how to do a post-holiday detox

The holiday season has come and gone. January is here, the New Year in full effect. People everywhere are engaging in a post-holiday detox of sorts. But surely there is more to a post-holiday detox than food as the only focal point. When thinking about how to do a post-holiday detox, focusing holistically is the best approach.

Mind, body, and home – it all matters when trying to achieve optimal health and happiness.

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mind

1. Meditate. There’s even an app to help with it. Check out Headspace, Calm or Buddhify.
2. Reduce stress. In general, think of all the ways you can reduce stress. It will never be a practical solution to completely remove it from your life. The goal should be to reduce it and to figure out ways of coping with it. Check out these 28 ideas for reducing stress.
3. Journal. Writing in a private space has long been a practice to help clear the mind. Get a journal, fancy or basic, and put thoughts from mind-to-pen-to-paper in order to clear space.
4. Go for a long drive to clear your mind.
5. Create SMART goals for 2018. Put your goals into action by creating SMART goals. Click HERE to learn how to create them.
6. Disconnect. Turn off your phone a few times per day, and for good at least 2 hours before bedtime.
7. Gratitude list. Start a gratitude list by writing down one thing at the end of each day you are grateful for. It can be as simple as, “Fresh flowers.” 
8. Live in the moment. Don’t overthink. Stay focused on the here and now.
9. Unsubscribe. Unsubscribe from unnecessary emails and people via social media feeds that take up negative space in your day and mind.
10. Learn a new skill. Research something new. Branch out. Try something you’ve never done before. You never know where it might take you.

body

1. Hydrate. According to the Mayo Clinic, men should drink about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids per day and women should drink about 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day. Make sure you’re drinking enough to support not only the daily maintenance but also any extra activity you might be doing.
2. Move. Don’t love to run? That’s okay. You don’t have to do a certain form of fitness activity, but you should aim to do some sort of activity. Trying new things is the best way to see what you might like. 
3. Try Oil Pulling. Also known as “kavala” or “gundusha,” oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic technique that uses natural substances to draw out toxins in your body. Oil pulling with coconut oil is an easy way to improve oral health and can be completed in 4 easy steps: Put 1-2 teaspoons of coconut oil into your mouth, swish for 20 minutes, spit oil into the garbage, and brush teeth well. (Click HERE to grab 9 more ways to improve your beauty routine with coconut oil.)
4. Increase your fruit and veggie intake. Make it easy and start with a 7 Days of Smoothies Challenge.
5. Swap the morning coffee for a Matcha Latte or Golden Turmeric Latte. Or reduce overall coffee consumption and simply boost your morning cup of joe with MCT Oil which can help support weight management.
6. Decrease added sugars and other processed food.
7. Eat organic as often as possible. If nothing else, make sure you’re always choosing organic when it comes to the Dirty Dozen list.
8. Take an Epsom salt bath. Relax in a warm, Epsom salt bath. Check out these 7 Benefits of Epsom Salt.
9. Ensure you’re using only the best in skin and body care products. Make your own whenever possible. Start with the basics like makeup remover wipes, body scrub, and body wash.
10. Treat yourself to a massage. Whether it’s full body or just feet, neck and shoulders, or hands – indulge from time-to-time.

home

1. Organize all holiday decorations. Discard or recycle things like Christmas lights, broken ornaments, and holiday books you no longer read.
2. Get some houseplants to help clean the air. To help get you started, check out THIS graphic for plant type ideas.
3. Remind people to take their shoes off at the door. Dirty shoes bring in dust, lead, pesticides, and other bacteria.
4. Open the windows. Let fresh air in as often as possible. 
5. Update your clothing and bedding. Little-by-little, swap out your clothing and bedding that contains polyesters, nylon, and acrylic, which are made from plastics.
6. Switch to non-toxic DIY cleaning products like baking soda, vinegar, soap, and lemon peel. We love these 19 Natural Cleaning Tips (+Easy Recipes) from Wellness Mama.
7. Avoid non-stick pans. Choose instead glass bakeware and stainless steel or cast iron pots and pans.
8. Cut down on your use of plastics. Get to know which plastics numbers are safe to use. Choose glass over plastic whenever and wherever you can.
9. Use essential oils + a diffuser to infuse pleasant aromas. Throw out the standard air diffusers and candles, and replace with essential oils or plants (see #2)
10. Declutter. Start by getting rid of 5 things you never use. A happy, healthy home starts with less clutter. After you’ve gotten rid of the first 5, go through each room in your house, and getting rid of the things that no longer have a place in your home and life.

How do you do a post-holiday mind, body, and home detox? Let us know your best tips and tricks in the comments below.