Daily Practices to Support Wellbeing, Radiance & Vitality
I am so excited to be sharing this post with you. This is a topic my day-to-day life revolves around and I am delighted to share my perspective on it.
These are simple, timeless practices that help to promote glowing skin, vivacious energy and enhanced wellbeing and are my most favoured ways to incorporate balance, detoxification and restoration in each day.
I hope the following insights inspire and support you on your journey to your most thriving self.
Let’s dive in!
I’m going to start this off by saying I’m not a fan of rigidity and much prefer to flow through each day with flexibility as strict time-bound routines aren’t really my thing. However, there are some things that are non-negotiable for me and are daily practices that I swear by for enhanced vivacity and wellbeing. The great news is that whether you prefer structured or flexible routines, everything I mention in this post can be easily applied to your life and seamlessly fit-in to your lifestyle in whatever way that may look like.
Lemon Water
Warm lemon water in the morning is one of the most simplistic ways to replenish the body after a night of sleep as it’s a gentle way to instantly rehydrate and flush the body in preparation for a new day. Upon waking, I squeeze the juice of half a fresh lemon into a big glass of filtered room-temperature or warm water and enjoy in mindful sips whilst the body is still fasted. I love to add a pinch of Celtic salt for added minerals and hydration on a cellular level. I encourage you to savour this outside in the morning sun — it’s a delightful chance to take in the healing benefits of sunlight (on your skin and water) and start your day mindfully.
Cold Showers
This may not be the most comfortable routine to implement but that is precisely one of the reasons why it is so beneficial. Having a cold shower not only supports your circulation, energy and skin health — it is a simple way to practice commitment and resilience. Committing yourself to something uncomfortable each day helps to build fortitude and instill strong-willed decision making throughout the day.
This practice unfortunately doesn’t get ‘easier’ but once repeated enough, it does become habitual and I promise you will find yourself naturally reaching for the cold tap at the end of your shower. To make it worthwhile and reap the benefits you will want to spend a minimum of 30 seconds at the end of your shower in pure, icy cold water. You can build this up to a minute or two, or if you’re really dedicated, spend your entire shower in the invigorating chill.
I’ve grown to love the discomfort of this and the energising effect it has on the body, mentally and physically. If you’re sensitive to the cold however, perhaps try it out and see how you feel; you may find every few days or only in the warmer months suits you best. As always, listen to your body and take it from there.
Elevated Legs
Another golden practice is the simple art of raising your legs. All you need is your wonderful body, a wall and a few minutes.
Lying on your back with your legs elevated right up against a wall for a period of time helps to improve circulation and rebalance the body. Not only this, it’s an effective way to practice mindfulness and bring your awareness back to your body at any time of the day.
One of my favourite ‘hacks’ is to combine this with other practices to really maximise the healthful benefits and get the most out of my time. Elevating your legs encourages the body to activate the parasympathetic nervous system and return to a relaxed state, however you can support this even further by adding on other restorative practices like listening to soothing music or a guided meditation, applying a face mask* or reading. If you have read the book Atomic Habits by James Clear you’ll know what I mean when I say this is a similar process to ‘habit stacking’ however in this case it is basically just taking advantage of your time and enhancing the positive effects on the body.
This is such a gentle way to decompress and improve blood flow whilst reducing tension and stagnant energy.
*I would include face masks in this list but as there are endless variations of ingredients and healing properties, I feel it needs it’s own post to really dive into the details. Stay tuned for this one!
Stretching
Stretching first thing in the morning and in the evening, in fact at any point throughout the day, is one of the easiest and most underrated ways to rebalance the body. Simply moving your body helps to activate your lymphatic system, improve circulation, release tension and shift your state of mind. I love to incorporate movement as much as I can into each day, it’s a quick and simple way to check-in with how the body feels and bring presence to your state of mind.
There are endless stretching sequences to follow and get creative with but if you need fast inspiration this is my everyday must: while you’re brushing your teeth, find yourself in a very low squat with your feet wide. It’s a deep hip opener and the perfect way to knock out two practices at the same time. This is a daily non-negotiable of mine that makes the most out those few minutes morning and evening (that will otherwise pass anyway) and helps to release tension and tightness from the hips.
Dry Body Brushing
One of my most loved practices to revive and renew the skin is through the use of a dry body brush as it helps to stimulate circulation, promote lymphatic drainage and enhance the suppleness of your body.
Dry body brushing has gained a lot more popularity over the years and for good reason; it’s a beauty ritual that isn’t surface level. It’s invigorating for the body, encouraging a radiant and youthful appearance whilst nourishing for the mind as it is an opportunity to be mindful and present.
As the name suggests, it is the act of briskly brushing the limbs in long, sweeping strokes towards the heart and in a gentle circular motion around the joints. You’ll be left feeling a warm buzz on your skin and a refreshed state of mind after this.
Hot tip — if you’re a sauna-lover like me, take a body brush to the studio and use it before your sauna session. This will help to open your pores and deeply compliment the detoxification process.
Tongue Scraping
Tongue scraping is an Ayurvedic technique that dates back centuries and is the process of gently scraping the tongue to remove bacteria, pathogens and other toxins from the body. It is an effortless, quick and inexpensive way to elevate your dental hygiene and support your internal health.
Many health practitioners believe that the tongue is directly connected to the body’s organs and is an insight to the overall health of the body. To reap the benefits of this practice you’ll want to scrape your tongue first thing in the morning, at night and every other time you brush your teeth throughout the day. You can follow these steps:
Morning
Upon waking, gently scrape your tongue from the back to front on the left and right sides 7-14 times rinsing the tool each time.
Night
Just as above, repeat the same step only this time after brushing your teeth.
Once you implement this technique into your life, I can promise it will become as vital as brushing your teeth.
There you have it, my most adored daily routines. These are such simplistic practices to implement but their effects are immense. If you feel called, I encourage you to start with one (or all!) to feel the benefits for yourself and notice how your day proceeds — with more ease, balance and clarity.
The flow-on effect of implementing practices that nourish your health internally and externally is that they infuse into other life areas; you can most definitely expect to feel all-around enhancement when you take this time and care for yourself.
Thank You!
Thank you for staying here this far — I truly hope you have found inspiration through this post. If you try any of these, let me know! I would love nothing more than to hear your feedback. You can send me a message here or on socials.
With love,
Brooke x