The Cure for Too Much Fun
Too much fun - is that even a thing?!I'm just getting back from 4 days of celebrating one of my most favorite people alive (she got married!) and my body is like, "what the hell did you just do to me, girlfriend?" We all had an absolutely amazing time, and the wedding was perfection down to the last detail (also, how freakin' great is the bridesmaid gift she gave me - pictured above?). But now I'm feeling the need to restore some balance in a big way.Fiestas like these typically end up being a whirlwind (don't get me wrong - a super FUN whirlwind) of lack of sleep, emotions, constant socializing, eating random things as they're put in front of you, dancing, and yes, even some manual labor (us chicks ran up and down a steep hill hauling 50 lb bales of hay for about an hour #nobigdeal), and all of that fun stuff over the course of a few days takes a bit of a toll on our overall wellbeing.My body is begging me for some TLC, even my fingers feel tired typing this, so I've been taking some time to give myself a big, loving dose of R+R. Here are 5 super simple ways to honor your body and restore balance when you've had yourself a liiiiittle too much fun:
VIRGIN COCONUT OIL:
My love for this stuff runs deep, and there's not much that you can't use it for. In the past 24 hours I've used coconut oil to remove makeup, nourish my hair that was feeling a little rough from too much heat styling and products, massage sore muscles (with a drop of Deep Blue essential oil), disinfect and heal cuts (I stepped on a patch of thorns barefoot during the hay bale hauling), and moisturize/clean my skin.
Coconut_oil
VIPARITA KARANI (a.k.a. Legs up the Wall Pose):
In my opinion, this is the most restorative yoga pose of them all. It strengthens and promotes balance throughout all of your body systems (digestive, immune, nervous, respiratory, circulatory, hormonal), and gives you this amazing sense of calm and renewal. To practice at home, sit against the wall with one side of your body and then swing your legs up the wall - keeping your butt as close to the wall as possible, then lay down with your back flat on the floor (you can also use a bolster under your lower back if you need to modify). Rest your arms out to each side, palm side up. Let your leg bones settle down towards the ground, close your eyes, and focus on your breath for at least 10 minutes.
DIFFUSER:
I absolutely love diffusing essential oils - it's one of the quickest ways to positively alter our emotions and state of mind. This little magical contraption disperses a super fine mist of water and oils into the air - and the molecules are so tiny that they pass through the blood/brain barrier where they have an almost immediate effect on the limbic system which controls our emotions. When you use a diffuser the molecules will linger in the air for a few hours and as a bonus their anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties purify the air around you. For deep relaxation and restorative sleep I love to diffuse Lavender, Frankincense or Balance, and to boost my immune system, encourage detoxification, and elevate my mood I reach for On Guard, Lemon, or Citrus Bliss.
KOMBUCHA:
There aren't many days that I don't want to reach for a bottle of kombucha (it's just SO GOOD) - but when I'm feeling run down it's totally essential. This living liquid contributes overall health by promoting detoxification, increasing energy, reducing inflammation, improving digestion, boosting immune function, soothing joint + muscle pain, and so much more. It's full of enzymes, probiotics (good bacteria), and B vitamins that run around your body like little healthy feel-good soldiers. I especially love ginger-flavored 'booch to get an extra dose of anti-inflammatory, digestive, and immune-boosting benefits.
QUIET TIME:
As an extroverted introvert, constant socializing is exhausting for me (many people who know me are shocked to hear that), and after a few days of being around people morning to night, I crave quiet. I actually sometimes get to the point where people's voices and noises/music have a jarring effect on me. Having a good dose of alone time free of human interaction is essential to recharge, reset, and feel balanced. During these times I love to meditate, read, write, practice some yoga, or even just lounge - but keeping talking and noise to a minimum is the key.
