Life + Home
Because wellness has 8 pillars, I am representing two of them here- financial and environmental wellness. Finding balance between all of the pillars is key to a well and organized healthy life.
Waste reduction is needed for improving our environment, but also helping our budgets. Some of these things may or may not seem straight forward for you, but they are waste-saving hacks for the home that I instilled in my life a few years ago. I find they not only limit my trips to the garbage bins, but also has saved me a good deal of money over time.
ASHLEY’S WASTE REDUCING TIPS
* Use kitchen towels or rags VS paper towels
* Produce savers @rubbermaid will help save your fresh produce for days, sometimes weeks longer than keeping it in produce bags. Once you see it turning, freeze it without rinsing.
* Set a 2-sheet max toilet paper rule, seriously
* Make a point to pay attention to + repurpose everything in your fridge – get creative with your food!
* Have a plan: meal prepping with a set plan will reduce waste naturally
* Invest in a washable, reusable water bottle for everyone in the family
* Wear things a few times (if you have only worn it at home) before putting it in the laundry
* Be mindful of quantity: sometimes I notice that I use too much face wash, shampoo, etc. I take a small amount first and add to it as-needed
* Use reusable everything: containers, shopping bags, snack containers/bags, pantry containers, et al.
* Cancel + go paperless with the majority of your mail
* Learn to repair + repurpose things that vs trashing + buying new (YouTube people, it has video tutorials for everything)
Wellness
You brush your hair, but do you brush your body? Probably not, and unless you have been to a progressive spa, you most likely have not heard of this amazing routine that can literally brush the crap right out of your body, benefiting your much-cherished lymphatic system.
Let’s chat about your lymphatic system for a minute…the main function of the lymphatic system is to transport lymph; a clear, colorless fluid containing white blood cells that helps rid the body of toxins, waste and other unwanted materials. This is a super simplistic explanation, but the basic gist is that you can clean yourself out by exciting your lymphatic system with dry brushing…
Dry brushing is a daily detoxifying habit that, if performed correctly for 5-10 minutes before taking your morning shower, you will see the following benefits:
- Exfoliates the skin
- Increases circulation, which helps with elimination
- Reduces cellulite
- Improves digestion
- Lymphatic support; it stimulates the movement of the lymph system, lending to detoxification
- Provides stress relief
What’s a dry brush? Find a firm brush with natural bristles like this one – under $20!
Now, for how to do this!
DryBrushBOOM
SOME TIPS:
- You are to always brush towards your heart with dry skin + a dry brush.
- Do this before a shower.
- Do not brush hard, especially if you have sensitive skin.
- Use lotion or a detox oil post-shower.
- This should take 5-10 minutes. Keep going slow.
HOW-TO:
- Start at the bottom of your feet, brushing the right side up to your hip all around the foot, ankle, calf, + thighs in long, slow strokes. I perform roughly 10 + then repeat on the left side.
- Work on brushing toward the center of your body next, around the back as well. On the stomach, I brush in circular motions.
- Repeat the same process with the arms, starting with the palms of the hands and brushing up the arm toward the heart. In the armpits, I also brush in a circular motion.
- Continue with your face if you have purchase one with a face/smaller brush.
I highly recommend taking a room temp/cooler shower + then using a detox oil or high quality lotion afterwards.