February Welcome – Live Well, Travel Well, and Breathe Hatteras Island
Its the small acts that make a big difference
How do you make it through the winter months? Rituals and routines go a long way towards enhancing our wellbeing. Small acts can create habits, and these can greatly shape our lives. They can give us the strength to keep growing, power us to change direction, and deliver a feel-good boost with every achievement.
Routine acts can be seen as something you do at a set or regular time, like brushing your teeth—a must-do without hesitation. Whereas rituals are usually more involved acts performed with intent, mindfulness, and reward. Like splashing your face with cold water in the mornings to invigorate, or humming while brushing your teeth and gargling water in the evening—activating your vagus nerve, to calm you, and set you up for a restful sleep. Think about your daily routine and the rituals you can adopt to optimize your health. How do you wake up and start the day, and what are your bedtime rituals?
In the winter, my rituals include soaking in a bath with plenty of Epsom salts, and taking a dip at the local indoor community pool when I can. I find the hydrotherapy soothing. It reminds me that summer will come around, and soon we’ll be swimming in the ocean again.
Winter can be a time to hunker down, restore balance, and recoup energy. Watch rolling storm fronts and take bracing beach walks. Tackle a few home projects before spring arrives. Appreciate cozy nights in and football Sunday afternoons. And with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, remember to love and be kind to yourself!
Photo credit: KoolShooters