Can you believe January is almost over! It’s been a doozy of a month and a lot of us are feeling pretty depleted – but hopefully you haven’t written off 2017 just yet. Despite all the emotional turmoil churning the airwaves and social media that we have been inundated with, have you been checking in with the intention or resolutions you made? I know mine slipped my mind a couple times, but as I meditated or remembered to ground myself (daily, hourly!), I recalled that my goal was to be more kind to others. Of all the years to pick that o
ne! This continuous reminder has been humbling as I go through my day, encouraging me to be more patient and accepting.
January is known as the month for detoxes. We see detox suggestions in our email in-boxes from food blogs we subscribe to, ads on Facebook and Instagram, friends who are participating in dry January, and plastered all over the walls at gyms or yoga studios. Let me be the first to remind you, our bodies are awesome at detoxing without extra help! (So long as we follow a relatively healthy lifestyle). Your liver is equipped with all the necessary capabilities to do this without help from other sources, and it has been as long as humans have been in existence. Not to mention that detoxing can take a heavy and negative toll on your body, and in Chinese medicine depleting your blood, qi, and essence. Now I’m not saying go drink a bottle of wine and not expect to feel the impact, but rather, we do not need to sweat it out for four hours a day and survive off juiced kale and lemon. You must fuel your body with whole foods, healthy and moderate amounts of exercise, self care, sleep, and social interaction. Your body is built to do the rest!
Another type of detox comes to mind, however… this month, I know I’ve personally been spending more time on my iPhone or computer reading the news, perusing articles, scrolling through Facebook and being alarmed at the hostility I see around me in our country. This is a detox I can get behind: set healthy boundaries on social media. This excessive use of electronics can have a huge impact on your body, affecting your heart, mind and soul. I encourage you to be mindful of your use, check in with your resolution or intention and step into February with a clean slate!