Wellness

I strive to be healthy all year but as plans ramp up during the summer and my inner extrovert comes out to play, my health goals tend to slip by the wayside. Between bachelorette parties, weekend trips, and a packed social calendar of happy hours and beach days, it’s easy to forget about the health goals I put into place on January 1st. However, I’m claiming this season to be my “balanced girl summer” A.K.A. maintaining a presence during my busy schedule while keeping my body and mind happy and healthy.
Here are five easy ways I’m enjoying all that the summer has to offer without missing a beat with my health goals (that you can totally copy, too):
 
Source: Mom Water
 
1. Choose my drinks wisely
With an uptick in my social plans in the summer, it’s a season where my alcohol intake tends to spike. I typically reach for 1-2 glasses of wine per week (with the occasional cameo from an extra espresso martini), but my drinking habits shift a bit when my planner is booked full of happy hours, parties, and vacations.
My problem is that most drinks, especially during the hot, humid days of summer, leave me feeling bloated and on the verge of a splitting headache. I recently found a low-calorie vodka water called Mom Water and let me tell you: I’ll be packing it in my cooler for bonfires, cookouts, and tailgating all summer long. The first time I tried them, I woke up with no hangover and no urge to never drink again (both a rarity for me). I went back to the fridge to check the ingredient label of this seemingly wonder product and I loved what I saw: no sugar, carbs, or carbonation. 
Since I had been raving about them so much to my friends, I brought their Mom Squad variety pack to a picnic and I should’ve packed more—everyone reached for Mom Water over the other drinks we had in our cooler. I love that I can still enjoy a day out with my friends, but keep my health goals on track—and without feeling blah afterward.

2. Multitask while I get my steps in
One of my biggest health challenges, especially while working from home, is sitting too much since I’m at my desk for most of the day. Some days I get a few walks in a day, but other days, I’m lucky if I walk to my front door to pick up my food delivery. So I’ve decided to make the most of my daily step count on days that feel pressed for time. 
I’ll be using my lunch break to go for a walk instead of eating at my desk, catching up with my fiancé and friends after work while on a quick evening walk, and hopping on the treadmill during my scrolling time. Getting some steps in sure seems a lot less daunting (and a lot more enjoyable) when I’m chatting with a friend or catching up on my favorite podcast.

3. Lean on meal prep during busy weeks
During these crazy busy months, I like to lean on meal prep when I’d much rather be lounging out by the pool than inside throwing dinner together on a whim. Meal prep helps cut back on the time inside away from all of the fun and lets you keep up with your health goals (instead of running into the habit of throwing a pizza in the oven and calling it a day which I’m most certainly guilty of). Plus, you can save some extra cash by avoiding takeout when you’re on the go by grabbing your Tupperware while you’re running out the door. Here are some of my favorite meal prep recipes you can prep on Sundays before your busy week ahead. 

Source: Ella Olsson | Pexels

4. Up my water intake
I’m obsessed with my emotional support water bottle…when I actually remember to bring it with me. Keeping hydrated during the summer months is key because we’re spending long days out in the sun and sweating a lot more than the rest of the year.
Behold: the Owala FreeSip Water Bottle that is going to help me achieve all of my hydrated summer dreams. This one keeps my water ice cold and is a lot easier to bring on the go compared to my Stanley. You can even toss it in a bag since it’s spillproof. I’ll be storing my Owala at my desk during the weekdays and moving it by my car keys during the weeknights and weekends to keep this health goal top of mind.

5. Ditch the gym for an outdoor workout class
I’ve got to be honest: I despise working out. I’ve never (willingly) been a big gym girly and I have finally accepted that fact at the ripe age of 27. This year, I’m trying out a few outdoor group workout classes to switch things up from my usual routine. 
Group workout classes—like yoga, barre, and kickboxing—make workouts a lot more enjoyable for me. I tend to schedule them during weekday mornings so I can spend weekday nights and weekends living my best life. If I’m feeling like having a self-care Sunday, I grab my gals for a yoga and meditation morning and get some active time in that way.

12 Things Healthy Women Do Before 8 A.M.

This post contains a sponsored inclusion of Mom Water but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board. More

If you’re anything like me, you’ve experienced what I call the “after-work slump,” or that feeling when you feel completely depleted of all energy and just want to park it on the couch. After spending eight hours staring at a screen, it can be hard to feel motivated to do anything else. But just taking a few minutes to reset and unwind after I’ve called it a day can majorly set the tone for the rest of my night. If you’re looking for ways to relax after work, look no further. Read on for 10 ways healthy women refresh their minds and bodies after a long day.

1. Physically separate yourself from your workspace
Whether you’re working from home or in an office, it’s important to create physical space between your workspace and home life. If you commute to your workplace, the travel time itself can serve as a physical buffer. Take it one step further by listening to your favorite podcast or calling a loved one. If your commute is five steps from your couch, create a boundary by having your workspace in a separate room or packing up your computer at the end of the day. If this isn’t feasible, consider covering your workspace with a blanket to create a visual reminder that you are done for the day.

2. Practice breathwork
If there’s one thing we can control in life, it’s our breath. And after a long, stressful day, taking a few (or many!) deep breaths can be just what we need to reset and re-energize. Breathwork not only helps with de-stressing but can also elevate your mood and even help lower inflammation. When it comes to resetting after work, try taking long, deep breaths with your chest and stomach expanding when you inhale. Repeat this for 1-2 minutes and you’ll feel more relaxed.

3. Try a mindfulness activity
One of the best things to do after a long workday is to focus on the present moment. When you’re bouncing from task to task and constantly being interrupted by email notifications, it’s easy to feel overstimulated. A quick and easy mindfulness practice is checking in with yourself. Think about your physical, mental, and emotional health and what you need. This brief pause can help prioritize refocus and set intentions after a long day of work.

4. Head outside
Spending time in the great outdoors has been shown to have many positive benefits for overall health, including reducing stress, boosting your mood, and supporting your immune system. And nothing quite resets your mind and body like a breath of fresh air. When the work day is over, consider it your sign to step outside (weather permitting) to reap the benefits of nature. 

5. Eat a nutrient-rich snack
If the time between when you finish work for the day and dinner is more than an hour, you may benefit from fueling up with a post-work snack. As a dietician, I recommend combining slow-digesting carbs, protein, and healthy fats for a nutrient-rich snack that will jumpstart your evening. We all know cottage cheese is having a *moment*, and I can’t deny it’s also my go-to. If that’s not your thing, my other personal faves are fruit and nut butter, yogurt with berries, and veggies (or whole grain crackers) with hummus.

6. Enjoy a hydrating beverage
My hydration goals often fall by the wayside during the course of the workday, especially when I’m caught up completing various tasks. Pouring yourself a large glass of water can help serve as a reset at the end of the day. For an extra twist, try infusing your water with lemon, berries, or fresh herbs, such as mint. Enjoying a nice cup of (decaffeinated) tea can also signal that the workday is over and it’s time to unwind.

7. Take your eyes off screens
Staring at a screen for hours on end can lead to symptoms like dry eyes, eye strain, headaches, and tech neck, just to name a few. For an instant boost after work, try to engage in something that doesn’t involve a screen. It can be anything from simply taking the time to look around outside or completing a household task, like finally getting to that pile of laundry. Whatever you choose, your eyes will thank you. 

8. Make time for movement
Sitting for long periods of time (as many of us do at our desks all day) has been linked to many health conditions (think: obesity, increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, and unhealthy cholesterol levels). Consider the end of your workday a good time to get moving before you carry on with your evening, even if it’s just a few minutes. Try these stretches, book a workout class, or—our favorite—go on a Hot Girl Walk.

9. Journal
Journaling has been shown to reduce stress and help you process your emotions, which means making time to jot down a few thoughts or something you’re grateful for at the end of the day can help you decompress. If you’ve never journaled before, don’t fear—here are some prompts to get you started. 

10. Engage in a stress-reducing hobby
If there’s one surefire way to take your mind off of work, it’s doing something that you truly enjoy. Hobbies allow us to de-stress while giving us a creative outlet. An added bonus is that they can even help you perform better at work and connect with others who have shared interests. Spend a few minutes post-work engaging in something you love, whether it be calligraphy, gardening, or cooking!

12 Things Healthy Women Do Before 8 A.M. More

Between her top podcast, Him and Her Podcast, her popular blog The Skinny Confidential, and the namesake line of Barbie-pink self-care tools, Lauryn Evarts Bosstick is hard to miss. The influencer-turned-entrepreneur runs a lifestyle empire on top of being a dedicated wife and mother of two, requiring her to make the most of her mornings to prioritize her me-time. I wanted to get the skinny (pun intended) on how Bosstick gets it all in, so I gathered all of her morning routine tips. Spoiler: She’s all about the soft-girl energy in the A.M., and we’re totally here for it. 
If there’s one takeaway from Bosstick’s A.M. wellness routine, it’s this: “I don’t have it all figured out,” Bosstick acknowledged to PureWow. “Some days are a shit show. But over the years, I’ve been able to fine-tune my schedule to what works and what doesn’t.” Her regimen is just that: hers. “What people don’t understand is the reason I’m not stressed out 24/7 is because of my preventative wellness routine,” she affirmed. Bosstick’s morning routine is extra (and she’s the first to admit it). But she knows for her, it’s worth the time and energy to invest so she can show up as her best self for her business and her family. That doesn’t mean your morning routine has to look like hers in order for you to show up as your best self. Translation: You do you, boo. Read on for Lauryn Evarts Bosstick’s morning routine to draw inspiration for what might work for you, and (as always) leave what doesn’t. 

In this article

Lauryn Evarts Bosstick’s Morning Routine
Wake Up Without an Alarm Clock
While Bosstick’s typical rise and shine time is 7 A.M., she’s not a believer in alarm clocks. In fact, she told PureWow that she despises them because of their negative impact on cortisol levels. Instead, she sets herself up for success the night before by winding down at 8:30 P.M. so she can wake up naturally. 

Check Off the Non-Negotiables
Lauryn’s well-known as a hardcore habit-stacker (see: James Clear’s Atomic Habits) and her non-negotiables in the morning are light, movement, hydration, and meditation. The first thing she does after waking up is make the bed, scrape her tongue, ice-roll her face, open the shades, and hydrate with lemon water and tea while organizing her space. If you’re wondering where scrolling through notifications fits in, well, it doesn’t—at least not for another couple of hours (that in itself deserves major kudos). “I no longer have the capacity or the urge to touch my phone first thing in the morning anymore,” Bosstick informed PureWow. “This has been life-changing for me.”

Keep Skincare Simple
You’d think that as an elite beauty influencer, Bosstick would have a gazillion-step beauty regimen that takes up most of her morning. In reality, she prefers to keep it simple, even admitting to Marie Claire that she barely wears makeup unless she’s traveling. We already know she can’t live without her cult-status ice roller (a hot girl essential). But besides some good ol’ cold therapy, she laid out her simple step-by-step beauty routine for Glossy: spritz YINA’s Essential Mist, apply a vitamin C serum, a B5 hydration gel, and a de-puffing oil—all of which takes about five minutes.

Meditate While Habit-Stacking
Next up: 20 minutes of meditation, namely Joe Dispenza’s morning meditation, with legs up the wall to relax the nervous system and kick in lymphatic drainage (see: habit stacking). While she’s expressed her love for a Joe Dispenza morning routine on social media and her podcast, she likes to switch it up, depending on what she’s in the mood for. “Here’s the thing about meditation: You have to do what works for you,” she expressed. “Sometimes, I love a Melissa Wood session or even silence. The concept of living in your future and not in your past has been a huge tool for me personally.”

Move the Body With a Walk Outside and Strength Training
Fast forward to 9:15 A.M.: Bosstick heads out for an hour-long walk to get outside, start moving the body, and connect with her husband and kids. She then heads to her gym to train with Austin-based Bodies By Brent (BTW, she’s been vocal that weight lifting has changed her life). 

 
Make Time for Wellness Rituals
Besides being an ice-roller stan, Bosstick is a dry brushing and red light therapy devotee. But her wellness hacks don’t stop there. Her IG “Wellness” Highlights give us a sneak peek into her other practices (see “Her Favorite Products” section below to shop them all). One of the practices Lauryn swears has changed her life the most is cold plunging. The protocol she follows is three 3-minute plunges with 2- and 3-minute breaks in between when she performs rebounding (read: jumping on a mini trampoline) to warm up and stimulate her lymphatic system, or she breaks up her plunges with 15 minutes in the sauna. No cold plunge bath or time for a whole routine? Turning your shower cold for the last few minutes can reap all the same benefits. 

Load Up on Supplements and Nutrients
Bosstick has many supplements and foods to get in as many nutrients as possible throughout the morning. “This is so random, but I’ll eat kiwi before I work out, because it does something to my blood sugar, with chia seeds or black sesame seeds or hemp seeds,” Bosstick revealed to Marie Claire. She loves an elixir, and is a fan of adding Agent Nateur holi(mane) supplement, Athletic Greens, and ice to a big tumbler of water, which she tries to whip up at 8 or 9 A.M. Later in the morning, she’ll make a “workout drink” which consists of Kion Mango Aminos Powder, Thorne Creatine, and Water & Wellness Quinton Minerals—in a Stanley cup, of course. To fuel her body after a workout, her go-to is a concoction of one cup of oatmeal, two scoops of protein powder, berries, and almond milk. 

Shop Bosstick’s Morning Routine Must-Have’s

Melissa Wood-Tepperberg Swears Her Routines Changed Her Life–Here’s the Breakdown More