Happy New Year! Here are 6 things to start doing in 2022!
1. ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture is a form of holistic medicine and has been in practice for thousands of years! I may be biased, but acupuncture can be a valuable addition to your wellness plan in 2022. Acupuncture is great for headaches, back tension, emotional and mental support, and women's health. Have other aches and pains? Click here to see if acupuncture can help!
The Wellness Studio offers a New Patient Special: Book your first acupuncture session, get your second session free! Did you love your acupuncture sessions? If so, The Wellness Studio offers Continued Care Sessions, or sign up for our Acupuncture Membership and receive 2 acupuncture sessions per month at a discounted rate. You can see more details at www.thewellnessstudio.net.
2. GRATITUDE JOURNAL
Start your 2022 by writing down three things you are grateful for each morning. These don't need to be elaborate things. It can be as simple as "warm coffee in the morning". Set time aside to get in the right headspace and find joy in the small things in your life!
According to Harvard Medical School, "In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships."
3. BETTER SLEEP
We are all aware of how important sleep can be, and how the lack of sleep can sneak into our days making life difficult. It's time to turn 2022 into the year where you get more sleep and better quality of sleep.
According to Mayo, here are six tips for better sleep: 1. Stick to a sleep schedule 2.Pay attention to what you are eating and drinking 3. Create a peaceful environment 4. Limit daytime naps 5. Increase exercise daily 6. Manage stress levels
If you struggle with falling asleep or staying asleep, acupuncture can help!
4. DECREASE SCREEN TIME
It's important to be present in our lives. Make it a goal in 2022 to decrease the use of technology. According to Health Partners, "Adults average about 8.5 hours of screen time per day." Instead of spending time on screens after a long work day (or after school for kiddos), play a board game, go for a walk, read a new book, or break out a puzzle. Make it a goal to be present in your life and put the screens away.
5. FOCUS ON NUTRITION
The new year is a great time to put healthy eating goals into place! Start by limiting sugar intake and increasing your fruits and vegetables! What we put into our body, is what our body will use as fuel. Poor food choices can lead to fatigue, digestive issues, headaches and migraines, as well as aches and pains.
"Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate sleep and appetite, mediate moods, and inhibit pain. Since about 95% of your serotonin is produced in your gastrointestinal tract, and your gastrointestinal tract is lined with a hundred million nerve cells, or neurons, it makes sense that the inner workings of your digestive system don’t just help you digest food, but also guide your emotions." - Harvard Medical School
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we view the digestive system as a boiling pot of water. Boiling = healthy digestion, little to no bloating, no constipation or diarrhea, good energy levels. To keep the "boiling water" boiling, fuel it with warm to hot beverages and cook those veggies! If you think about pouring cold water into a boiling pot, this will cancel out the boiling water and can result in digestive changes, bloating, constipation or diarrhea. Therefore, cut out those cold/iced beverages, raw vegetables, salads... especially during the cold months.
6. INCREASE WATER INTAKE
As we know, water makes up a large part of our bodies! Mayo Clinic states: "Water is your body's principal chemical component and makes up about 50% to 70% of your body weight. Your body depends on water to survive. Every cell, tissue and organ in your body needs water to work properly. Water gets rid of wastes through urination, perspiration and bowel movements, keeps your temperature normal, lubricates and cushions joints and protects sensitive tissues."
With that being said, how much water should we be drinking? "The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is: about 15.5 cups of fluids a day for men and 11.5 cups of fluids a day for women. These recommendations cover fluids from water, other beverages and food. About 20% of daily fluid intake usually comes from food and the rest from drinks."
I hope these six ideas will inspire you in 2022! Your body deserves it!