17 Essentials for a Healthy Mind and Body
In a previous article, we covered 5 Simple Ways to Kick-Start a Healthy Mind and Body. Here we’ll take it a step further and share recommendations on things you can use to support your new habits. From books to bottles to cute yoga duds, you’ll have everything you need to make sure your self-care time is productive and enjoyable.
The highly rated book Mindfulness: An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World
by Mark Williams, Danny Penman, et al. provides an easy to follow, practical course to introduce you to the world of meditation. Based on evidence and cognitive behavior therapy, the course teaches presence and awareness of the life you have as well as love for yourself and others. Plus, it comes with eight different guided meditations to help you feel calm and stop your mind from racing. It’s perfect for anyone new to mindful meditation and makes for a great refresher if you already practice meditation.
10-Minute Mindfulness: 71 Habits for Living in the Present Moment by S.J. Scott and Barrie Davenport in the audiobook form is a good one to listen to as you prepare your tea or breakfast in the morning. In this book, you’ll learn a variety of ways to be more present in the moment in just a few minutes a day. The authors recommend you review the various ideas and pick the ones that have the most significant impact on your life. Good suggestion!
Smoothies are one of my favorite ways to eat a quick, yet healthy, breakfast. The BlendTec Blender with Blender Cup is an absolute essential when it comes to making my favorite recipes. Blending your drink directly in the travel cup saves time and cleanup. Want to know my secret for saving even more time making smoothies? Put all the ingredients in the cup the night before, then simply zap it in the blender in the morning. Instant breakfast in seconds!
Oatmeal is another great option for an easy and healthy breakfast. For those days when I don’t have the time to make one from scratch, I opt for Farm to Table Foods Ancient Grains Oatmeal Cups. Made with quinoa, oats, and amaranth, I know it’s packed full of nutrients to fuel up for the day ahead. Plus, it’s vegan and gluten-free.
Yoga is an ideal low-impact way to get moving in the morning or at any time during the day. Some of my recommended must-haves include a yoga block and mat, yoga videos, and, of course, yoga clothes.
The Gaiam brand is a safe bet when it comes to yoga gear. Their Essentials Yoga Block is great for supporting you through some of the more challenging yoga movements. It comes in various sizes, is latex-free, and doesn’t slip when you’re in a Half Moon pose.
For a mat, you can’t go wrong with Gaiam’s Essentials Thick Yoga Mat with Easy-Cinch Yoga Mat Carrier Strap. It’s available in a variety of colors and comes with an easy-cinch carrier strap so you can easily tuck the mat away when you’re done or take it with you to the gym.
Barbara Benagh’s Yoga for Beginners DVD is a top-selling DVD with eight different workouts that range from 10 to 60 minutes. Each routine is designed to help you build strength and increase flexibility.
I know you don’t actually need special clothes to do yoga, but a girl deserves one or two nice pieces to work out in, right? Mippo’s Mesh Yoga Top is comfy, cute, and for the cost of a couple of Starbucks drinks, it won’t break the bank either. I like the white and light blue colors, but there are plenty to choose from.
To finish your outfit, you can get the Power Flex Yoga Pants by Reflex. It’s high-waisted, so no worries about your pants sliding down during a workout, and it comes with handy pockets to hold your phone or keys. Again, there are lots of colors to choose from here.
If you want to splurge a little and get good quality suds for your bath or shower, give Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Liquid Soap a try. Peppermint is one of my favorite scents, but you can also try lavender for an evening bath to help you relax just before bed. They’re made with organic oils and are non-GMO.
And sure, you can use a regular washcloth or shower puff to wash away the stress, but these Exfoliating Gloves by SMITCO will make it that much more pleasurable as you do so. They’re machine washable and come in a pack with different colors.
For a calming soak in the tub, add Sleep Lavender Bath Salts by San Francisco Salt Company to the water. It’s meant to help you relax and unwind as well as detox your body. Treat your skin and sore muscles with a detoxing salt bath and prep yourself for a restful night’s sleep.
On those days you choose to dry brush, use the Dry Skin Body Brush by Wholesome Beauty. Made with 100% natural bristles, it can help exfoliate your skin and stimulate blood circulation. The brush comes with a travel bag for easy storage.
The Amazing Office’s Tree of Life Journal makes a fabulous gratitude journal to record the things you’re thankful for. It’s refillable, has a magnetic closure, and just the perfect size to tote around with you throughout your day.
For those of us who need a little inspiration to get the writing juices flowing, there’s the Good Days Start with Gratitude: A 52-Week Guide to Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude journal. Each week features a quote to inspire you and space to record three things you are grateful for.
My philosophy is when you have a pretty water bottle, you’re more likely to remember to reach for it to take those much-needed sips of water. Well, maybe that doesn’t really help, but let’s just go with it. Purifyou makes a Premium Glass Water Bottle with a Non-Slip Silicone Sleeve and Stainless-Steel Lid Insert in the prettiest colors. My favorite? Glow in the Dark. They’re reusable, which helps the environment (no plastic bottles here!) and BPA, Phthalate, PVC, lead, and cadmium free, which is good news for you.
If plain water isn’t your thing, I have the perfect solution – infused water! Hydracy makes the ideal Fruit Infuser Water Bottle. There are a ton of infused water bottles out there, but this one has a time marker so you can easily track your daily water intake. No more dehydration with this bottle! It comes with an insulating sleeve, so your drink stays cold for hours, and it’s reusable and BPA free. Plus, you get a free Infused Water Starter Guide and Recipes eBook with your purchase.
Pick What Works for You
I hope this list of essentials for a healthy mind and body helps you stick with your healthy habits. Don’t feel you have to get them all. Pick what you think will be most helpful, then put them to use. Remember, building habits takes practice, so keep at it. You’ll be grateful you did.
I’d love to hear about what you use to support healthy habits. Drop your thoughts in the comments!
Be Well & Thrive!
With Love & In Health,
Sarah Outlaw, MH, MSACN
