pics by the extremely talented maria lloyd
one of the things i did a ton of on maternity leave, besides frequent ALL the targets, was research and go down internet rabbit holes on different wellness topics. out of this came a few different routines/products/areas of education i have been incorporating into my life. here are a few of the ones i have fully incorporated into my daily routine [you can read more about my morning routine specifically in this post!]
- tongue scraping: the whole concept behind this is totally gross and totally awesome. i’m starting to research more and more ayurvedic methods, and this was one that seemed easy, low cost, and low risk to incorporate into my routine. you can read more about it here, but basically the gist is that our body deposits toxins during the detoxification process as our bodies rest, and a scraper is extremely efficient at removing the toxins. you should do it before you brush your teeth or drink water, because you don’t want to ingest those toxins. my recommendation? get a stainless steel one, since it it’s the most sanitary.
- apple cider vinegar: talked about it here, but i do think it helps kickstart my day before i even have my coffee. i typically mix it with himalayan pink salt and lemon for a morning ‘elixer.’ pro tip: call it an elixer, not ‘ACV-lemon-salt water’– it feels fancier. ACV helps balance blood sugar and kill bacteria, a win-win.
- products with hyaluronic acid: high level, this ingredient keeps your skin plump and dewey. i was a little skeptical to begin with, but i have definitely noticed a difference since i’ve integrated this serum and this moisturizer in my routine, specifically in my forehead wrinkles. i also find that it doesn’t make me break out, like some products do. it’s also light enough, depending on what it’s found in, to use in the summer.
- probiotics: i now take two kinds, and i feel like it might be the placebo affect, or it might be real, but they are definitely helping me with any bloating. don’t get me wrong, it still happens, but since taking these it is helping me feel a little more in order. bonus: i’m fairly confident it’s helping my hair grow faster! i also believe the research i’ve been reading/hearing about how gut health is linked to everything else, including mental health, so i’m a staunch believer in these little guys. i’m PRObiotic [get it, get it? ok, mom joke.]
- half-caf coffee: this one’s a little weird, but i’m trying to extend my caffeine intake. wait, what’s that mean? it means i want a bigger coffee in the morning, but don’t need all the caffeine, so i half-caf it. half decaf, half caffeinated coffee in the largest cup i can find. twice the coffee, but not twice the caffeine intake, ya dig?
- oregano oil: this guy is supposed to be a good detoxifier for your whole system, it’s anti-inflammatory, anit-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral. i’m anti-not taking this … which reminds me, i need to order more!
i have more wellness products, rituals + routines that i’ve incorporated into my self-care regimen, and will be writing posts on the ones i use weekly/monthly/quarterly in the near future. to me, not only is all of this ‘stuff’ [not a very eloquent way to bucket a fast-growing industry] fascinating, but it’s really had a positive impact on my day-to-day. anything i’m missing out on? let me know! [insta, email me, or just reply to this post!]