on creating a healthier you.

I’m so glad you’re here. This is my first attempt at walking you through a new journey, to a healthier ‘you’, so bear with me.

Today, I want to share my outlook on how to create a healthy routine that works for you.

And that really means YOU. Not an influencer being paid to push. Not an MLM selling a program to meet a quota.

I’ve been through the ringer in regards to getting my wellness on track. I’ve been sold all the dreams, and put on all the ‘plans’ — only to end up having them make me push myself to unhealthy limits. I’ve seen it in those I love too, and that’s when I hit my breaking point.

I wanted to create this space to remind you that you have to DO YOU, FOR YOU. This starts with creating a healthier YOU.

Before we dive in (again), I want to remind you that this is just my opinion and what I’ve observed and experienced. Of course, you should check with your healthcare provider before starting any new routine. But, I hope to help you find some balance and joy in your mornings and that we can start working together on making them better — as a collective.

—

So where do we start? I believe that how you start your day sets the tone for the rest of it, so it’s important to have some habits that make you feel good and ready to take on whatever comes your way. Start wherever you’re feeling the most need:

• Boost your mood. — Doing something positive and enjoyable in the morning can make you feel happier and more optimistic throughout the day. It can also reduce stress and anxiety by giving you a sense of control and accomplishment, right off the hop.

• Self-check-in on your health. — Taking care of your physical and mental well-being includes checking in on immunity, digestion, metabolism, energy levels, and brain function. Have you been feeling sick? What’s your gut check saying? Is your mind foggy? Prevent and manage chronic diseases and conditions ahead of a red alert by doing regular body scans and checking in with yourself every morning and night.

• Clear your mind. — Having a clear and focused mind can help you work more efficiently and effectively during the day. It can also help you avoid distractions, procrastination, and overwhelm by setting priorities and goals. Meditate, journal, and just empty your head of whatever is weighing on you and start the day fresh and go to bed with a clean slate.

• Get creative. — Stimulating your senses and imagination in the morning can help you generate new ideas and solutions for your personal or professional projects. It can also help you express yourself better and connect with others more authentically. Feeling restless? This is a great place to start to shake off whatever is blocking you.

Having a routine can have many benefits, that part is obvious. But how do you create one that works for you? Well, the important thing to recognize is that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to that question. Everyone is different and has different needs and preferences. However, there’s some general guidance you can follow in getting started on the right path to a healthier you:

• Start small. — Don’t try to change everything at once or adopt a complicated or unrealistic routine that will only frustrate you or make you give up. Instead, start with one or two simple habits that you can easily incorporate into your existing schedule and build from there. Waking up early, as an isolated task, is a great start. Removing soda from your diet before changing anything else? Sure! A step is a step.

• Be consistent. — The key to creating a lasting habit is to do it regularly and repeatedly until it becomes automatic and effortless. Try to stick to your morning routine every day, even on weekends or holidays, unless you have a valid reason not to. Going on a walk three (3) times a week, but missed your usual third day? Great, pick another one! Just get it done and your mind (and body) will thank you.

• Be flexible. — On that note, while consistency is important, so is flexibility. Don’t be too rigid or strict with your routine or force yourself to do something that doesn’t feel right or comfortable for you. Instead, be open to experimenting and adjusting your routine as needed based on your feedback and results. Feeling really sick, but you’re supposed to hit the gym? Your body will be pretty angry if you pass out or injure yourself because you weren’t feeling your best, more than it will be for missing one workout. Assess, then action a plan for yourself and remember it’s okay to adapt the plan for yourself.

• Have fun with it. — The most important aspect in creating a healthier you is to enjoy it and make it fun for you. Don’t see it as a chore or a burden, but as an opportunity to treat yourself well and have a good time. Choose activities that make you happy and excited and reward yourself for doing them.

Wondering where you can start in carving this out for yourself? No sweat.

• Wake up early. — I know, I know. This is HARD. But trust me, it’s worth it. Waking up early gives you more time to do the things that matter to you, whether it’s a simple meditation, journalling in your quiet space, spending time with your family, or just enjoying a cup of tea. Carve the path for your most productive day. When your alarm goes off, don’t hit the snooze button and don’t check your phone right away. Instead, get up as soon as the alarm goes off and do something that energizes you, like drinking a glass of cold water or doing some stretches. Visualizations and affirmations can be a perfect way to start and get your mind moving!

• So how do you wake up early? Well, first of all, you need to go to bed early too. I know, Real Housewives only starts at 9 PM… but you can watch it on demand! Aim for at least seven (7) hours of sleep every night and avoid screens and caffeine before bedtime. Yes, even that TikTok doom scroll you had scheduled.

• Exercise. — Speaking of getting yourself moving, exercise is another key component of a healthy morning routine. Exercise is a mood booster, improves your circulation, strengthens your immune system, and the list only goes on for the BENEFITS OF EXERCISE! You don’t have to do a hardcore workout (unless you want to), but you should aim for at least 15 minutes of moderate physical activity that gets your heart rate up and makes you sweat a little, and ideally at least 60 minutes per day. You can choose whatever exercise you enjoy, whether it’s walking, jogging, cycling, yoga, barre, or cartwheels galore — just make sure you warm up properly and cool down afterwards and GET. MOVING. PERIOD!

• Practice mindfulness. — Calm your mind and connect with yourself. Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment without judgment or distraction. It can help reduce stress, increase focus, enhance creativity, and improve mental health. There are many ways to practice mindfulness, such as meditating, journaling, breathing deeply, or expressing gratitude in whatever way feels best. The key is to be consistent and do it every day for at least 10 minutes. I enjoy doing this first thing in the morning and right before I sleep, and the Five-Minute Journal was life changing for me.

  Eat health-consciously. — You’ve probably heard this before: you are what you eat. And it’s true. Eating healthy gives me the energy and nutrients I need to perform well throughout the day. A healthy meal should include a balance of protein, fiber, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates. Some examples are oatmeal with nuts and fruits, whole-wheat toast and avocado, yogurt with granola and berries, a fresh salad with homemade dressing, freshly-pressed juices, and more. I’m a firm believer as well — you can eat most anything, in moderation, and balance this with your lifestyle. I avoid things like sugary cereals, pastries, or processed foods that can spike my blood sugar and make me crash later (especially as a sufferer of PCOS).

  Plan your day out. — The last thing I do in my morning routine is plan my day ahead. Write it out on a sticky note, in a notebook or in your favourite project management software. Whatever it is, planning the day helps me prioritize my tasks, manage my time, stay organized, and feel less anxious. Write down what you need to do and when you need to do it — even just taking the dog for a walk. I also like to set some intentions for how I want to feel or what I want to accomplish during the day. I try to be realistic and flexible with my plan and don’t overload myself with too many things. You can’t pour from an empty cup! I can’t stress that enough.

And really, that’s the easiest way to get started with creating a healthier you. Take steps that are mapped out around YOU, YOUR NEEDS, YOUR SCHEDULE and of course - YOUR PACE. The only person you’re racing is yourself. Carve our YOUR routine and what a healthier YOU means to YOU. The important thing is to find what makes you happy and motivated and stick with it. The rest will come, especially your happiness.

I hope this blog post was helpful and inspiring for you. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below or send me a note.

In the meantime, keep well.

—

A

on being lost.

I’ve been struggling with myself, my thoughts and my words for how to put this XXL Venti, six-shots of espresso, double whip whammy of a story.

This one is a tricky one, but a good one (promise).

Where to start? Like Alice, lost and going mad with everyone else, I guess.

I typically approach any new relationship with guarded pessimism, if I’m honest. I’ve experienced affection in adolescence, full of growth and harsh realities (like that we are 14 and can do no more than hold hands for dramatic effect). Too often were my late teens full of obsessive adoration, irrevocable bonds and the emptiness of grief that sweeps over when they’re gone too soon. And my twenties? Well, that’s the collateral damage, isn’t it? I’m a collection of Kintsugi: broken pieces put back together and woven back to a complete piece, with gold. A collection of memories, grief, joy, ups, downs, sideways adventures — and love. Sometimes, love.

You’ll take notice that I veer away from the use of the ‘L’ word as often as possible. I find it tougher than ever. With the fleeting way in which it comes and goes; the way we feel so much at once to nothing at all. The feeling that steals away our hours of long-awaited sleep for ‘stare-at-the-moon-and-wonder’ emotions and thoughtfulness. I wonder if my incessant awakeness comes from a preoccupation with my thoughts, or simply from having too many and not enough hours in the day to get them all out. Or not enough moments of stillness with the person who needs to hear them, to express how you feel. Or like, whatever, you know?

If you’re not with me yet, picture this.

Do you remember those unforgettable days of our teens, when love was a rollercoaster of emotions and uncertainty? You weren’t truly sure if there was a track, or that nothing traumatic wouldn’t happen. I feel that this is when we experienced love in its purest, unfiltered form – a mix of excitement and trepidation; innocence and faith. We met in the hallways, stealing glances that conveyed more than words ever could. Our palms would sweat, and butterflies would dance in our stomachs whenever we saw that person. We would analyze every word, every punctuation mark, seeking hidden meanings like detectives on a thrilling case of the late-night text message (BBM). And all hidden behind the guise of being too cool for it all.

I simultaneously wonder if anything has really changed, or if we’ll always get to experience affection that way.

And then, rejection felt like it reached right into your chest and ripped your tiny, fragile heart out. Yet every crooked, reciprocated smile was like a small fire lit in our core. All in the midst of probably the most important journey of self-discovery, learning not only about love but also about ourselves and the kind of person we aspired to be. These memories still bring a smile to my face and a hint of nostalgia to my heart, alongside a slight pang of sadness for that era.

I contrast this idea with this generation of love, and whatever we’ve shaped it to look like now.

As we journey through our late twenties, love seems like it takes on a new hue, adorned with so. much. complexity. We find ourselves treading the delicate balance between passion and practicality, torn between the "what if?" and the desire for commitment. The concept of a soulmate or a twin flame, once so alluring, now feels elusive and almost delusional.

Delulu gang, stand up!

We live in a world where choices abound, and the fear of making the wrong one lingers like a shadow in the back of our minds. A constant ghost. We crave connections that light up our souls, yet we fear the vulnerability that comes with opening our hearts… completely. We've witnessed the whiplash of bonds around us:

Marriage

Divorce

Baby

Engagement

Another Baby

Death

Leaving us to question whether happily ever after is an achievable reality or a romantic fantasy of our grandparents’ generation. It’s absolutely a new era. But what era?

Optimistically, my vote is on independence and self-discovery, as lost as we may feel in it. Because outside of this bubble, we are navigating so much else that who has time to mull on that? We long for love that complements our individual growth rather than defining it entirely. We seek a love that allows us to soar, hand in hand with a partner who encourages us to pursue our dreams while they chase their own. This journey in our late twenties is a delicate dance between guarded hearts and hopeful spirits, as we navigate through life's uncertainties while cherishing the love we find along the way, as a steady right hand and light.

And that’s okay. And it’s okay to feel lost. It’s okay to feel loss. It’s okay if all of those things are platonic, in a world often too complex for romance. Any way you choose to live, to feel is okay. If you’re not harming a soul, let your soul wander – as lost as you damn well please.

I’m nearing the end of what I’ve decided will have to continue in another chapter. Because, there’s no way I can tell the next part – the intended part – in less than 1,000 words. I’ve laid the foundation for you… and I can summarize it best like this:

Girl loves world. Girl loves love. Does love, love girl? Not without every obstacle known to man – she’s lost! Will love find her? Has she found it? Is she holding on to it for dear life? Did it slip away? Is it gone?

If you’re wondering, I’ll see you next week.

–

A