Well-being Things I Do Every Day

Or almost every day.

Green tea first thing in the morning. I've been drinking green tea every morning for about 20 years now. I'm not a morning coffee person. Green tea makes me feel so good, especially that first sip. It feels like my body is happy. There are some talks about all the health benefits of green tea, but honestly, I don't care too much about that. What matters most to me is how my body likes it, and loose-leaf green tea is definitely my body's thing.

And... I don't drink coffee on an empty stomach or with breakfast. Yes, I do it occasionally when I'm visiting a friend or spending a weekend out and about, but I could never make morning coffee part of my daily routine.

I do drink coffee (almost) every day, though, and it's usually when I start my structured day. Many years ago, I used to travel to Italy a lot, and that's where I mastered to drink coffee as a moment of dolce far niente -- sitting in a piazza and simply feeling the present moment. That feeling, that energy, has stayed with me ever since. So even if I'm grabbing a coffee in a paper cup on the go, on a busy day, it means a dolce far niente moment for me. It's like a tiny switch in my mind.

A couple of minutes of breathing with my hands on my chest and just below my belly button. It's my way of tuning in and coming back to myself. I do it while I'm still in bed, before I get up, so I can reconnect with myself before the day begins. I usually take 4 breaths in and breathe out is longer, like for a count of eight or even longer.

A walk every day. At least 30 minutes, but often an hour or longer. I simply enjoy walking. On busy days, I use my walks as a way to commute rather than setting aside separate time for them. Sometimes my walk are fast and sometimes slow, and I like slow walks, I feel like I give my body more presence and grace. Recently, I've started replacing some of my walks with bike rides. Even so, I still keep my daily walks as part of my routine, they're just a bit shorter on the bike days.

Yoga, stretching, and time on my aerial swing. This changes and really depends on my days and weeks, but some kind of movement practice is always part of my life (however, like over the past few weeks, I've definitely been doing less, and I allow that to happen). Sometimes it's as simple as stretching my body against the wall and doing a headstand. Other times, it's a full practice followed by fascia rolling exercises. And an aerial swing? Yes, I absolutely love it!

Sunshine. On sunny days, no matter the climate or the season, whether it's winter or summer, it's a must for me to sit for some time in the sun. Depending on how much time I have, but at least 15 minutes. No sunglasses. It's not sunbathing, it's a healing session with the sun. I'm so much connected with the sun that I often say I come from the sun. I love the feeling of the sun's rays on my skin, literally beaming through my skin, nourishing every cell in my body. And no sunscreen. Sitting in the sun is also when I usually practice sitting in silence/doing nothing (two in one). Even if it's only for a few minutes, it's good to do it every day.

Hand cream after every hand wash. This has been with me since kindergarten. Yes, really. I honestly don't remember exactly when it started, but I was very, very young, and I've kept it ever since. For the past 10–15 years, I've only used hand creams made with clean ingredients. Since I started making my own tallow balm, that's what I use on my hands every day. The same goes for my lips, a lip balm on, made with clean ingredients. A colorful lipstick is a rare choice for me. Natural and clean is simply what my body likes.

Body brushing (almost every day) after my shower. I say “almost” because there are some days when my body tells me not to do it. It feels good for my skin and my body, cleansing and refreshing. I usually apply some body oil after my shower and then brush. I don’t follow any of the newer trends around lymphatic brushing; I do it the way my body has shown me to do it, more as an intuitive practice. I’ve been doing it this way for about six years now.

Legs straight up on the wall before going to sleep. I do this while already lying in bed, for about 15-30 minutes. I’ve been practicing this for a few years now, and it feels so, so, so good. You can look up and check the benefits but I can tell, you feel the benefits.

Coconut oil pulling (almost every day). Again, I say “almost” because there are some days when my body tells me not to do it. Recently, I’ve also added rinsing my mouth with a Cl2O mixture. And speaking of my mouth and teeth, flossing every day is a basic part of my routine.

Ice cube or a frozen cucumber slice. In the morning, before applying any toner or face cream, I usually massage my face with a filtered water ice cube or a frozen cucumber slice. I mostly do this during the warmer months, as my face doesn’t enjoy it during winter. Recently, I’ve also added rubbing my wrists with the ice cube or frozen cucumber slice.

Smoothie about four days a week. It’s not an everyday thing for me. My smoothies are packed with nutrients, so maybe that’s why I don’t feel the need to have them every day. I rotate the ingredients, but there are a few non-negotiables that go into every smoothie.

That's all. It looks like a lot, and it might feel time-consuming. However, when it becomes part of a structured day and a daily routine, it feels like it gets done in no time or without requiring any extra time.

The above-mentioned practices are like almost non-negotiables for me. However, I’m okay if, for some reason, I skip one or two of them. Every day is different, and our moods are different, so it all depends on how I feel.

The most important thing is to follow the routine, because one practice naturally leads to another, and before you know it, the whole routine is completed.

Also, I get up early so I can have at least two hours for myself in the morning before the day begins. Waking up early wasn’t always my thing because I truly love slow mornings in bed. And, of course, I allow myself that pleasure when my days are flexible, letting my body feel and enjoy all the goodness that comes from resting and relaxing in bed with white cotton linens. And yes, I sometimes spoil myself with breakfast in bed. It’s so good!

There are also things I do a few times per week or a few times per month, such as certain exercise routines, meditation, yoga, running, ballet, movement classes, swing exercise, face massage, red light therapy, tuning forks, and more. But maybe I’ll share more about those another time.