, are neutral, or detest. Most younger tastes go for the latter perspective. Maybe that’s why it has “mom” at the end because it’s meant for more mature tastes.

✅Black pepper. And there are studies that indicate if black pepper is added to cardamom, there are synergistic anti-inflammatory benefits. It’s not just good with salt. And you can take that for what it’s worth. I personally like waving black pepper around for opening up nasal congestion. 😊

✅Cloves. This is a versatile pungent spice. Unlike ginger which gets spicier, clove is a subtle spice. And maybe why a dark brown color to blend in. And cloves are off the charts when it comes to anti-inflammatory, meaning it’s super good for you.

It’s one of those hidden spices in the cabinet that should be brought out. And it’s often in the middle of the list of ingredients in a spice blend. It doesn’t get the glory recognition it deserves like bright orange turmeric news headlines these days.

And just a few more spice notes 🎶, and then we’re done. Btw, thanks for sticking with me!… Your dishes will thank me.

Herby/Fragrant:

✅Garlic – good for adding a 3^rd dimension and a good prebiotic we can always use more of.

✅Thyme – similar to oregano that’s generally more common.

✅Oregano – good for any Italian dishes, pizza, pasta, and red sauce.

Distinct/Pleasant:

✅Tarragon – for any savory dish you want to add a sweet herb and create a French bistro in-the-mouth vibe. This is great for savory breakfast foods like potatoes and eggs. They can also be part of your break the fast foods if you’re Intermittent Fasting.

✅Saffron – great for any seafood dishes and stews. And even sweets paired with honey, like baklava. Saffron is a Vata favorite because it has a very balanced, sweet, and distinct scent and taste. You can’t miss it in a paella seafood dish.

✅Dill – is lovely with any cold appetizers that need a ‘lil fresh pep. It also has a distinct green pine needle look, so it makes for a great last-minute dish dash (or final touch to top off).

Unlike rosemary which also has a needle-like appearance, dill is easy to chew. Dried rosemary… not so much, and since it’s prickly is better as an exterior skin flavoring or on a roast.

✅Mint – Not the candy mint no-no I mentioned earlier when I was talking about fasting, but the plant that’s actually an herb. Peppermint leaves are great for tea and baking extracts. Tea leaves are great for garnishes and also pair well with fruits.

✅Spearmint – always reminds me of Wrigley’s spearmint gum (another fasting faux pas) from my childhood years and is good in a tea blend. Also, good with dishes such as mint peas.

So, that’s what I have for spicy news this week until next week!

I record all my blog posts, so you can fold laundry or take a break from staring at a screen 📱

🎧 Listen to this 10-minute audio recording.

…And if you want to learn more about starting an Intermittent Fasting anti-inflammatory lifestyle habit you can stick to (and maintain a consistent weight), check out my FREE 27-page Intermittent Fasting Guide. 👙

Sleep Revolution

Sleep is the revolution we’re in. Previously the ambitious mantra was to forego sleep to get more done.

avocado toast breakfast — A healthy avocado breakfast to break the sleep fast! 🥑

Whether getting more sleep is on your list of resolutions or wellness intentions this year (or not), you’ll get a new side of sleep… not just back, left, or right but a whole NEW angle (in this week’s blog post article)…

Below, I share about Ayurvedic energy patterns that affect your sleep, and why it matters to your daily energy.

…And a NEW change this year I’ve made that’s revolutionized my sleep. 🎉

And sleep is everything to your body… and to you and me!

Even when it was endorsed and en vogue to sleep less to get more done just a decade ago from what I remember, I never bought into that belief.

I always thought sleep was the best thing ever. Better than sliced bread (which I’ve replaced with homemade bread loaves and airy pizza crust with anti-inflam Brussels sprouts 🥬…that’s not a healthy fad.)🥖

…And sleep isn’t a trendy fad.

Amazing sleep is on my daily bucket list. We never know when will be our last day, and sleep is wellness time spent well.

When you look like a Sleeping Beauty sound asleep, you’re at peace.

…Your conscious mind isn’t running where you have to act or make any decisions.

And even if you don’t love sleep… we HAVE to sleep as part of survival, so our bodies can restore and reset. With all the functions our bodies do second by second, it needs a rest.

And after a good night’s sleep, you naturally have more energy to be productive during the day. You run more efficiently as you gain minutes because you get more done in fewer hours.

And that leaves you less stressed. And to your body, less accumulated stress cuts down on oxidative stress (one of the reasons why we work so hard to eat healthy).

We also know we prevent diseases when we prevent chronic inflammation. And long before I became an advocate for anti-inflammation, I was uneasy with the idea of running on lack of sleep.

Sleeping in occasionally was a weekend luxury (that cost nothing!). It’s a happy feeling not having to look at the clock or having a blaring alarm to artificially wake up to. It’s freedom from a duty activity you have to do, like work or school.

But artificial alarm wake-up time is not the time your body wants to get up. If it’s super early or you had a rough night of sleep, that often shows up as bags and lines under the eyes.

And if giving a presentation was part of the new day, adding a few “get the red eyes” drops always came in handy.

We never wanted to show that we weren’t well rested. And I learned this as a child when school started way before it should be legal for a child to have to get up, LOL.

Before the sun rises is way too early, especially for our growing bodies (and adult bodies) that run best along sunshine/sundown circadian rhythms.

Night-time is nature’s way of preparing us for sleep…. and why in my youthful adult years I always felt tired out at social clubs. But the environment and friends kept me buzzing.

And even way back before those times, when waking up, I learned from teen magazines to take an ice cube and soothingly apply under each eye for a few seconds. Instantly that made you look well-rested even though your mind was still half-asleep…

This is how it felt eyes opened until the time my mind and mind-body caught up.

I wasn’t one of those kids whose parents introduced caffeine or coffee to them. My 90-year-old immigrant parents have still never had coffee or a soda EVER as far as I’m aware.

They didn’t grow up with it. And I didn’t either. I only started enjoying daily cuppa joes well into my adult years.

And this is my joyful daily routine over alarms.

…So as a schoolgirl, like many American kids in public schools, I had a bowl of cereal with milk and some juice for breakfast. That was supposed to tie me over until lunch.

By 8 am when I was at school, I plowed through the tiredness. There wasn’t another choice. From what I remember, putting your head down on your desk was only done when we had a classroom survey where we raised our hands anonymously.🙋🏻‍♀️ Or maybe used as a timeout tool that I never experienced. I was an obedient kid. 😁

And then after 11 am, my full day’s energy kicked in. 🤸🏻

But I noticed I was still alert for morning tests as you don’t need high energy to take tests. You need the answers from the mind. And sometimes our teachers gave us a Jolly Rancher candy for our veins so we stayed awake.

Then by the afternoon school lunch, the food that finally entered my stomach sunk like lead and I felt like crashing in the afternoon. (Now as an adult I know it was the heavy, processed carb meals from school lunches that caused the blood sugar rush).

And the change in pace from class and lunch socializing with friends didn’t help either to swing back into learning. Post-lunch, my mind was ready to shut down. (Today, we know it’s part of the gut-mind connection).

…It’s like going to a social event or a game where you’ve eaten party food and then trying to study. That doesn’t work too well if at all.😏

But that was the school’s schedule, and so that was my daily agenda. Priorities misaligned, they put school-age-kid bus schedules in front of the kids they serve.

…And if school started later in the day, school-age kids would have a better chance of getting enough sleep. We need a new sleep revolution in our society starting from a young age.

But that’s a whole ‘nother topic… and this isn’t a rant or discussion about revolutionizing schools.

Outside of school and those years, today we have better food and meal choices. And food is still one of the 4 basic needs along with water, shelter, and clothing.

And sleep should be on that list as a #5.

If you’re a naturally inconsistent sleeper, then likely you’re a natural Vata body where you wake up earlier one day over the next. Each night of sleep is an adventure as it varies.

We can’t change the way we naturally feel. So this stacks against us to be daytime productive unless we learn to use our natural bodies to our advantage.

These are some natural (circadian rhythm) times when we want to lean into each of our Ayurveda dosha “personalities”:

From 6 am – 10 am, if you’re up, that’s Kapha time. And from 10 am to 2 pm is Pitta time. (And as a child, a mind-productive time in the late morning thanks partially to the mind-body connection).

From 2 – 6 pm, Vata time kicks in. Naturally, Kapha-heavy bodies can want to take a nap while the Vata is still alert.

Example: I’m a dominant Vata body, so I enjoy working during those energy-filled afternoon hours (after I’m done with a Kapha coffee morning ☕️). But occasionally if my Kapha is imbalanced and high, then I can feel tired the whole day.

…Not revelationary, but an interesting perspective, huh?

And unless you feel imbalanced, daily tired, or low on energy, then don’t lose sleep over the Ayurveda time concept and idea that’s probably newer to you.

But if you do want to make changes as I do as life-healthy prevention and daily productivity, then you can try something new or a bio-hack that works…

Especially since winter and age are not on our side. We can be more sluggish to make changes. And our bodies want to sleep in but we want consistent sleep year-round to fit our schedules and lives.

…So what I did this month was I started fasting (time-restricted eating) a couple of days of the week on certain weeks of the month.

I sleep peacefully well on fasting nights ( like Sleeping Beauty described earlier). And my body needs less winter sleep (and the same 7, maybe 8 hours amount of sleep I prefer consistent year-round that’s also experienced in fall, spring, and summer).

And the day after fasting I feel naturally more energetic and more alert. Look forward to my fast day tomorrow! …and I’d love to know if that’s something you’ve tried or are doing (…maybe for the same reasons I’m doing or as part of a new year weight loss plan).

I’ll share more of my journey in the weeks to come. Until then, have a peaceful and blessed week! 🙏

Accumulating Habits For a Healthy Wellness New Year

Accumulating is a Kapha heavy natural trait that can turn into accumulating stuff, weight, and bad habits. BUT you can turn the tide with healthy habits when you know how to restore the Kapha mind using your 5 senses in your body!

In winter months, it’s easy to start accumulating for any of us… and one healthy move is growing something green even when you have a brown thumb. Details are below 👇 on how to easily grow a year-round avocado seed to a plant that can serve as a healthy reminder on your bookshelf. 🥑

I once had a maintenance worker who was curious about my avocado babies (I had several around my apartment) and I explained how easy it is to grow this plant from a seed after you’ve enjoyed your avocado toast and smoothie. I suppose they would make happy gifts too. 🌱

…Now that’s accumulating points! And so is a wellness, balanced approach that’s more sustainable and healthy (and is what this week is all about)…

And the reason I prefer a wellness new year over a hard list of rules and resolutions. I believe in positive reinforcement and being easy on yourself is motivating.

That’s how it is for most of us striving for balance. Sometimes it is two steps back, and one step forward. In a year that can be a big difference, and amazingly undescribable in a decade.

When you set the bar low and you make progress (over perfection), then you have an optimistic outlook, want to do more, and that leads to success in the areas you’re working on.

That’s what happened when I started on 6 minutes of cardio a day which has now turned into 8 minutes or more. That may be light or a lot for you… but just sayin’ it’s not easy for a Vata to like cardio.🧘🏻‍♀️ That’s work. And for Kapha, that can be yoga or not eating.

Whatever that tough activity is for you, your progress is all that counts. If you purposefully stand for another minute when you would’ve sat down, that’s a positive move. 🎉

All of that is accumulating in a good way that helps with healthy energy where body-mind balance thrives. It’s in the small moves and micro habits.

And then you can see what the optimized life can be all about… when you’re self-controlled and calm (that’s counter cultural in our busy society) …and then get to your deeply creative self where you find meaning and purpose.

That can start by enjoying a healthy dose of time in self-love and building up self-esteem.

An easy way is standing in front of the mirror which seems to grow less important as we age. We can nitpick on an area we don’t like… but that doesn’t have to happen!

We can change why we look in the mirror.

It’s a good idea to find ways to build and love yourself up. And actually, the first chapter in my published book Empowered Happiness is all about ways to focus on loving yourself first, and keeping that priority first.

All your happy and healthy energy adds up and builds deeper confidence and happiness within you as you build up your deeper self that I believe life is meant to be about.

There’s so much more to us than meets the eye or when we first started out as adults.

And both our outer and inner selves are so important for running around healthy in this forever-changing world. Our mind-body connection is the gateway that runs deep alongside us taking in cues from our thoughts and feelings affecting us and our day. This point is often missed so it’s a hidden secret from us until we are aware.

The interconnected mind-body sends daily signals we can’t see and affects how we behave. If we are holding onto past trauma, this can shows up in our mind-body.

Some signals we receive are loud, and some are subtle.

And when you comply with the signs, your mind-body loves that and can show you by making more happy hormones that you can feel in your daily life as accomplishment or a warm feeling.

And if your goal is to improve daily mental health areas, then healthy habits like getting mindful in the moment, doing yoga to set intentions and balance, and changing negative thoughts regularly are daily game changers.

And if that becomes how you operate in life, those are also accumulating habit life game changers.

Another win can be in body goals to lose accumulating weight from last year and holidays.

One of the ways is to enjoy healthy foods as they often come with less calories and better nutrition, like cups of broccoli with a little flavoring. One of my favorites is edamame with a tad of coarse sea salt.

And one of my health wellness desires is to go more plant-based and add more veggies. …You too? 🙋🏻‍♀️ It’s good for the additional energy and nutrients that we all can use more of, Vata and Kapha alike.

And if you’re a natural Kapha body, healthy foods and veggies could also be part of the plan to sustainably maintain a comfortable dress size that sticks. That makes picking out clothes in the closet easier. And Kaphas often fluctuate in clothing size variety.

While Vatas lean toward wanting variety, so often there are a lot of clothing choices by choice. And that can be a different problem not in belt size, but in the wallet.

Either are self-controllable if we better balance our Vata mind and Kapha body and mind. And remember, we all have traces of Vata and Kapha even if they’re not dominant in us. And they can get out of balance at the drop of a hat or if our life situation changes.

But whatever your current scenario is…

It’s always easier to say what needs to happen to restore, but it’s not always easy to do as life can be hard…

There are too many ups and downs in life that lead us to food as the immediate soothing comfort blanket. Or our shopping habits to make us feel better.

Since we were a child, we’ve had a relationship with how our clothing made us feel more confident. And with certain foods that still light up our faces. But as adults, don’t show up on our bodies in a way that lights us up. 😏

And cutting out foods and food groups to cut calories doesn’t always work in the life long term. It’s hard to sustain unless you live around others who do the exact same to support your efforts. Or you live a slow, stress-free life. And that’s not usually the bubble we live in if we’re working and have busy lives.

With new situations come new situations to juggle in different seasons. And rarely if ever do you have the exact same situation triggers. It takes discernment.

Each situation can look different in disguise of the same effect, so it can take a few times to catch on to pinpoint our stressors. It’s easier for us to just make them go away with food and clothes buying, but then we pay the price.

A better way is…

Seeking a daily-balanced approach that can get you back on track (as you know when you’re off balance). You can use balance as your new comfort…

Balancing your Vatas and Kaphas (and occasional Pittas) can be your daily way.

With food, I started out working long hours in hotel catering planning for clients. And then in some foodie restaurants doing the same. I didn’t eat good for my body…

I ate well, but not always healthy. I definitely didn’t count calories or look at nutrition information as none was available with the hidden sauce calories and still isn’t published in those types of venues (like you find today at fast food joints).

And when I wasn’t in the food work lifestyle seasons, I was doing other work and I had a greater healthy eating balance.

No-frills home eating is actually my favorite (and I’ve had plenty of good food tastings and work experiences in catering event planning). And most of us have spent more time at home over the past couple of years.

You may have slid or improved your diet. What helped me was focusing on simple and tasty, healthy grocery foods and home-cooked dishes that I felt better about than food with amazing reviews!

And that helps with keeping calories low and the body running more efficiently and happily.

When you eat healthy, whole, and organic foods, you’re accumulating healthy points and healthy habits for life.

You appreciate the food’s natural tastes. Like avocado has a very pleasant taste. And then when you add 2-3 complementary flavors ontop of sprouted toast and tomatoes, that just takes it up a whole ‘nother level. And it’s so easy to put together and is as good and fresh (or better) than takeout. 🥑

The simple rocks!

And as much as I still love the French recipe cookbooks that helped paved the way to tastier catering meals like the ones described in Julie and Julia movie, some recipes still have over 20 ingredients, that’s not practical or easy for most of us modern-day people to whip up.

It’s meant for the competing Bobby Flay chefs out there in the world to prepare, but then you’re looking at calories again. So, a homemade simple but zhughed up healthy recipe is the best of both worlds.

…And you save time if you keep your recipes simple. And that your tastes will agree with. Because if it doesn’t taste good, then what would be the point of preparation?

But you can try a taste switcheroo. Like reaching for alfalfa sprouts or radishes instead of a sweet pastry thing that doesn’t go well with your green tea.😉

Just a thought and something sweet (that’s not sugar), and green to nosh over.

And from there, you could also lean into flavoring lentils or no-muss, no-fuss healthy leftovers that can be a meal anytime in the day. That lets you escape the urge to reach for a filler something that isn’t doing your body any healthy favors.

All of that is accumulating good wellness eating habits that you can stack, and can be part of the new year and your optimized-balanced health!

“The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why.” – All I Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten

Grow an Easy Avocado Plant

After you enjoyed your avocado on toast or with a meal, you can plant your seed for an avocado plant for daily enjoyment. It's perfect greenery for an apartment or bookshelf where you can grow your own plant when you have a brown thumb or want to appreciate avocado abundance. This a great project for adults and kids! 🌱

Author: Brandy @ Healthy Happy Life Secrets

Materials

drinking container or glass
toothpicks
paper towel

Instructions

Clean off your seed. Larger round to medium seeds work better.
Peel off the brown outer layer so you see the bare seed flesh that has a peachy flesh color. Tip: Do this when before you go to the nail salon as you will need to use your finger nails. Knives and sharp objects won't do the job without damaging the seed. It may be easier to wet soak the outer layer first to make it easier to peel off.
Take partial paper towel and full soak seed with water. Wrap around the entire seed, but don't leave too much excess paper.
Place the seed in a sealed plastic bag (works best) and set in a darker, cool room temperature place in a place you don't forget about.
When the paper towel starts to dry out over the days, moisten with fresh filtered water. Keep repeating this step. One day you will see a middle crack in the seed. This is to allow the root to sprout and grow that can take a few weeks. Be patient! And if your seed crack breaks the seed (no worries and don't give up), keep the seed half that has the root.
When you see an obvious root bud growing, you can place 3 toothpicks evenly around the seed and set in a drinking glass or container with a rim. Glass works nicely so you can see the roots from the outside. Then add water so the bottom and middle of the seed is "bathing" in the water, but the top of the seed does not need to be submerged in water.
Over more weeks, you will see a green stem grow upward and eventually leaves will sprout (months later). Enjoy and keep adding water to your glass as your seed roots are thirsty. The roots will eventually outgrow the glass where you may then choose to transplant to a larger vessel. This is a great easy project for the Kindergardener in each of us where the roots go down and the plant goes up!