I made a decision that I needed to start out a brand new month-to-month collection with you all. These will share a few of the highlights, discoveries, and small issues I’ve been experimenting with currently. Typically these are new instruments or merchandise I’m testing, generally they’re small habits which can be making a distinction. Typically it’s simply little issues which can be making my life extra joyful. 

These are issues I’m personally utilizing and discovering helpful proper now. Nonetheless, I hope they spark concepts so that you can experiment with in your individual life. 

This August, my checklist features a useful monitoring app, night mild instruments, and a brand new drink that’s change into part of my each day routine. Plus how I’m releasing pressure in my physique and thoughts with some actually useful instruments throughout a tricky season. 

Right here’s what I’m loving proper now!

1. dminder: Daylight, Vitamin D, & Circadian Assist

Vitamin D has been one of the vital studied vitamins within the final decade, but many people aren’t getting sufficient. It’s technically a hormone and  performs a job in immune well being, bone energy, hormone stability, and even temper. Research present low vitamin D ranges imply larger an infection threat, fatigue, and sure continual sicknesses.

The very best supply of vitamin D for many of us remains to be the solar. Personally I’ve discovered that vitamin D dietary supplements do nothing to enhance my examined vitamin D ranges. Figuring out how a lot solar is sufficient (with out overdoing it and burning) could be tough. That’s the place I like utilizing the dminder app. You place in your location, pores and skin tone, time of yr, and the way a lot pores and skin is uncovered. Then it helps estimate how a lot vitamin D you’re making from daylight.

I’ve discovered it to be a useful software for dialing in on secure solar publicity. Current analysis factors in direction of sunburn as a threat issue for pores and skin most cancers, not wholesome mild publicity. Protected, gradual publicity not solely helps vitamin D synthesis but additionally helps regulate circadian rhythm, serotonin, and melatonin.

These are a few of my non-negotiables in my each day routine:

• Morning daylight to set my circadian rhythms and assist me really feel awake and sleep higher
• Noon daylight to maximise vitamin D and different advantages with out burning
• Night daylight to inform my physique it’s time to wind down and free of charge crimson mild

The dminder app makes it simple to trace that stability with out overthinking it.

2. White Salt Lamp 

I’ve talked quite a bit earlier than about how mild is simply as impactful as meals or dietary supplements in terms of well being. Our our bodies are wired to answer pure mild cues, and trendy synthetic lighting typically disrupts that rhythm. Particularly the intense blue mild from screens, flickering LEDs, and overhead bulbs after sundown.

We’ve all the time had Himalayan salt lamps in our home, however currently I picked up a stupendous white salt lamp. It offers off a delicate, heat glow and is extra impartial with out the orange tone. It helps me wind down at evening whereas I’m studying and stress-free. 

When our eyes see blue mild at evening (like most lightbulbs and screens) it suppresses our melatonin manufacturing. This makes it tougher to go to sleep and keep asleep. Heat, low-level mild (like firelight or a salt lamp) doesn’t have this impact. I’ve been pairing this lamp with blue-light-blocking glasses in my bed room within the night. 

It’s a easy behavior, however one which’ introduced me numerous pleasure and helps sign to my mind it’s time to wind down. That is the white salt lamp that I’ve. 

3. Slacka for Clear Power

Espresso will all the time have a particular place in my coronary heart, however I’m all the time in search of wholesome options. An excessive amount of caffeine may cause jitters and anxiousness for a lot of (myself included). My pal David created a brand new useful well being drink and it’s change into a favourite. It’s like consuming a wholesome soda that provides me a day power enhance in a gentler method with out the jitters. 

As a substitute of caffeine, Slacka makes use of paraxanthine, a pure caffeine metabolite. If you drink espresso, your physique breaks caffeine down into paraxanthine, which is definitely what supplies lots of the focus and power advantages. By skipping the center step, Slacka offers you the clear, regular enhance with out a few of the downsides individuals expertise from espresso. Like racing coronary heart, sleep disruption, or that “wired however drained” feeling. 

I really like that it additionally has electrolytes for mobile hydration and 5-HTP to assist stabilize temper. It additionally has pure compounds that assist the physique’s personal GLP manufacturing. This interprets to diminished cravings and higher blood sugar stability

For me, it seems like a smoother, extra targeted model of caffeine. Plus it doesn’t appear to have an effect on my sleep once I drink it within the afternoon. Paraxanthine is a more moderen pattern, however I wouldn’t be shocked if it turns into the subsequent massive factor in useful well being.

You possibly can take a look at Slacka and take a look at it for your self right here.

4. Facial Fascia Launch

It looks as if increasingly individuals are speaking about fascia currently. If you happen to’ve ever had tight shoulders or knots in your again, you’ve skilled tight fascia first hand. Our physique’s connective tissue can maintain pressure, sort of like a foul reminiscence. I’ve not too long ago realized fascia within the face can do the identical factor.

There are completely different methods obtainable however I’ve discovered a program that focuses on facial fascia launch. It’s been surprisingly transformative and I actually really feel like Savannah is aware of her stuff. Utilizing light instruments and strategies, I’ve been in a position to launch pressure I didn’t even notice I used to be holding in my face. 

Right here’s what I’ve seen thus far:

• A lot much less pressure between my eyebrows (these “11” traces)
• A delicate elevate in my face total
• Decreased jaw tightness
• Higher sinus drainage

Fascia is sort of a net that surrounds and helps our muscle mass, nerves, and organs. When it will get tight or “caught,” it restricts motion and blood move. Releasing it improves circulation, lymphatic move, and even nerve communication. Within the face, that interprets into each rest and visual modifications.

Better of all, it feels so good. Doing this at evening with my salt lamp on has change into considered one of my favourite calming rituals. You possibly can take a look at this system I’ve been utilizing and fascia instruments right here.

5. Fast Emotional Rewiring: A Thoughts Reset 

Ever want you might simply hit the rewind button on life? Whereas time journey nonetheless isn’t potential, Fast Emotional Rewiring often is the subsequent smartest thing. 

On a deeper and extra private be aware, the previous few months have been a few of the hardest of my life. One software that’s actually supported me throughout this season is one thing referred to as Fast Emotional Rewiring.

Not like conventional remedy, this course of is extra of a neurological reset. It makes use of guided strategies to assist shift the mind out of outdated, looping patterns that preserve us caught. Many individuals describe it as feeling like the burden of months of discuss remedy condensed right into a single session. Personally I didn’t discover a lot enchancment with conventional discuss remedy. 

What I’ve appreciated most is that it’s easy and doesn’t require numerous psychological power. Throughout my hardest days, I didn’t have bandwidth for journaling or prolonged practices, however I might do that. Even one session left me feeling lighter and fewer reactive.

Proper now, there are a restricted variety of free 30-minute classes obtainable (together with a easy five-day at-home program). You possibly can test this system out for your self right here. 

Remaining Ideas on August Favorites

This month’s favorites might look like an eclectic combine however I’ve seen a typical thread. These easy, constant shifts can ripple into massive modifications over time. Every of those additions to my routine has helped me really feel extra supported and introduced extra pleasure into my each day rhythms. I’m discovering increasingly that it’s not the large, flashy modifications that take advantage of distinction however the easy ones. 

What are a few of your favourite issues proper now? What instruments or rituals are making life really feel extra joyful for you? Depart a remark and let me know!