Somewhere along the line, being deemed a high-maintenance woman became an insult. We’ll say it for the cheap seats in the back. Self-care isn’t selfish!
Engaging in a few, daily worthwhile activities boosts physical and mental health, self-esteem, and resilience, and also decreases personal problems down the line. As wise ole’ Alanis said, isn’t it ironic that the time spent on these activities is only a fraction of the time you’d waste if you neglected your well-being and got sick?
Sometimes, you’ve gotta get high (maintenance) to be the chill girl. We’ve rounded up our fav high-maintenance hacks that make you low-maintenance in the long run.
The key to a balanced life is breathwork … well, alternate nostril breathing is the key to balancing your parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system is commonly known as being in “rest-and-digest” mode, which relieves stress and provides energy and focus. If diaphragmatic breathing is more your thing, you can still get stress and anxiety-reducing benefits. Making time for 5 to 10 minutes of breathwork every day may add another task to your already-too-long to-do list, but it will transform you into a relaxed, low-maintenance gal on the go.
When we were kids, we were all reminded to take our vitamins. As overly scheduled adults, not so much, but we need their nourishment now more than ever. Calendaring your daily supplements before breakfast may seem extreme, but the long-term effects of taking them consistently benefit your mind and body, and oh, a little glow-up doesn’t hurt.
Taking shots to get lit from within usually causes a headache and a multi-day hangover. But trade booze for a gut health shot, and you’ll transform your body from the inside out. Adding a homemade apple cider vinegar-based gut shot to your daily routine takes a little extra a.m. prep time, but it supports your immune system to help prevent sickness. Not to mention, it can reduce discomfort from digestive issues, which means more time feeling fetch in the long run.
Reduce bloating, promote digestion, lessen fatigue, fight off infection, reduce the appearance of cellulite, and encourage fluid, waste, and toxin drainage. You had us at “reduce bloating,” Jerry McGuire style. Lymphatic self-massage provides all these benefits, and it’s easy to do. Making gentle, circular strokes along your body with your fingertips for a few minutes every day is all you need. TBH, it’s a much better use of your fingertips than scrolling social media.
The food you put in your body has a huge impact on your physical and mental health. Although cooking and prepping the majority of your food (including snacks) may seem like a time suck, it enables you to grab real, unprocessed whole foods when life gets busy. Don’t worry, eating clean doesn’t mean you can’t indulge in dessert.
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