Tag: wellness

Lately: My Podcast Obsession

I have been on a big podcast kick lately and I can’t even begin to tell you how great these are in traffic. Why it took me so long to actually start listening to these is beyond me because I’m obsessed! So, today I want to share with you guys what my favorite episodes have been lately.

I’m a total nerd when it comes to this stuff. I love inspiring business, well being, motivational, science or life coaching type talks. So, if you are like me, I hope you enjoy these as much as I have!
TED Radio Hour: Slowing Down
TED Radio Hour: Headspace
Tony Robbins: Are You a Wantrapreneur?
Mad Scientist: Budgets are Sexy
Being Boss: Personal Branding
Being Boss: Redefining the Dream Job
Chopra Radio: Ask Dr. Weil
Wellness Mama: How to Create a Natural Home
Liberated Body Podcast: Inflammation and Connective Tissue

I’m on the hunt for some new ones, so let me know if you have any recommendations!

Happy Friday everyone!

x
Lindsay 

Slowing Down

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I am currently sitting on the couch with a cozy blanket while the food is in the oven and the rain is pouring down outside. Parker is next to me, getting a head start on Christmas by watching Tigger and Pooh Christmas episodes.

Lately, I have been spending a lot of time slowing down and off of the internet, so I apologize if I haven’t been posting as much. I’ve actually become a little obsessed with the idea of slowing down, particularly because the more I do so, the more I’m realizing how badly I needed it.

Between work emails 24/7, blog posts, social media, and the moments where I’m just trying to cross things off my to-do list rather than be present… it is just so dang easy to get distracted these days. It feels like this constant state of overdrive. We live in a world now where it is so easy to get wrapped up in material and digital things, rather than moments and tangible experiences. We’ve lost site of the things right in front of us, only to look at things through a screen…


I don’t know about you, but sometimes I fantasize about a life outside of the city, on a farm, or somewhere that life feels a bit old school. A place where the kids play outside all day, we can take naps in the middle of the day and dinners last all night long. And then I’m reminded that all of this is really up to me. Obviously some things will look different; my job still requires me to be online most of the day, my blog still requires content and social engagement, but it doesn’t have to consume my life. That is something I can control.

Slowing down might look a little different for each person, but for me lately it has looked like logging into Facebook maybe only once a week, not reading the news except main headlines, leaving my phone upstairs and out of sight when I get home from work, deleting people who I’m not friends with or those that don’t inspire me on social media, listening to more music, listening to more podcasts, reading more often, trying (I still suck) to meditate once a day, getting to bed earlier, spending more present time with my family and doing all things at a slower speed.

So, cheers! Cheers to a day of gratitude, slowing down, and doing what most great cultures do on a regular basis… feast and drink all night and spend time with friends or family, in person. : )

XO

Lindsay

Anxiety

You are about to get to know me really well guys.

When someone recently said that “my life looked so great (totally referencing to what they see on social media),” I thought to myself… well, yes, mostly it really is. I mean, I don’t really curate the things I do for social media. I actually do those things in “real life” and then try and just make what I’m already doing look pretty for the camera. But, it’s easy to look at pictures of everyone’s “happy moments” and convince yourself that your life isn’t nearly as awesome as theirs (I’ve done this so many times). And this is the troubling part about social media. 
Anyway, I’ve been meaning to write this post for some time, and hearing those words prompted me to get it done. Because, you know, we are all only human. I’ve got shit I deal with, you’ve got shit you deal with, and we all have shit we deal with. The stuff you don’t always see on social media. Pardon my language.

For me, anxiety has been a huge, shitty (haha- ok, done cursing) beast to deal with. And I’ve been dealing with this since my early 20’s. I even remember the birth, so to speak, of my anxiety. It basically came out of nowhere. I had a really bad stomach ache after returning home from a trip to Costa Rica when I was 20. I started semi-panicking that I caught something while I was there. That then led to my heart beating irregularly and before you knew it, I was at the doctors office freaking out, making sure I was okay.

We did some testing and the doctor said I was fine, but those following few weeks I kept getting a number of “strange” symptoms. Real symptoms. So, I went back to a different doctor, only getting close to the same feedback, except this doctor wanted to explore more possibilities. Blood tests, heart monitors, an ultrasound… you name it. Each week from that point on, it was a new symptom or a new sensation that brought on another fear. When I say I’ve seen just about every doctor out there, I’m not kidding. 
On the bright side, this is where I began my journey and interest into natural health. I was scared, and this lingering fear of something being wrong with my body frightened the crap out of me. Every doctor had a pill for my symptoms and having to take medication only further perpetuated my fears. So, I took matters into my own hands and tried to heal myself. 
I started to eat really well, exercise often and I overall started feeling so much happier and healthier. You can’t deny the power of eating well and exercising. But, the anxiety was still there. Just more manageable. 
The anxiety I deal with is a bit different now. After Parker was born it turned into more of this constant worry. Like CONSTANT… to where I get this overwhelming fear that something bad is going to happen way too often. Like, maybe we shouldn’t go on that trip… WHAT IF? What if THIS happened, what if THAT happened… and then I start going through the motions like it is real life and visualizing the worst case scenario always. Of course I still have my hypochondriac moments too, but I feel like I am a little more realistic about them. I’m better at helping myself not overthink it these days.

This all might sound crazy to some of you, and to others, you might know exactly what I’m talking about. I’ve realized that anxiety comes in all shapes and sizes. I don’t know everything there is about anxiety, but I will tell you that there are some things I have done that have really helped me manage everything. Although anxiety definitely influences my wellbeing, I still do almost everything I want to do. It isn’t debilitating for me like it has been in the past. I don’t take prescription medication and I don’t go to a psychologist any longer (I’ve done both and would highly suggest that you start with a mental health professional or with a naturopath like I mention below). In fact, I don’t even think most people I know, know that I struggle with this. Ultimately, I’ve just found that for my own journey, what I do on a daily basis has helped immensely and hopefully you might find some of these simple things helpful too.

Here are my top tips to help with anxiety:

1. Eat well: Feed your body the right foods to help support your mood.  Less processed foods, less sugar, less alcohol, less coffee and more healthy fats, superfoods and warm foods. This is hands down, the most important tip.

2. Exercise: I actually turn to exercise if I’m feeling really anxious. It gets your mind off of “your mind” and onto something else. Cardio, weight training, yoga, whatever it is. I can say, I’ve never felt worse after exercising. ; )

3. See a Naturopath: I whole heartedly believe in the care given to each person by an ND. I also believe in the power of natural medicine and the referrals one can give you to therapists and other providers.

4. Acupuncture: Getting this twice a month has done wonders for my anxiety. It also keeps my whole body feeling healthy. Just make sure you find a good one! I’ve seen a few mediocre acupuncturists.

5. Do more: Contrary to what you most likely want to do, following through with the things that make you anxious really helps. It isn’t easy getting yourself to do it, but when you realize you can do things that you are fearful of, your fear of doing it subsides. Hence, the camping in the middle of nowhere photo above… looks great, was great, but wasn’t easy for me.

6. Breath work and meditation: The 4-7-8 breathing exercise from Dr. Weil is one of my favorites. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it for at least a week!

7. Supplement: There are some great supplements out there that help ease anxiety and/or are important for your mental health. L-theanine, B vitamins, probiotics, fish oil, and magnesium are some of my favorites. Talk to a Naturopath or a health professional about a supplementation plan.

8. Have a supportive partner, friend or family member: My husband has been such an integral part in helping me manage my anxiety. He listens when I just want to tell him what’s going on in my head, never judges, but always encourages me to recognize that much of what is going on in my mind is anxiety. He constantly urges me to push through my fears, which is exactly what I need. If you don’t have someone that can help tell you “you are ok” I’d highly recommend reaching out to your partner, friend or family member to ask them to be that person for you.

9. Get educated: I would strongly suggest reading books about mindfulness. A couple of my favorites are The Power of Now and Spontaneous Happiness. There is also a class currently on Mind Body Green —> click here.

10. Unplug: Spending too much time on social media, watching or reading the news and browsing the internet can really fuel anxiety. Do yourself a favor and take a break from the things that don’t serve you.

Most importantly, don’t be afraid to get help. In fact, I highly suggest you don’t try and figure it all out on your own. There was a point in my life where I had to take prescription medication just to calm me the heck down. And that was what I needed at that point in my life. Be okay with accepting the things you need to get you to a better place.

I’ll be sharing more tips (like aromatherapy, my favorite peaceful feeling tea and more soon). As always, I love hearing other peoples stories. If you’ve experienced something similar or have any great tips, now that my comment box is finally working, comment or email me!

XO

Meditation: A Simple Way I’ve Learned to Be More Present

Although it’s been around for thousands of years, meditation is definitely more embraced and understood now than ever. Which is pretty exciting.

I was first introduced to meditation back when I was studying at IIN. I remember learning about it and thinking what a great addition it would be into my daily routine. For me however, it was just an appreciation, never something I actually found time to practice. Then, it was last year that I was watching a television program where Dan Harris from ABC news was talking about his new book, “10% Happier” which was inspired by his journey into meditating. You can learn more about his story here.
After listening to his experience I was quickly motivated to read Eckhart Tolle’s, “Power of Now,” which I had surprisingly never read. As I began the book, I started to pay attention to two things: living in the moment (in the now) and understanding that little voice in my head. And this is where my exploration really started.
As a mother, a wife and a business woman, my life is a bit hectic. I barely remember what I did two hours ago, I juggle way too many things at once and I pride myself on being a remarkable multi-tasker. I’d come home from work, cook dinner, and respond to work emails all while I have a face mask on, the laundry going and my son on my hip. (“I kick serious A%$” -says the voice in my head).
What didn’t occur to me at that time was that I really didn’t have all that going on. Instead, I was stretched so thin that anything pertaining to “living in the now” was actually non-existent. Even when I’d be giving my son a bath I’d still be planning the next day in my head or thinking about how badly I need to clean the bath tub. Bringing myself back to the present felt weird (and still does), but the stranger it felt, the more determinded I was to help myself learn how to get there.
Welcome, meditation. 
Meditation is obviously a bit different for each person. To me, meditation is being mindful. It is being aware of how I’m doing, the thoughts in my head and learning how to just be. I personally needed someone to hold my hand when I first started, so I liked listening to podcasts or using apps on my phone. However, even a 5 minute break each day works wonders. 
Here is the simplest way I’ve enjoyed meditating:
Set your timer for 5 minutes.

Sit down in a quiet area.

I like having water sounds or something simple in the background.

Close your eyes.

Start breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth slowly and evenly.

Let your mind wader for just a second, and bring your thought to either not thinking about anything except your breath, repeating your own mantra, or a happy picture in your head.

If you start thinking about groceries, what that tingle in your foot is, or where to eat dinner later, don’t worry – this is totally normally. The trick is to notice those thoughts, but come back to your meditation. 
Voila! Simple and effective.
Another suggestion is a 21-Day Meditation Guide by Deepak Chopra and Oprah OR a meditation app; whatever you decide works best for you!
I’m still not great at this. I’ve gotten better, but I am still terrible at 1) sitting still and 2) getting OUT of my head. One thing I will say though is that I’m much better at being present. I’m constantly having to “turn my brain off” and allow myself to just be. 

We live in a society today that requires us to be “on” 24/7. We are overstimulated on a daily basis by work, emails, the news, social media and the terrible idea that we have to “do it all.” Not all of us are taking care of our minds and bodies like we should. But… there is good news. It all comes down to a choice. We can decide to stay off of our phones while we are eating dinner. We can decide that we are going to be completely present with our family and friends. We can decide to take 5 minutes out of the day to meditate. It is the practice of even trying that our mind and body loves us for.
So here’s to at least doing our best!

Until next time,
Linds xx

Advice to my 25-Year-Old Self

When I say this is advice to myself, I mean this quite literally. These were the things I wrote down as reminders to myself as not only encouragement, but also documentation of what I had come to realize as a single, 25-year-old. Now that I’m almost 30, I can honestly say that this advice still has the same relevance, as I think it would for anyone. Let’s take a look:

1. Chase your dreams (seriously): All those things you’ve always wanted to do, do them! I asked myself awhile back, “If nothing mattered- finances, education, etc.- what would you want to do in life?” This isn’t to say we shouldn’t be practical, but too many of us have a job or do things in life based on worldly suggestion. You were created for a reason, and most likely those things you’ve always wanted to do are things you would be great at and things that would bring you a lot of joy. Don’t be lazy- go for it.
2. Get outside: I truly believe that we don’t spend nearly enough time outdoors as we should. There is something transformative about being in nature. I didn’t completely understand this until I moved to Oregon from California. Scientists call the reason nature makes us feel so good, biophilia, or the innate affinity humans have for other living things. A few times per week strive for more walking, more exploring, more scenery, more water… I promise you will feel a huge difference.
3. Be you: We have all been uniquely designed. We don’t look, act, or sound like another person for a reason, so we must stop trying to. Too many days and hours are wasted comparing ourselves to other people. The moment you let go of everything you aren’t and accept everything you are (authentically to you), life will get that much better. Don’t give one damn about what people think, just be you!
4. Take care of yourself physically: Eat well and get moving. Remember that there is no “one size fits all” diet solution. The more you fill your body with the right things, the less you will crave the bad. You’ve got to get moving too- nothing feels better than living an active life. Your mind and body will thank you and you’ve only got one body, so be good to it!
5. Take care of yourself emotionally: Cultivate good relationships, build community, exercise your mind, meditate, think positively, get enough sleep and talk about your feelings. If something is bothering you or not going well, don’t gloss it over. Get to the bottom of it before it gets to be a larger issue.
6. Let go of the past: All of the crap, all the things people told you that you were and were not (negatively), all the pain… you must let it go to move forward. There have been multiple times in my adulthood that I have referred back to a name someone called me or a phrase someone had once spoken to me. I’m in awe that I have still, after all these years, held onto it. L E T I T G O. It does not and will not ever define you, you must not let it.

7. Be honest: Yep, honesty still is the best policy and frankly, it feels good. To me, being honest is telling the truth, having integrity, being sincere, and being reliable. Doing the right thing at all times and in all circumstances, whether or not anyone is watching.
8. Live simply: Remember the things that matter in life. Spend time with family and friends, unplug from social media (not allowing myself to go on first thing in the morning and last thing at night has been the best decision I’ve made), spend time outside,slow down, breathe, and find joy in the little things life has to offer… Oh, and wherever you are, be present.
9. Let go of fear: So many of us are crippled by fear of the unknown. We can’t get too far if we don’t take a chance. So many people like to stick in relationships, jobs, friendships, etc. because its comfortable. I sure know I have done all the above and I can tell you that the most growth I have ever seen in my life has come from the things that made me uncomfortable.

10. Have a blast:  Possibly my favorite point is to enjoy life. Get out there, meet people, do things, try things, travel, have fun, laugh more and live it up. I love my Mom for many reasons, but one thing I love so much about her is that she has always worked hard, yet never passes up a chance to have a good time. The best thing she has said to me was to always live life and enjoy it, even when times are hard. She said, “Linds, I look at my life and know that I have LIVED.”

Fashionably Late to the New Year

new cascadia bread, sunshine burgers, suja juice and purely elizabeth granola

While physically it is now three weeks in, I am mentally just starting the new year. It has been chaos in our home. Lot’s of exciting changes and things happening, but I haven’t had time to sit and really focus in on what I want out of 2016.

I personally like making goals and/or things to strive for each year. I like to look back and say, “Okay, what did I accomplish?” I also go through these thoughts on my birthday each year, because technically those are really what hold you accountable. And well, since I’m going to be 30!!!! this year, I realized that I have a lot to think about.
One of my most important goals this year is to shop more at our local healthy grocery store, New Seasons and/or Whole Foods. I’ve been a big fan of Trader Joes for a long time, for many reasons. Its affordable, they have good organic options, and well…they are awesome. However, I find myself there buying non-local and non-seasonal foods. Not to mention, I tend to buy more items that are packaged.

So far this year, we’ve averaged an extra $15/per week on groceries by shopping more local, seasonal and organic. And frankly, I think that is quite reasonable considering the long term effects you gain.

As for some other goals:

-Eat less animal products
-Eat less sugar
-Travel more
-Create a more flexible schedule so I can spend more time with my family
-Take more photos
-Fear less, strive more
-Find something new and fulfilling to take on

Happy belated New Year everyone! May this be your best year yet!