Good habits are hard to develop but even harder to give up! Dhwaney shares the 10 new daily habits she has developed since the 1st of July.
Have you ever started your day with an icy cold shower? Even when it is 2 degrees?!?!!? Well, I did a month ago! And I must admit it is one of the most invigorating things you can do! It is great for blood circulation, increases immunity, the best way to become alert instantly, makes it easier to sleep at night, aids weight loss, reduces depression and anxiety and is one of the best tests of your will power! And if you cringed and went… “No way”, that’s fine…. if nothing else, I have your attention for the next few minutes!
Good habits are hard to develop but even harder to give up! You heard me, once you start on a journey of good habits, you find it beneficial in so many ways, you don’t want to give it up!
On the 1st of July 2021, I decided to do these 10 things everyday! It was super hard to start with, but within a week it got easier and now its a breeze! My principle – Keep It Super Simple (KISS) and doable.
So let me tell you what i do…
- Hydrate in the morning: I wake up every morning and drink 500mls of water. (I use a copper bottle for its numerous benefits.). I started it because it said, it helps with acidity. But its benefits are manifold. You can read all benefits of this practice here.
Bye bye acidity!
- Silence is golden: The morning is an amazingly rich time period of the day, the first few moments of consciousness after a long rest. It’s also when we tend to make the most mistakes because we haven’t had that pause and don’t get our bearings. Science now knows we receive a rush of gamma waves to the right side of the brain when we pause in the morning and avoid jumping right into stress. You can learn more about how this works in Brigid Schulte’s amazing book about how to manage your time in a hectic world and what happens to our brains when we rest. I spend 40 min in silence. Yoganidra is how I do it, but you can find your own.
Hello productivity!
- Nose is the pathway: The nose is one of the ways we can inhale all kinds of germs that then lodge themselves inside the body. So a healthy nose is paramount to a healthy body. So, twice a day I steam the nose with water infused with salt, baking soda, eucalyptus oil, menthol and camphor for 2-3 minutes! I top it up with application of ghee (you can use Sesame oil) to the inside of the nostril, to keep the nasal passage lubricated.
Bye bye harmful germs!
- ImmuniTea: As caffeine is a central body stimulant, it impacts your body in several different ways. While the majority of people will opt for caffeine in some form and use as intended, the immediate health effects might make you consider cutting back or swapping for a herbal infusion instead. Generally, a coffee a day won’t do you any harm. But the alternative is pretty sweet… You can try various herbal teas and see which one actually replaces that morning coffee. I have swapped morning coffee for Turmeric and Ginger ImmuniTea.
Hello immunity!
- Walk for health: Walking is a great way to improve or maintain your overall health. Just 30 minutes every day can increase cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones, reduce excess body fat, and boost muscle power and endurance. It can also reduce your risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers. Unlike some other forms of exercise, walking is free and doesn’t require any special equipment or training. I walk at my own pace for 40 min twice everyday. I listen to podcasts on self-improvement, finance and investments, book reviews to keep the mind active as well.
Hello good health!
- Intermittent fasting: Intermittent fasting is a form of time-restricted fasting. It involves consuming foods during a window and avoiding food, or fasting, for the remaining each day. I follow 16:8, where I don’t eat anything for 16 hours and eat in the 8 hours. I make sure that I get all the nutrients I need, keep myself hydrated and ensure I get good sleep. I have swapped a carb rich, fat rich breakfast for a Protein shake with fruits seeds and nuts! I have a large Indian meal for lunch (Rotis, Vegetables, Dal, Yoghurt and a salad for lunch) and a simple meal (Idlis or Curd Rice) for dinner. If I have to eat a pizza or noodles, I do it at lunch time so that the body has enough time to digest it before I sleep at night. All the body then has to do while I sleep is repair!
Hello supporting the body’s circadian rhythm!
- Exercise at least for 2 minutes everyday: Yep you head me… Just two minutes of stretching and/or core strength exercise. Push-ups, plank, Sit-ups or Sun Salutations! Anything you can do within 2 minutes! Mix it up! Whatever it takes to get the body moving! More is better but less is not bad either!
Hello flexibility, bye bye lethargy!
- Walk while you talk: There is nothing better than to get the body moving. It is also great for the brain. I have swapped one meeting each day to go without video and choose to walk while I listen! A meeting of 30 minutes will get a minimum of 1000 steps on to your pedometer! It is also harder to speak when you are walking so you develop the art of listening!
Hello Good listener!
- Readers are leaders: President Harry S. Truman famously said, “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” Knowledge is power, and reading is arguably one of the best ways to get ahead in your career. Through reading, you can become an expert in any subject, gain wisdom from some of the most intelligent people in the world, and develop skills necessary to become an influential and effective leader. I read for 40 minutes everyday! One fiction and one non fiction.
Hello knowledge! Hello Power
Something new each day: Someone once said, “Don’t expect a different result when you do the same thing in the same way.” One of the biggest challenges facing people today is that they feel like life is just passing them by. How is it the end of July?! When you do the same thing every day, time merges and it passes us by quicker than it should.
However, every day we are offered the opportunity to do things differently. We just need to be willing to see, touch, taste, smell and hear everything that life offers us. These are some simple ways I add a little variety to my day.
- Try a new food or drink
- Take a new route when driving, running or walking
- Change my exercise routine or start a new one
- Visit a new place.
The list of things we can do differently is endless. When you start to change the way of doing things, you expand your mindset and make room for opportunities.
Hello creativity!!
It is now like a must do! I love the time I spend away from social media and phone (sorry I do read on an eReader L) . I watch news at the most twice a day (mostly to keep abreast with Olympics). I sleep well because I have had plenty of exercise, Vitamin D and a light stomach. I can concentrate and am more aware of what I do, increasing my ability to remember better!
Try it everyone! KISS your COVID blues away! You can do as much or as little! And if you do something different, share the knowledge! Would love to try anything new!
Dhwaney resides in Sydney and has been writing for over 20 years. Her column “Look good and feel great naturally” won her awards and recognition. She now runs a successful business Ayurdeva where she makes all natural skin and hair care products. You can learn more about her and her products at www.ayurdeva.com.au
