**Lindsay’s Note: This is a guest post by Ali Lawrence. Ali is a “Jill of all trades.” She writes about DIY projects, homey advice and healthy living on her blog Homey Improvements, works as a freelance writer, and is currently working towards becoming a nutritionist. She is awesome! You can follow her on Twitter @DIYfolks.
Being fit and awesome can take its toll on a girl. You get up, rev your life into high gear and go, go, go every single day. It can get straight up exhausting. Feel the same? Read on.
When a sluggish streak catches up to you, follow my lead and pencil a rehab day into the calendar. There are some simple, yet utterly rehabilitating exercises you can do to set yourself right again. It doesn’t require a trip to the spa or a sunny beach — you don’t even have to leave your house. Ready for yours? Here’s what to do:
Meditation
Start your day off with some get-you-ready meditation. It will help to ease you into the waking hours with a relaxing and fresh demeanor. You don’t have to be experienced to reap the benefits of meditation — check out meditation for beginners to get started.
If you don’t want to meditate, consider taking a walk outside to get you ready for the day.
Detox Drinks
For breakfast, try a smoothie. Shove fruits, vegetables and calcium sources (like milk or yogurt) in order to reap the most benefits. Opt for Greek yogurt over regular kinds in order to beef up your protein intake. Starting your day with a healthy detox drink will set your mind right and help flush out any of the bad stuff lingering in your system. Whatever’s got you feeling crummy — we want it out.
Yoga
Yoga post-breakfast will get your endorphins pumping to lift your spirits. Get your blood flowing and heart rate up with this gentle yet beneficial exercise. If you don’t usually practice it, watch a yoga for beginners video for tips and moves.
Healthy Foods
Throughout the day, eat healthy foods. Try eating a little every 3–4 hours to keep your mental and physical states in their prime. Healthy options include: vegetables, leafy greens, fruits, nuts, lean meats and egg whites.
DIY Massage
You know how I said you don’t need a spa? You don’t! Because you can give yourself a massage! It might not be the same, but it will still help to rehabilitate. If you are experiencing soreness, apply pressure to the area and rub in circular motions. If you just want to chill out, target areas like your neck and temples and apply the same circular massaging technique.
Warm Bath
Now it’s time for every woman’s favorite thing — a soak in the tub. Crank that water up to hot and get lost in that heat. The warm water will ease joint pains and discomfort you’re feeling in your muscles. Let your mind wander — reflect upon the day and how much better you’re feeling. Most importantly: relax.
Tea Time
Climb out of the tub and envelope yourself in fluffy warm towels — fresh from the dryer, if possible. Dry yourself and trade your towels for your robe (also as warm and fluffy as possible). Sit down at the table and pour yourself a cup of tea. The act of sitting, pouring and sipping will be relaxing in and of itself. But don’t forget tea’s other positive: it’s full of antioxidants!
Instead of turning on the TV, consider sitting on your deck to enjoy the birds chirping and crisp feel of the wind. You could pick up a fun book to breeze through while you enjoy the clean air.
Bedtime
When it comes time to end your rehab day, you’ll want your bed to be clean, soft and comfortable. You should probably get to bed at a decent hour so you don’t offset all the goodies of the day with poor sleep.
When you awake the following day — voilá! — you’ll hopefully feel back on your game.
Leave a Reply