We all know we need some remedies, right?
Happy Monday, all! (Is it morally correct to say "happy Monday" errr . . . are Monday's something we should be celebrating?) Well, I say, "of course!" Every day should be a day worth celebrating because you're alive and breathing, right? Then case settled.
Getting up on Monday's can be a rough decision to make. Your eyes may be bloody red, your body can be stiff and you can feel just weighed down from the weekend. So on super tough mornings that usually happen on Monday's for some odd reason, you may ask yourself, "What can I do to shake this?"
Firstly, when you wake up, sit up in bed for a second, do not, and I repeat DO NOT rush yourself to get out of bed. Sit up, introduce small movements into your body-- maybe rotate your wrists and your ankles. Get a nice long stretch in there, reaching through your fingertips and your toes. Once you get your feet onto the floor, you could do a hip opener. I like to take a giant squat, opening my hips by placing my elbows to the insides of my knees to achieve a great pop in my hips. It feels really good.
There are many natural ways to ease yourself into a happy life. For instance, lukewarm water with lemon in the mornings helps your stomach and organs prepare themselves for digestion. The lemon also has vitamin C in it, which aids in protection against immune malfunctions.
Drink tea, and just the tea-- don't smother your tea with sugars and other things; trust me, just the tea is good for you. It strengthens your hair and nails. Also, tea provides a sense of hydration to your body while protecting you from diseases and stuff like that.
Take naps. Just because your friend thinks that naps are "bad" for you, or will call you lazy and make you feel bad for taking naps, you can tell them "shh" because you will do what you want to do. If I feel super tired and it is 2 in the afternoon, I'll lie down for a siesta. No, I don't nap every day because if I'm not tired, I'll have trouble sleeping later on, but if I am tired throughout the day, you bet your tush that I'll take a siesta. Do you. Don't let people make you feel bad for doing what is best for your body.
Yoga, yoga, yoga. Yoga it up, my friends. Especially in the mornings. And I'm not saying sit down on your mat and do an hour-long practice. Don't even do a 20 minute practice. Just sit down and stretch yourself out, preferably once you wake up because your muscles will be stiff from sleeping. So just do little movements to loosen yourself up. Downward facing dog is a goldmine. You'll really feel the stiffness escape your body in that posture. Maybe do a twist or two because twisting your body around is like wringing out a dirty rag-- you'll release all of the toxins that don't need to be in your body by twisting.
Eat well. I'm not telling you to go full-on vegan, but what I am telling you to do is to eat well. Eat your greens (uncovered from butter and bacon grease), eat your fruits; eat what makes you feel well. Cut out the processed, fried, sugary crap, and begin filling your body with the right amounts of nutrients it needs. The food that you put in to your body is just as important as the makeup you put on to your face, remember that.
Go for a run. I'm an avid runner, so this is something that I live by. If I don't run in a day, then I consider that day a bad one. Running is one of the best things that you can do for your body, and I'm not being bias. Running works everything in your body, it makes you a happier person, respectively. Running strengthens your bones, joints and muscles. Yes, running is hard, and yes, it is something that you have to work at in order to build a foundation of awesomeness, but once you're there you'll thank yourself for all of the work that you put in because achieving goals (in anything) is such a rewarding feeling.
Take more baths. Who said that bathing was just for babies? Start your bath up with steamy water, bring a good book in with you and use that time for yourself to refuel and to simply just b r e a t h e. Maybe bring in some essential oils with you. But just relax-- a lot of people don't have the will to take a step back to breathe/relax. Be the person who does.
Find something (or things) that make you feel like a better, happier person and live by them. Do things that will make you stronger and proud. Whatever it is for you, find your own remedy. Don't just lie in bed when you're sick, hating life. Get up, go for a walk, get in the bath; do something. We all need to invest in our health. Happiness goes hand-in-hand with health, as well. If you're an anxious, depressed or blatantly an unhappy person, then you need to find your own ways to shake those wars because these are the things that will interfere with your health. Find your own natural remedy, share it with others; live by it.
I hope this was a nice kick-start to your Monday. Have a happy and healthy week!
