Healthy Habits To Adopt in 2022
BY SOPHIE CHUNG
So you can tackle life with intention and inner peace.
2 FEB - 2022
There’s a new meaning to ‘Flawless.’
Since the world was turned upside down in 2020, it seems that a lot of people have discarded the tradition of creating New Year’s resolutions, and for good reason. For two consecutive years, all our plans, hopes and dreams were put on hold, and for some of us, this completely crushed our souls. We aren’t about to make absolutely ludicrous plans like visiting our family overseas or an island getaway. How absurd.
In lieu of goal-smashing resolutions, we saw a rise in the adaptation of slow living and the practice of being present. While stuck at home with cabin fever and a racing mind, it seemed like this was the only way to survive without completely losing the plot. Queue the ayurvedic and adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha, Kava Kava, lemon balm, mushrooms - you name it. If it was good for managing stress, we were all over it.
In this life where technology and modern living develops faster than we can wrap our wee noggins around, slowing down in our day to day life doesn’t seem like such a bad idea. It was nice to take a breath and learn how to play Playstation and dig into a long novel like ‘Dune.’
Perhaps it was stepping into my 30s, or the car crash I was in, or the fact that over five million have been laid to rest; but once I started to let go of the apparent ‘need’ to advance in society, like growing my business, earning more money, buying more houses, snowballing my investments, etc., I could focus on what really matters - health. If you don’t have health, you don’t have anything. What’s the point in working yourself to the grave if you can’t enjoy the successes you’ve achieved?
With the support of Puma, I bring to you my personal and genuine list of healthy habits to adopt for a healthier mind and body.
Puma Flawless
BMX World Champion Des’ree Barnes
Drink Hot Water
Call me woo woo or a hippie dippie, but in the past year, I have been all about letting my chi flow through without stagnation. In eastern medicine, the general principle is that “if there is no free flow, there is pain.” This means that if there is stagnation of chi (energy) and blood flow in the meridian channels, there will be pain. Personally, I experience it through excruciating menstrual pain and indigestion but since being in a car crash a year ago, I also have whiplash to deal with.
A simple but seemingly strange thing to change is the temperature of your drinking water. I’m the person with a thermos or cup o’ tea at parties who gets made fun of but when the dehydrated bodies are offered hot water, everyone becomes an immediate convert - “Oh, that actually is so nice.” It’s like a warm hug from the inside out. Not only does it help hydrate you faster, it boosts metabolism and promotes vasodilation (as opposed to vasoconstriction when having icy drinks) for optimal circulation as well as the function of your organs.
Go to Bed Before 10:30PM
I’m the type of person who comes alive at night but I’ve been trying immensely hard to forego the extra couple of episodes and hit the hay early. There’s a biological clock that Eastern medicine refers to, in which every organ functions at its peak at different times throughout the day. From 11pm to 1am is the gallbladder interval and it influences our decisiveness and quality of decision-making the following day. If we skip our rest during this hour, our bodily functions in absorption, digestion and excretion are compromised, thus affecting our mood and spiking irritability.
But don’t just take my word for it, if you want to learn more about understanding Eastern medicine, there’s a pretty thorough article by acupuncturist Amy Chen.
Have A High Quality Greens Powder Everyday
I’m at that point in my life where I will have everything and anything that is good for me. After some research, I’ve found myself positively stricken with Nuzest Good Green Vitality. It injects a dose of youthful vitality and makes you forget your age for a second. I feel 22 all over again when I take it and feel a massive difference in energy and focus levels when I don’t have it. Make sure you’re buying from a company that’s transparent about where they source their ingredients from and can hand-on-heart answer your questions with complete honesty.
Exercise
Take it from me. NOTHING beats exercise when it comes to alleviating knots and strains from an injury or bad posture. Even when you feel lethargic and unmotivated, donning bright and bold gear will help you get in the mood.
Puma’s new Flawless collection is to die for. The purple-toned pink and mesh detailing are an absolute vibe. Repped by supermodel Cara Delevingne and BMX world champion Des’ree Barnes, this collection screams big boss energy whether you’re running errands, brunching in Herne Bay, boxing at Les Mills or sliding away on a reformer. Personally, I just roll my mat out and put on Fluidform pilates at home. Self-motivation is hard but when you look this cute in Flawless, why would you not want to rock it?
Stretch & Hydrate
For those who spend most of their lives sitting in front of a computer screen or looking down at their phone (so, most of us), you probably are suffering from ‘tech neck.’ Download an app or put on alarms to remind you to get up, stretch and hydrate that boday~. There are plenty of videos on YouTube - try aloyoga’s channel. Or better yet, get a subscription, like Fluidform, and commit yourself to a challenge!
Good Posture
I sound like such an old lady but mum is always right, ain’t she? Be mindful of your posture at all times and this can make a world of difference to your body. Keep your pelvis aligned by having your legs glued together, your core engaged and sit up straight. Try to avoid crossing your legs while sitting or leaning on one hip when you’re standing. We’ve only got one body to last us 100 years (maybe more), so we really do have to maintain optimal health for as long as we can.
Treat Yo’self
Does this need an explanation? Book that appointment with your masseuse, physio, chiro, acupuncturist or osteo. Sometimes, a professional’s touch can click some pain points back into place.
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