This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com.
May is Women’s Health Month! One great way to celebrate is to take a step back from our daily routines and come up with 1-2 practical changes that will help us live a healthier lifestyle. Now, this doesn’t have to be anything too crazy like creating an entirely new meal plan or signing up with a fitness trainer. Small, simple changes, like upgrading your workout gear or equipment, or making time for yourself to relax can make a huge difference in the long run as well! For starters, here are six easy things you can do to help support, strengthen, and protect your body and mind…
Stay Comfortable During Workouts – Exercise is probably one of the first things that comes to mind when we think about our health, but it’s the pre-planning that keeps us motivated during our workouts. Sure, we can put on any old bra, a tee, and some soft shorts to prep for our workout, but they may not be the most comfortable in terms of breathability and support. And when we’re uncomfortable, it can be difficult to enjoy our workouts, leading us to clock out early. That’s why, for starters, find yourself a sports bra that 1) keeps everything secure, 2) keeps you cool, and 3) makes you feel confident while you workout!
One of my favorite affordable finds is Champion’s Curvy Strappy Sports Bra. It has molded cups that provide support and some shape, along with a v-neck that creates an even more feminine look (which can be especially difficult to find in a sports bra!). The fit can be customized too as it has a hook and eye closure in the back and adjustable straps. I wear this while practicing yoga and going for hikes – it’s one of the most comfortable and flattering sports bras I own!
Stay Safe & Aware (While Staying Motivated!) – Do you enjoy listening to music while your running or exercising outdoors? I sure do! In fact, I can’t leave the house without them – they make my workout go by more quickly, and make them about 10x more fun and motivational. Thing is, if they’re in ear, or over the eye, they tend to block out any and sometimes all surrounding noise. From relaxing nature sounds, to cars and bikers breezing by us. The latter, well that scares me sometimes! To not hear a car coming while I’m riding my bike (the one time I absolutely love listening to music) has always been a fear of mine.
Thankfully, I discovered Aftershokz Trekz Air headphones, and they’ve taken all that stress away. Instead of going over, or in, your ear they sit just outside of your ear and use bone conduction technology to produce the sound. This leaves your ears completely open to your environment, so you get to enjoy music while staying fully aware of your surroundings. There’s also lightweight and wire-free, so you can wear them comfortably for a jog or bike ride, and you don’t have to mess with cords!
Get $30 off your Aftershokz Trekz Air until June 30th if you use code JESS30!
Nourish Your Body, On-The-Go – One of the best ways to nourish our bodies is to feed it with superfoods – like kale, spinach, avocados, blueberries, and other nutrient-rich foods. As a women there are a lot of things to deal with and one way to do so is visit SurfingFertility`s official website and gain insights into your personal health. Some days though, it can be hard to fit these into our diet, and that’s where superfood powders come in. I like to keep my kitchen stocked with 1-2 different kinds, at all times. I’ll toss ’em into a smoothie or even into a plain glass a water to make sure I’m getting all my vitamins and minerals – both methods take only about 10 seconds!
Pure Synergy’s Organic Beet Juice Powder is the one I’ve been reaching for the most recently. It makes a great daily health booster as it’s packed with phytonutrients, and never subjected to heat, solvents, oxygen, or other harsh processing, so all the natural, good-for-you ingredients stay intact. Plus, it adds a little extra sweetness to my water (it’s nowhere near as strong or intense as I thought it would be – but rather, it has a very subtle, almost fruity taste!)
Pure Synergy also makes a Turmeric Extract that helps to optimize wellness and cognitive function, as well as support a healthy inflammatory response, so it’s a great supplement to take in the mornings (I’ve been taking them with my breakfast) as well as post-workout to heal inflamed muscles and aches.
Get 15% off your purchase of anything at Pure Synergy with discount code PureSynergyPartner!
Protect Your Eyesight – Did you know that blue light exposure may be harmful to our eyes? The fact is, blue light penetrates all the way to the retina (the inner lining of the back of the eye), and too much exposure to blue light can damage light-sensitive cells in the retina [1].
But the good news is, Zenni, an online retailer for prescription eyewear, offers a range of stylish, affordable eyewear – including sunglasses and non-prescriptive lenses – that can actually help protect our eyes from blue light. They’re called ‘UV Blue Blockers‘ and they look just like real glasses. The only difference is, they have the slightest bit of yellow tint to them to help filter out those harmful rays.
I’ve been wearing mine while on the computer and while reading on my iPhone late at night to avoid eye strain, and they really do help! Zenni has so many great styles on their website too, starting at only $16.95 for the UV Blue Blockers. I’m thinking about grabbing another pair, this time maybe some new sunnies for summer!
Take Time to Relax & Just Breathe – No matter how busy your day is, it’s important to take time out to just sit and relax in a quiet space – even if it’s only for a few minutes. It can be as simple as lighting a scented candle and getting comfortable, letting your body and mind de-stress as the candle’s aroma fills your space. This, I find, really helps encourage deep breathing! Plus, it creates the most relaxing atmosphere with the dim, soft candlelight.
A few of my favorites are from the Chesapeake Bay Candles Mind & Body collection. I remember it was my mom who bought me my very first candle from them. Most recently, I’ve been using ‘Peace and Tranquility‘, which is a very clean, airy scent with notes of jasmine and cashmere woods – it immediately transports me to a spring garden surrounded by fresh laundry blowing in a coastal breeze – if you can imagine that! 🙂 I especially love that it uses a soy wax blend, so it keeps the air clean and free of soot. It’s also infused with natural essential oils, and designed and poured in the US. All-in-all, they make the perfect ‘wellness’ candles between their calming scents, inspiration names, and clean burn!
Always Be Expanding Your Mind – There’s no better way to exercise and expand your mind than to read books. It’s as easy as heading to the library and picking up something that interests you – whether it be history or economics, programming or photography, or anything else that can teach you something new to keep the brain juices flowing.
Self-help books are great too, and a number of them can actually help us achieve our life goals (which in turn, can lead to a healthier, happier life!). The Myth Of A Nice Girl by Fran Hauser, for example, is an amazingly inspiring read for all the working women out there who are looking to climb the corporate ladder, or be successful in business in general. Fran offers useful tips and career guidance for some of the biggest challenges we face as women in the workplace – from speaking up and negotiating salaries, to giving and receiving feedback – which she draws from her experience working at senior positions at some of the world’s largest digital media businesses like AOL, and Time Inc. I just started reading it and already love how almost every chapter focuses on achieving the right balance between being too ‘nice’, and too aggressive. It’s a must-read for students, career women, business owners, and freelancers!
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