Resolutions for the new year—Body, Mind & Soul

Greetings and Happy New Year!

To start the year off, I am working with the theme of Body, Mind, Spirit (Soul). I’m doing this because life truly is wholistic (my unique spelling); it is composed of the whole of who we are: Body, which includes a healthy skin care routine; Mind, made up of healthy lifestyle habits, which are controlled by the mind; and Spirit, connecting with nature to feed your soul as well as being conscious of your inner nature.

BODY (SKIN)

Do you have a plan for your skin in the new year? How about trying to tackle just one thing starting out. And one of the most important things you can do to improve your skin, now and throughout the year, is to exfoliate. Exfoliation is simply removing dead cells from the surface of your skin. This can be achieved in several different ways:

1. Try using Yonka-Paris’ wonderful Gommage (303 or 305). This is my favorite exfoliator and one I recommend using at least once or twice per week. 
2. A facial scrub is a common way to exfoliate. Less effective than the gommage, it will still get rid of a layer or two of dead skin. Use it in the shower to avoid too much mess. Always use a scrub on wet (moist) skin.
3. My least favorite way to exfoliate, although very popular, is using AHA products. My concern is alpha hydroxy acids can cause redness in most peoples’ skin. However they do remove dead cells without having to do much more than apply the product.

No matter what you choose to use, exfoliate more often. This will help with the hydration and texture of your skin all year round. For more details, see:

• What is Gommage?
• What are AHAs? Miracle ingredients or not?
• Exfoliation Quick Tips for Facial Scrubs 

MIND (HABITS)

Starting new lifestyle habits is synonymous with January 1st of any year. No matter when you are starting or ending habits, I recommend going slowly. Why? Historically neither deprivation nor overdoing it works. Hasn’t this been true for you? If not—congratulations!

If you aren’t drinking enough water, for instance, don’t go for eight glasses every day at the beginning of your overhaul. Try doubling what you are doing to start with—or less. If you’re drinking two glasses of water a day, try to get in four; if you drink four, go for six. And if that seems too daunting, simply drink one more glass a day for a week, then go for two more. 

There are no hard and fast rules for change. It’s better to go slowly and add one thing at a time vs. doing too much and throwing in the towel before getting through January—the first month of your new start. Eventually you can graduate to the levels you want in your daily life—whether adding or subtracting habits. Going slowly will give your body time to adjust to the (healthy) change. And your mind won’t feel like it’s having to make drastic changes while you’re making new choices.

Also see:

• Tips to help you Drink More Water!
• Holiday Recovery Program: Part II

SPIRIT/SOUL (NATURE)

Spending time outdoors, in nature, is an important component to healthy body, mind, and spirit. The main reason I moved to Boulder was to be close to the mountains—close to nature. Truly, “nature” is everywhere, so you don’t have to live in the mountains and go hiking every day to enjoy being outside.

Being out-of-doors—out of the confines of the office, home, or wherever inside—is as important to your health as being inside protected from harsh environments. You don’t have to exercise out in a snow storm, but do try to get out and enjoy the great outdoors—even in weather that isn’t picture perfect. And if you don’t have a lot of time, try to get outside for even 5 or 10 minutes. The more fresh air you can get the better, and something is better than nothing.

For more articles, see:

• Relaxation—Can you dig it?
• HEADSPACE: Get your meditation on

4th of July Trail in CO

Are you sensing a theme here? Selecting just one thing to change at a time; changing slowly to ensure a habit’s success; and doing something rather than nothing, even if it isn’t as much as you’d like to do. Work with these as suggestions and see if you have success with any resolutions you’re looking to make in the new year (or any time). Taking smaller steps may be a better way for you to succeed in making changes.

Wishing you ALL THE BEST in the new year. May happiness, health, wisdom, and lots of love follow you throughout the new year and beyond.