Recently, I found myself in a wellness funk. I hadn’t exercised in a while, and most of my meals were DoorDash deliveries. After weeks of sitting on the couch and eating cheese-covered carbohydrates, I was ready for a wellness reboot. So, I reached out to Bianca Melas, a certified BHSc Naturopath, and Pilates instructor, to learn her top tips for staying healthy. Read on to discover Bianca Melas’s non-negotiables to help her look and feel her best every day.
1. Meditate
Raise your hand if you’ve ever snapped at your partner after a long day or become flustered by a stressful situation at work. While we’d all love to play it cool and roll with the punches, that’s hard to do without a regular mindfulness practice. Melas is a big fan of getting her zen on: “Meditation allows me to still my mind and become grounded, so I’m less reactive and more responsive to those around me.” Neuroscience backs this daily ritual. A 2016 study found that 20 minutes of meditation can reduce your brain’s reactivity, helping you respond calmly to negative emotions.
2. Stay hydrated
We all know that drinking enough water is essential for physical well-being. However, many of us still rely on caffeine to get through the day, only sipping on water occasionally. Make hydration a priority and take a page from Melas’s book. “I start each morning with lemon water and then continue to consume 2-3 liters of water throughout the day to maintain hydration. This is key for digestion, glowing skin, and energy,” explains Melas. If you’re like me and struggle to drink enough water, our wellness editor, Josie Santi, recommends a motivational 64oz water bottle. Since this bottle is larger than others, you won’t need to refill it throughout the day. This removes an added barrier between you and hydration.
3. Have a supplement routine
Even the healthiest eaters struggle to get all the nutrients they need from food alone. That’s where supplements come in handy. Multivitamins, probiotics, and CBD all have the ability to upgrade your wellness routine from good to great. But you have to take them regularly if you want to experience their benefits. That’s why Melas preaches the importance of consistency: “Consistency is always key. Maintaining a healthy diet and taking supplements daily helps me meet my nutritional needs and achieve my health goals.”
4. Change your workout expectations
When most people think about exercise, they assume they need to slog through a grueling hour-long workout for their activity to “count.” This unrealistic expectation makes it less likely that you’ll work out on days when you’re busy or simply aren’t feeling it. Instead of forcing herself to hit the gym, Melas adapts her workouts to fit her life so that she can move every day. “No matter how long I have, I move every day, even if it’s just 10 minutes. It doesn’t need to be crazy or intense—just walking in the sunshine with my puppy is enough some days,” she said.
5. Incorporate small actions of self-love
In an age where social media glorifies unrealistic beauty standards, most of us deal with low self-esteem or dissatisfaction with our bodies. In fact, some research shows that women who interact with social media posts report lower self-confidence afterward. While you might not always like how you look, cultivating a self-love practice can help combat low self-esteem. Melas recommended finding little moments throughout your day to give back to yourself. These small actions of self-love will look different for everyone, but if you need a few ideas, Melas’s favorite self-love activities include dry brushing, spending time in nature, and reading a good book.
