sleep

If you’re not getting sleep that is arguably the best of your life, on a nightly basis, you’re just not snoozin’ like you could, and should, be. Falling asleep, and staying asleep, can be much more difficult than it sounds. We all know that, no matter how much we want to get plenty of beauty rest, actually achieving it is often up in the air; let’s face it—sleep, like that one relative we all seem to have, is a temperamental subject. However, due to its notoriously unpredictable reputation, it’s easy to overlook the little things that may be causing us to not sleep in the first place.

Selflessness is definitely a valuable trait to possess, but the whole “too much of a good thing” concept applies here. To be the best person that you can possibly be, you absolutely must remember to take the time to take care of yourself, too. Focusing on yourself is not selfish; it’s beneficial to your health. Take it from me, a dedicated people-pleaser who is slowly, but surely, learning to balance helping others and myself. This year, don’t forget to make yourself a priority, in your own life, by trying out these five simple self-care suggestions.

Have you ever noticed that around 1:30, 2 or 2:30 p.m. you find yourself longing for coffee, chocolate, or something stimulating?

Sometimes people think they should “wake themselves up” with these stimulants, or go for a run because they are feeling low energy and want to perk up. However, quite the opposite is true—when you feel this way, it is the best time to give your mind and body the rest that it needs. You will be amazed at how much of a positive impact it will have on the rest of your day and evening.

During college, I began having trouble sleeping because my brain, which was full of to-do lists, would never hush up. Now, it’s post-grad, and I’m still somewhat of a restless night-experiencing insomniac. Lucky me.

Are your rituals honoring your body’s innate wisdom? Or are your habits overriding the body’s calls for rest?

Think Ayurveda, and you may start thinking about herbs and medicinal concoctions used to stave off diseases. Well, true, to a point. But that’s not the sole and whole of Ayurveda. Instead, Ayurveda, first and foremost, is a lifestyle, a way of life. The word Ayurveda in itself can be translated as life science – in effect, Ayurveda is a set of principles to live your life by, not just recipes of herbal concoctions to drive away that cold.

Too much of a good thing is bad and the same stands true for exercise also. Here are some signs your body gives, telling you to stop working out and ease off a bit…

Artificial LED lighting like the winter waning of natural light can have negative effects on health and well-being. Ayurveda can help re-balance the body deprived of enough natural light and overexposed to LED lighting.

Winter darkness and the blues are hardly new. Natural light deprivation disrupts balance between mind and body, especially for people who mostly stay indoors during daytime hours. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can make people feel more depressed, irritable, moody and tired with low energy.

Carving Pumpkins? Save Your Seeds!

Swimming can be a fun summer activity and a great way to exercise. Here are a few of the benefits you can get from making swimming a regular part of your weekly routine.