I'll be the first to admit that exercise, more often than not, is lacking in my life. Why? Well, like everyone, I have a long list of excuses:
I don't have time.
I don't have time.
I don't enjoy it.
I'm too tired.
I'm too tired.
I'm too out of shape.
These are just a few of my more common reasons. But the fact is, when I take time to exercise on a regular basis, I feel SO much better! As a busy stay at home, work at home, homeschool mom, finding the right time to exercise can be interesting. I don't like an audience, so I need a peaceful, uninterrupted time. Even then, I want it to be quick.
Here are a few ways I have found to easily fit exercise into my schedule without it "interfering" with my life:
- Use an app on the phone.
- One of my favorites is the Daily Yoga app. It has a variety of yoga
routines to fit everyone from beginner to advanced. - My daughter likes to use the Workout for Women app (7M Women). It has a variety of workouts that can be done in just 7 minutes. She and I like to do some of these together, giving me an accountability partner.
- One of my favorites is the Daily Yoga app. It has a variety of yoga
- Take a family walk or hike. Just 20 min a day can do wonders for you! Not only are you getting some exercise, you are also getting fresh air!
- Take a family bike ride.
- Pinterest. Man, there are sooooo many options!
- Online. These days you can find anything online, right? That goes for personal trainers too. No need to go to the gym, you can pull up a video or site and get to work!
- Clean the house. Yep, that's right..think it's not exercise? Think again! While it's not full blown exercise, it is considered a mild form of it. Add it to a regular routine of exercise and you're on to something! Here's an interesting article you can read about it.
These are all fairly simple ways to get started. Once you adjust to short spurts of activity, you can add to it and really get your body moving! Remember to drink water as you move. I love adding a drop of Peppermint to mine to help refresh my body and keep me moving!
Interested in more ways to stay healthy? Check out my FREE guide on ways adopting a more natural lifestyle can change your life. Bonus: Immune Boosting Rollerball Recipe!
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What Do You Do To Relax During Trying Times?There are several ways to relax and unwind. The key is finding the ways that work best for you and then DOING them. This is especially needed now when a lot of us are being forced to stay home. As a homeschool family, this isn't very new to us. Different, yes, because some of our extra activities have been cancelled as well. However, we have to find ways to keep the peace around the home on a daily basis.
Here are some things I have found to help:
1. Spend time alone with God. This could be any time frame, even just 15-20 min. You might be surprised the difference this can make. Pray, read your Bible, meditate on what it says.
1. Spend time alone with God. This could be any time frame, even just 15-20 min. You might be surprised the difference this can make. Pray, read your Bible, meditate on what it says.
2. Have quiet time each day, for everyone. Every day after lunch we have quiet time. It doesn't matter that my kids are between the ages of 12-17...we still have quiet time. This is a time where we each go to our own areas. Since not everyone has their own bedroom, we split it where 1 person is in the bedroom and the other is in the living room. No matter how it's done, having individual space for a time is very helpful! What do we do during this time? For the kids this is time to read (usually doing school work), craft (something quietly in their area), and play (gotta keep creative juices flowing!). For me it's when I get my work done or do little things around the house that I need quiet for.
3. Spend at least 20 min reading something you enjoy.
4. Enjoy a hot cup of coffee or tea. There's nothing I love more than to sit and enjoy a hot cup of coffee in the morning (or afternoon!) and a hot cup of tea in the evening to help me unwind for the night.
5. Journal 15 min a day. Write down your thoughts and feelings, goals, events of the day, anything on your mind. This helps get your thoughts out, no right or wrong, so that you can declutter your mind.
6. Get the sleep you need...not too much, not too little. Every one is different. I could simply say "sleep 8 hour a night", however, there are some who do even better with just 6 hours, others need 9. Know your body. Pay attention to what works for you. Going to bed and getting up at the same time every day also helps.7. Keep things clean and organized. I don't know about you, but I function much better if things are clean and where they belong. My guys will claim it doesn't matter, but even they show a change in attitude when things are nice and tidy. This could be something as simple as taking 15 min a day for every one to do a quick clean up.
8. Keep a diffuser going. There are so many soothing scents. Play around with some of your favorites and get that diffuser going!
9. Listen to calming music. Use Pandora or any app you can create a playlist on. Just turn it on and take time to chill.
10. Unplug. Yep, it's always a good idea to unplug at least an hour before going to bed at night. I'll admit that I have a hard time doing that. However, if an hour is too difficult to do, then shoot for 30 min. You may find that giving your mind time to relax from all of the "action" helps you rest better at night. It's also a good idea to limit your use throughout the day.
11.Take a soothing bath. I love to add lavender to epsom salts and enjoy a quite bath at the end of the day. If taking a bath isn't an option, opt for a foot bath!
11.Take a soothing bath. I love to add lavender to epsom salts and enjoy a quite bath at the end of the day. If taking a bath isn't an option, opt for a foot bath!
12. Spend some time outdoors. Get some Vitamin D, the natural way! That's easier said than done with all the rain we've been having. However, it can still do wonders for you to just step outside and enjoy some fresh air for just a few minutes every day. Take time to enjoy all that God has created in nature.
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Germs...they are everywhere! It's fairly common to see some sort of sanitizing wipes everywhere you go to wipe down hands, shopping carts, everything! But, did you know that if there are yucky ingredients in those products, you may be weakening your immune system instead of helping it? Do yourself, and your loved ones, a favor and research the products you use.
I have done my research and found a product I not only trust, but it also works wonderfully, saves me money and is so versatile it can be used everywhere! So, what is this product? Thieves Household Cleaner...yep, it's amazing! I have used it EVERYwhere....dishwasher, laundry, bathroom, windows...the list goes on.
What's my favorite way to use it? I'm glad you asked! I love making thieves wipes. I usually make them disposable, however, I have used the same recipe with t-shirt squares for a washable option.
Thieves Wipes
Ingredients
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 cup distilled water
- 1 capful thieves household cleaner
Instructions
Cut paper towels in half and remove the cardboard roll. Place paper towels into the container. Mix vinegar, water, and cleaner in measuring cup and pour over the paper towels. Place lid on to keep moisture in.
Pull paper towels out of the center.
You can also place some in a smaller container to keep in your car, bag, or anywhere!
Watch the DIY video here:
These are so convenient! I keep a container in the kitchen, each bathroom, and in my van.
Enjoy!
Join our HomeGrown Homestead community—a place where we learn, grow, and share our homesteading journey together, fostering a bond of shared wisdom and experience. (everyone is welcome!)
Step into Lavender & Coffee: A Sip of Serenity, a haven for moms seeking support and community on their journey to fulfilling their roles as wives and mothers with grace and purpose.(for moms only)
Mental health is something I have always been mindful of. I took some courses in college and loved it all! Though I didn't finish my degree, I found myself furthering my education in a different manner. In 2018 I became certified in the Aroma Freedom Technique. This is an amazing process that helps people overcome what is holding them back so that they can reach their goals and dreams. This process has worked wonders on my emotions, as well as many other people I have had the privilege to share it with.
What is the Aroma Freedom Technique?
What exactly is the Aroma Freedom Technique (AFT)? It is a step-by-step process that uses the power of scent to gently shift your awareness away from being negative to positive. It does this by replacing those thoughts and memories with a new positive outlook and attitude. This results in greater confidence in yourself. When negative mindsets are no longer holding you back, you are free to create the life you desire.
The Aroma Freedom Technique, coupled with my training as a Life Coach, has given me a powerful tool that is often used to help others move past blocks that are standing in the way of reaching their goals and dreams. Once the blocks are removed, they can more confidently move forward and find a better balance in their lives.
Branches of the Aroma Freedom Technique
There are several branches that fall under Aroma Freedom.
- Aroma Reset is used for a current stressful situation to help you clear the stress and move forward.
- Aroma Boost is used after clearing a current situation (through Aroma Reset) and helping you move forward by creating a new vision. This moves you from the present into the future.
- Aroma Clear is used when an Aroma Reset brings up past memories that you need to deal with in order to move forward.
- TMRT is used when you know there is a specific memory/situation from the past that needs to be dealt with before you can move forward.
- Aroma Freedom is used when you have a goal in mind that you want to reach. You start from where you are currently and look forward to the future.
The Aroma Freedom Technique is something that everyone can benefit from. I am certified to help in all of the areas listed above. If you would like more information, please contact me using the menu bar above.
If you are interested in taking hold of your health, check out my guide on developing a natural lifestyle. You can find it here.
Join our HomeGrown Homestead community—a place where we learn, grow, and share our homesteading journey together, fostering a bond of shared wisdom and experience. (everyone is welcome!)
Step into Lavender & Coffee: A Sip of Serenity, a haven for moms seeking support and community on their journey to fulfilling their roles as wives and mothers with grace and purpose.(for moms only)
Do you find your self easily stressed and overwhelmed with daily life? Cooking, cleaning, caring for the kids, homeschool, working from home...the list goes on. Does it ever slow down?
There are several things that can add to our daily stresses. You may find it hard to make time for yourself to unwind at the end of a long day or for a healthy diet and exercise. There is so much information out there these days that it's hard to know where to start. However, it's kind of a big deal and one you don't want to let go too far.
If stress isn't managed well it 
can lead to more health problems and also affects relationships. What's a busy, overwhelmed mom to do? Maybe you've already tried KonMarie, shopping at health food stores, buying "green" products, or maybe even a specialty cookbook (keto or paleo). But sometimes that just doesn't cut it. It's hard to find the right balance that works for not just one area of your home but for the whole family. A balance that suits the needs of everyone and also doesn't take more of your precious time.
can lead to more health problems and also affects relationships. What's a busy, overwhelmed mom to do? Maybe you've already tried KonMarie, shopping at health food stores, buying "green" products, or maybe even a specialty cookbook (keto or paleo). But sometimes that just doesn't cut it. It's hard to find the right balance that works for not just one area of your home but for the whole family. A balance that suits the needs of everyone and also doesn't take more of your precious time.Here are some steps I have found to help tone down the stresses of daily life so that I don't become overwhelmed:
- Diffuse calming essential oils. Essential oil blends like Stress Away or Peace & Calming help set the tone for a calm and relaxed atmosphere.
- Make a list of priorities. Work on them one at a time.
- Family time
- Time for yourself to unwind at the end of the day
- Family wellness (diet and activities that promote a healthy lifestyle)
- Home organization & cleaning
- Pick one new item from the list above to incorporate daily. Do this once a day for 4 weeks. For example:
- Habit 1: diffuse daily
- Habit 2: drink NingXia Red daily
- Habit 3: apply an oil daily
- Habit 4: switch household cleaning items to Thieves
- Create a family chore/task board so that each person knows what they need to do each day to help take the pressure off of you to get it all done.
- Commit to at least one way to unwind each day. This could be reading a book at night, taking a bath, or maybe treating yourself to a solo outing once a month.
What things do you do to help keep the stress at bay? I'd love to hear how you keep your life in balance.
Join our HomeGrown Homestead community—a place where we learn, grow, and share our homesteading journey together, fostering a bond of shared wisdom and experience. (everyone is welcome!)
Step into Lavender & Coffee: A Sip of Serenity, a haven for moms seeking support and community on their journey to fulfilling their roles as wives and mothers with grace and purpose.(for moms only)
