I’ve went on a wellness kick this summer and this week I’m sharing some of the changes I’ve made since they are starting to work!

Over the last few months I had been feeling really tired, my stomach was always giving me trouble, and my anxiety was through the roof. I knew I wasn’t operating as my best self and needed to make some changes to at least try to feel better.

I’ve incorporated some of changes and can am happy to say they are helping. There are still days where I feel off or where my anxiety gets the best of me, but that’s just a normal part of life. The key is to have more good days then bad days and that’s what I’m focusing on.

Acupuncture

I went to a holistic doctor and she recommended I try acupuncture. I’ve been doing it for the past three months and am now a life long convert. There are centuries of knowledge and skill behind it, but to me the best way to describe it is it’s like magic. It really does help me stay calmer and helps me handle stress in a healthier way.

If you’re afraid of needles and scared to try – don’t be. It’s absolutely painless, maybe a minor pinch here and there, but that’s the worst of it. It can be expensive, but to me its worth the investment in myself. I go now for twice monthly sessions and highly recommend it for stress management.

Eating Clean

I started limiting the amount of gluten and dairy products that I’ve been eating. I also drastically reduced the amount of added sugar in the foods I eat. Notice I said limit, and not cut out. I hate eating healthy. I really do. I crave foods like nachos and pizza and do not understand how people can pick a side salad over fries. But learning to eat cleaner and paying more attention to ingredients has become huge for me. It really helps me with some of my stomach troubles so I’m sticking to it. Moderation is key – if I go out to dinner or if there’s a snack available at the office I’ll indulge a bit. But at home I’ve cleaned out my pantry, I’m cooking more, and consistently applying these changes to my daily life.

Saying No

I have a bad habit of over committing myself and am learning that sometimes you just have to say no, listen to your body, and take it easy when you need to. I’m blessed to have an amazing husband, great family and friends nearby but sometimes keeping up with everyone can be very overwhelming for me. I’m naturally an introvert so I need time alone to recharge. Wellness of mind is as important as the body, so I’ve started saying no where I need to and taking more time for me.

So those are the changes I’ve implemented this summer on my “wellness” journey – it’s a learning process. But if there are things that I can do to feel better, I owe it to myself to try. You’re in charge of your own wellness so if something doesn’t feel right start doing some research and make changes!