HEAL THY self with Garden of Vegan - Top 10 tips to a healthy you this 2020

Have you ever thought of the word HEALTHY before? I mean really sat down and thought about what it means. 

We get told on the daily by health professionals and alike what healthy is meant to look like, feel like, sound like and smell like.
Is being healthy measured by your physical physique? Is the answer the latest supplement product on the market? What about the amount of processed foods I consume?
There is so much misleading information out there that contradicts one another, so what does it actually mean to be healthy? And is this true for everyone?

If you break up the word healthy, it reads heal thy.
HEAL THY!

The answer to a healthier and happier you this decade is to heal thy self. 

The answer has been right in front of us this whole time and comes from within each one of us. As a smart man once told me “ït’s always an inside job”.

Here is some positive affirmations for 2020 inspired to Heal Thy self. I will…

heal the stories of the past with positive intentions for the future.

heal physical ailments using the abundance of plant-based foods around us. (As Hippocrates once said; “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”)

heal the depressive and anxious stories of the past and future, with a daily practise of presence and mindfulness.

heal my connection with myself by loving all of me and prioritising what lights me up.

heal thy self from all pain and suffering with love and connection to the world around us.

heal myself and the world around me by spending more time in nature and giving back to mother earth.

So how can you heal thy self and live your best, healthy life?

Go within, Spend some time nurturing and nourishing your mind, body and soul. 

Put in motion what healthy means to you. Really ask yourself what health means and is your current day to day routine supporting that.

Focus on real and practical lifestyle choices.

Now, this is definitely not a time to feel overwhelmed. 

It is a time to feel empowered and awakened. 

You can start taking full control of your health now and welcome abundance into your life. Small changes and even just awareness of unhealthy habits is the start. By simply adjusting a few small things that you do each day is all it takes.

Before you consume a product or expel any energy on completing a task, ask yourself the simple questions of; is this healthy for me? Is this healing? Does this make me feel open and abundant? 

If the answer is a “no” or an “I’m not sure” then it probably needs some more consideration or adjustment.

At Garden of Vegan, we have put together a list of the top 10 things we practise daily to help contribute to our overall health and well-being. These 10 things are simple and easy adjustments that you can do now to help enhance your health this 2020. The team has included some tips and tricks which has helped them in their individual health journeys to date;

1. Drink 1-3L of clean, filtered water each day from a refillable drink bottle.
   The quality of your drinking water is very important for your health. Ensure you have access to quality, filtered drinking water. The GOV team each carry around glass water bottles each day and refill them using our reverse osmosis filtration system we have fitted at the kitchen. This ensures we are removing most common chemical contaminants which include chloride, copper, chromium, and lead, as well as reducing arsenic and fluoride just to name a few. By using a refillable glass drinking bottle it reduces our single-use plastic consumption. 
2. Create a bedtime routine to encourage deep, restful sleep
   Rest is one of the most important things we can do for our bodies. To help improve sleep quality we suggest minimising blue light and technology exposure in the evening, use dimming lights or candles instead of bright artificial light, evaluate your bedroom space and ensure you have good airflow in the room, make sure you are comfy (not too hot, not too cold but just right!), try to resolve your day’s tasks or any conflicts so you mind is at peace and awake slowly and calmly, not abruptly. A great book to read on sleep is; Sleep Smarter By Shawn Stevenson
3. Spend time in nature each day
   We are so blessed in Australia to have an abundant playground of beaches, parks, rainforests, mountains, rivers, bushland, rockpools and so much more. We encourage you to get out and about and ground yourself in nature each day. This could be as simple as walking barefoot along the beach or even in the backyard. As few as 5 minutes of deep breathing in nature each day has improved the mental stability and productivity of the Garden of Vegan team members. Give it a try…
4. Minimise chemicals and toxins
   We encourage you to switch from conventional brands to more eco-friendly, organic and low tox brands to minimise your chemical consumption daily when using the following products; deodorants, perfumes, toothpastes, cleaning products, makeup, soap, conditioner and shampoos. Many chemicals found in these products are poisonous not only to us humans, but also the environment around us.
5. Eat high vibing organic foods from the rainbow 
   It is important that you eat a mixture of raw and cooked seasonal plant-based wholefoods each day that represent the colours of the rainbow. This includes; fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grains and beans. Avoid heavily processed foods including oil and sugar and try to avoid buying packet foods.
6. Eat more mindfully
   Take your time eating. Enjoy the moment and chew double the amount of time you usually would. Be grateful for each bite. At each new mealtime express your gratitude and share this practice with whomever you are eating with. Hey, you might just start a positive new habit. 
7. Try a new hobby or bring an old hobby back
   Why not bring some more joy into your life and have a bit of fun? Sometimes it’s easy to put our passions aside for what we ‘have’ to do each day. We encourage you to make one of your hobbies your new ‘have’ to. What was your childhood pastime? Or what have you always wanted to try? Challenge your mind and spark more joy. Your soul will thank you.
8. Read more books and ditch the screen
   Here are some of our teams favourite all time books to add to your collection;
   The China Study By T Colin Campbell & T. M. Campbell 
   How Not to Die By Michael Greger, MD 
   Whole: Rethinking the science of nutrition By T Colin Campbell & H. Jacobson 
   The Healthiest Diet on the Planet By Dr John McDougall 
   Principles By Ray Dalio
   Hippocratic Corpus
   Mans search for meaning By Viktor Frankl
9. Create more time for connection and community
   Make it a priority to connect with friends and family daily using the GOV teams cheat sheet below;
   - Even if you are far away from your loved ones, you may choose one or two afternoons a week on the drive home to ring someone you haven’t spoken to in a while. Yes ring, not text.
   - Start ‘date night’. One designated night per week, fortnight or month that you assign to a loved one.
   - Find a local community group or activity in your area where you can go and get involved. This could be a mums and bubs group, a local church, nursing home, homeless shelter, youth group, hey you may even want to start coaching a local junior sporting side. Find something that you are passionate about and get involved!
   - Set clear boundaries and be disciplined with your schedule. Be organised and book in your play dates in advance so you have no excuse
10. Move each day
    As human beings, we are designed to move and work our amazing bodies each day. This does not mean you have to slog it out at a gym, but what it does mean is that you need to move and stretch your amazing body each day, in a way that suits you. It can be as simple as a 30-minute walk and some light stretching each day. Or it could be engaging in a team sport and training weekly.
    Some ideas to help you include more incidental movement into your day;
    - Park the car at the furthest point you can, when at your work car park or local shops, meaning more walking
    - Have a ‘dance’ track you put on each morning when getting ready for work or before your shower
    - Find a movement buddy to help motivate you or hold you accountable

One other important tip that didn’t make the list but is still an important part of each of the Garden of Vegan team members day is meditation. The practice of calming the mind and being present each day, be it on a yoga mat in a seated position or even being present whilst walking at your local park, will help to improve your overall well-being.

If you would like to know more about what healthy means to us at Garden of Vegan, please reach out to us.

We hope this decade brings you health, happiness and abundance in whatever dreams or future goals you may have.