Top Mind/Body Trends of 2019
These days we realize that being healthy is a mind + body experience, not an endeavor solely focused on food and exercise. While eating healthy and taking care of ourselves physically is essential, we also need to manage stress, sleep well, use tech responsibly in our lives, be mindful of what’s in products we use on our bodies (such as makeup, etc)., and so on. It can all seem a bit overwhelming at times, so we’re here to help you out with a look at some of the top mind & body trends of 2019.
You’ve likely heard it before but meditation really is one of the best ways to take care of your mind. It’s also not as hard as you might think - it just takes a bit of practice - plus you can do it in as few as 10 minutes a day. It’s simply a way to untangle your thoughts and separate yourself from emotions a bit so you don’t automatically react to events happening in your life (because let’s face it, instantaneous reaction to things happening isn’t always a good thing!). Benefits include relieving stress, improving mood, sharpening focus, and more. Start with looking at why you want to meditate, then try a variety of practices to see which fits into your lifestyle and fits you best. There are plenty of apps out there to try. We’re a fan of Headspace - it has different meditation exercises, plus a free & paid version.
Something else we recommend getting behind this year? Body positivity. You’ve probably heard of this movement by now and there’s a lot to be said for it. Essentially, body positivity means realizing that all bodies, including your own, are worth acceptance - not just bodies that society, fashion, media have deemed worthy - and deciding for yourself what feels good for your body and understanding that you deserve to live in your body the way you want without prejudice. It’s self-love and accepting others as is. Like meditation, this one takes a bit of work too, but the rewards are well worth it. Deciding that you are equally happy at size X as you would be at size Z, doesn’t automatically make you immune to the pressures of the world, but it certainly frees up some headspace to concentrate on other things. Body positivity isn’t an invitation to let your health slide either, as some may think. It’s more about living joyfully in your body and figuring out what’s really important to you about it (and remembering that people come in a myriad of different forms, all of which are awesome, like yours). Give it a try. We think you’ll find yourself that much happier.
Tech is taking over the world and while it’s important to take a break from tech a few times a week, it can also be handy (and healthy) to embrace it. Take the iBaby Monitor, for example. Instead of a simple audio-only or grainy-video monitor, this thing is wi-fi enabled, has night vision, includes early childhood education activities such as bedtime stories & lullabies, has white noise effects, plus has air quality sensors (and more!). This is the type of tech that invites health into your life by helping your peace of mind when it comes to your baby. (Also, it’s just really neat, okay?) Then there’s the Tangram Smart Rope jump rope which flashes your fitness workout data mid-air with a hologram as you workout. Which is super cool and hello, future. So, embrace the tech that enables your health and ditch the bad tech habits like screens before bed and being married to your phone 24/7.
Embrace green beauty. Did you know that not only do toxins enter our bodies through what we eat, drink, smoke, or breathe but can also enter our bodies through what we put on our bodies? From soaps to makeup, you could be putting a host of chemicals on yourself of which you aren’t even aware - chemicals linked to everything from hormone imbalance to cancer. By now, there’s a big emphasis on makeup, etc. being “paraben-free”. While a great start there are other chemicals to be aware of too which is where green beauty comes in. There are plenty of green beauty boutiques online you can choose from and even green beauty sections everywhere from your local Walgreens to Trader Joe’s. The industry is booming. Do a bit of research into what goes into your favorite brand of makeup, then decide if the beauty outweighs the risks. Switching to green beauty is another easy way to stay healthy!
Food is still an essential part of health - you are what you eat after all - so don’t forget to eat healthy. Ketogenic diets are big right now and for good reason. The keto diet is a low-carb diet that puts the body into a state of ketosis - that’s when your liver produces ketones which become the main energy source for your body. It’s efficient, it’s healthy, and with Top Chef Meals it’s incredibly simple. We have keto meals and meal plans serving a variety of foods from salmon to bison to chicken that are all chef-prepared and delivered straight to your home. After that, it’s just a matter of heating them up and you’re good to go! Eating healthy has never been so easy. Take a look at our keto diet plan to see if it’s right for you and give it a try this year. (And if not, we have other great meal plans available!)
Being healthy & happy really does involve a whole body/mind/life perspective and while it may seem overwhelming, there are plenty of great apps, tech, products, & more out there ready to get you living your best life. Try out these trends in 2019 to get started on your wellness path.