Over 10 Ways to Reset Your Body & Mind

Every year at the end of summer, after a long weekend, a vacation, and definitely after the holiday season, I find it’s a perfect time to restore, rebalance, and reset your body for your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

I do not feel joy when I feel laden with toxins and I know it’s time to hit the reset button when my body feels stiff, inflamed, heavy, dry, red, congested, and foggy. Who wants to keep feeling like that?

This post will give you some thoughts and ideas on ways to reset your body, mind, and soul. You don’t have to do them all and definitely not all at once, but you do want to commit to at least seven days to help get back on track.

1. Restorative Yoga

One way to reset your body, is to take a break from cardio for seven days or more. Believe me, this hurts me as much as it hurts you. This week is not the week to stress out your body more.

Cardio adds physical stress to the body and increases cortisol, can deplete energy, and you can lose essential minerals through sweating. While you will want to add cardio back into your life after you reset your body, this week we want to focus on exercise that is restoring…let’s try restorative yoga. Believe me when I say yoga is hard for me. I get so bored and want to jump up and start cleaning or doing something else. DO NOT GET DISCOURAGED.

Restorative yoga will help calm your nervous system, relax you mind, and strengthen your muscles. It’s about slowing down and being present. This will help reduce anxiety and stress, creating an increase in mental balance and a reset for your body.

I tried this video to start my week off and was able to successfully stay present the entire time.

2. Facial Lymph Massage

One thing that happens to me when my body is overtaxed is my face becomes very puffy. This simple 15 minute facial lymph massage will help with anti-aging, as well as with allergies, headaches, and overall movement to drain out the toxins from your face. Right away, I could feel the congestion I had along my sinus cavity, so I knew this was something I needed.

You can also get the blood flowing with a facial roller or a gua sha facial sculpting tool. I get gua sha done on my face and also on my body. I go to a professional for the body and darn it, it hurts. However, it works! It’s especially good for tight hips and IT bands.

3. Dry Brushing

Another thing you can do to help move toxins is something called dry brushing. I learned about dry brushing during a massage years ago. The first time I had it done, I didn’t know what was happening and I thought it kinda hurt. I was almost a little annoyed because I was trying to have a relaxing massage. Little did I know it would turn out to be a continued practice of mine nearly 20 years later. I guess that’s why we need to keep an open mind.

I especially take the time to dry brush when I am feeling ‘off.’ The best time to dry brush is right before you shower.

The benefits of dry brushing include:

• Lymphatic support. If you watched the video above, you know the lymph system is a large part of the immune system. The nodes sit close to the skin, so dry brushing is perfect to keep everything flowing and a great way to rebalance.
• Exfoliation: Dry brushing is a great to brush off the dead skin after a long summer. I’m surprised at how dry my skin actually is.
• Energy boost: Dry brushing helps with circulation in the body, thus you feel more energized after you dry brush. Morning time is the perfect time to get everything moving. Since dry brushing helps with circulation, it is also known to help with cellulite. You shouldn’t dry brush before bed.

You might be asking by now what is the proper way to dry brush? Start at your feet and start working your way up. Always brush toward your heart. Brush each section about five times. When you dry brush your stomach, work in a clockwise direction. This will really get things moving. Use it on your feet, legs, stomach arms, and back. I personally do not dry brush my face. Ouch. You should try to dry brush at least a couple times a week. Overall, this is a great way to reduce inflammation and it makes you feel refreshed. A simple way to help reset your body. Read our full post on why dry brushing is worth it. You can find our dry brush recommendation below.

4. Steam Shower

When my husband and I were remodeling our house, the idea of a hot tub came up. I knew this would be ‘fun’ to have, but I also know us. We would get sick of it right away and it would create conflict on who was going to clean it out.

Instead, we opted to put in a steam shower. We are SO GLAD we did. Our whole family enjoys taking a steam shower when they are cold, sick, detox, or need to rebalance and reset the body and mind. Check out this article on 9 ways steam showers improve your physical well being and mental health. I can attest to this being correct information from personal experience.

5. Contrast Shower

After a steam shower, I like to finish off with a contrast shower. A contrast shower is rotating between hot and cold water. The hot water opens up your blood vessels and gets your circulation going and the cold water closes everything back up. Our naturopath was the first one to educate us on contrast showers and how they can improve your immune function. I also read it is great for muscle recovery. It is another great way to get the toxins out. In order for it to work, you need to remember 3 to 1. For example, I will do three minutes of hot water and then switch to 1 minute of cold water. You need to do this about three times. Go as hot as you can stand it as well as cold. This is another great way to get energized. Although it does take some time, you always feel great after. Another great way to reset your body after a long weekend or rough holiday season.

6. Spoil Yourself In The Shower

While you are taking a steam or contrast shower, some things you can do to occupy your time are put a hair mask on (steam opens up the hair shaft too so it will penetrate more), use a good foot scrub, exfoliate your body with a salt scrub, and slap on a facial mask while you are at it. You seriously are not only going to look like a million bucks, but you are going to feel like it to (which is more of the point!). When your products smell great, it’s fun to reset your body and mind. Try some peppermint!

7. Eat Food and Drinks That Fuel

Whole Foods:

The biggest thing when you trying to reset your body with foods is to make sure you are making choices that help and not hurt your body. Our post on the Anti inflammatory diet will give you a good place to start. We like whole foods and most anything that has been born out of this earth…fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, etc. The other ‘stuff’ is good too, but not if you are trying to eat clean for a week. We eat dairy and gluten free a lot of the time, but it’s the snacks that can get you. They can be so addicting!

Juicing:

One of my favorite things to do when I want to reset my body is to juice. I used to juice a combination of fruits and veggies, but lately I just juice organic celery. I highly recommend this. This would be one of my top, if not the top, way to start clearing out the toxins from your body. It helps with bloating (and this momma is bloated), clearer skin, and stable moods. Drink celery juice each morning on an empty stomach. You can juice enough for two days, but I wouldn’t do more than that because it can start to lose it’s nutrients. My juicer is really easy to use and clean. Make sure you use organic!

Besides juicing, smoothies are another quick and easy way to get a lot of nutrients. Here is one of our latest Smoothie Recipes.

Apple Cider Vinegar:

I will always have a bottle of Bragg’s vinegar on hand for various reasons. When I am resetting my body, I drink a tablespoon of vinegar a day in a glass of water. It’s known to help with digestion, clear skin, and bloating. It also helps with blood sugar regulation. Make sure you don’t drink it straight. It can erode teeth and even burn your esophagus. Always use organic Bragg’s. This brand carries the ‘mother,’ which is the healthy part of the vinegar. You might think, or I should say you will think, it’s gross at first, but you get used to the taste fast.

Lemon Water:

One of the easiest ways to get your digestion moving and shaking, is to drink a glass of lemon water upon rising. This reduces brain fog as well. Did you know that sleeping can dehydrate you? Me either! Lemon water will help replenish your hydration. Add half a lemon to warm water. You will also get more vitamin C this way. Another benefit is the citric acid in lemon juice help the body’s enzymes function better which will help detoxify your liver, which is a great way to reset after your neighbors patio party.

Supplements:

I won’t get into much here, but if you are feeling inflammation in the body or you need a candida cleanse, try turmeric and ginger for the inflammation and oregano for the overgrowth of bacteria such as SIBO, which can be caused by unhealthy eating and other bad habits. Most of us can use a reset after summer or a vacation. Apple cider vinegar can also help with some of these problems. You can also make a turmeric tea. I make this recipe a lot and it’s so delicious. It tastes like a treat and I know I’m doing something good for my body.

8. Relax Me, Please

I like to burn a soy candle and throw on some great music. It can be anything from classical to soothe the soul or coffee house music. My go-to is usually a Norah Jones station I created on Pandora. While your music is playing and your candle is burning, take a few moments for reflection, prayer, journaling, and feeling grateful.

The biggest thing I need to concentrate on while I am doing this is remembering to breathe. I hold my breath, which is one of the worst things you can do to stiffen your mind and body. That is why breathing is stressed so much during yoga. You cannot fully loosen up if you are holding your breath. Remember to open your mouth too! Four counts in through the nose, four counts out through the mouth. You’ll be surprised how much this small, but effective exercise is going to help you. You are breathing out toxins and allowing fresh oxygen back in. Let that shi#$ go! It’s a great way to reduce anxiety and reset your mind.

My husband and I just watched A Long Shot last night (not for the kids) and there was a scene where they had to use a breathing technique created by the Navy SEALs. It was a movie, but the breathing technique is real life. If anyone knows how to breathe through a crisis, it’s a Navy SEAL. Check it out here.

9. More Ways to Reduce Stress and Reset

Hug it Out:

Hugging increases oxytocin levels, which help combat negative feelings and makes us feel better in general. It will reduce your blood pressure and your heart rate. Go get yourself a 20 second hug.

Disconnect from Social Media:

You should probably give your phone a rest for a few hours here and there. Unless you are reading this article on our blog of course 🙂 Too much social media time can adversely affect your mood, causing some psychological stress. This is counterintuitive to what we are trying to accomplish this week. Take a break during your reset.

Read Self Help Books:

Here are some of our current recommendations:

• Who Moved My Cheese, Spencer Johnson: One of my favorite books on how to deal with change either at home or at work.
• A New Earth – Awakening Your Life’s Purpose, Eckhart Tolle: A book about not living in the past or the future, but rather living in the now.
• The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg: Change your life by changing your habits. We come back to this book time and time again.

Go to Church:

The benefits of going to church are numerous. Another tool you can have in your toolbox for reducing stress and creating more joy and happiness in your life. I always feel better after I’ve attended church. It’s a great way to reset before the new week begins.

Journal:

What went from a simple 21 day challenge to journal everyday has now become a way of life as important as eating and sleeping. I devote a few minutes of uninterrupted space to write down the things that I’m thankful for as soon as I wake up. It really shifts your perspective about everything in your life. At the end of the day , I take more time to write down the things that stood out in the day for me. It really helps you focus on the positive. Why have we made it so easy to focus on the negative? It’s the way of life but you can change this habit. I promise, give yourself a few minutes to really think about all of the simple joys in life. It’s truly life altering.

Use Essential Oils:

Essential oils can be used for just about anything from reducing inflammation, relaxing, pain relief, breath work, reducing stress and anxiety, and so much more. Some of our favorites include frankincense, peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, oregano, tea tree, and clary sage. Make sure you use a high grade oil and not one that is watered down.

Tongue Scraping:

I’m sure a lot of you are wondering what I’m talking about now?! Believe me when I say I’ve tried it all. This is a practice I took up a couple years ago. It helps remove toxins, bacteria, and dead cells from the tongue better than a toothbrush can. Read this article about five reasons everyone needs a tongue scraper.

10. Use A Professional

Some things we cannot do on our own or at home, unless of course you have a cryotherapy machine in your home, which I do not or you can counsel yourself…again, that doesn’t really work for me! Ha, ha.

Cryotherapy:

My friend and I were talking about ways to reduce our inflammation this morning and cryotherapy, or cold therapy, is a good one. We have used it for muscle recovery as well as pain management. Check out other ways it can be used by clicking here.

Massage Therapy:

I get such a kick out of it when you tell people you are going for a massage and they think your off to relaxation station. You can get a relaxing massage and you should. However, my body is a knotted mess and I cannot afford to get that many massages, so it’s usually a painful process for me. However, my benefit usually comes after the torture (ok, not that bad). I feel like I have more movement in my body because some of the trigger points are released. But I’m missing the point here…massage is good for all kinds of self care, not just for working out the knots. It can reduce stress, reduce pain, and boost your immune system. Geesh, I went on my own soap box there for a bit.

TIP: NEVER get a massage if it’s the morning after a big night out or even before. Massage moves around toxins and water, leaving you a bit dehydrated. That’s why they always give you a glass of water afterward. Think twice. This is NOT a good way to reset.

Acupuncture:

I’m a firm believer in traditional Chinese Medicine. I’ve been using acupuncture for hip and shoulder issues for almost a year now. It has helped tremendously. I’ve always struggled with anxiety to some degree my entire life. I decided very early on, that prescription drugs were not the answer for me. So through trial and error, I’ve found what works. Acupuncture is on the rotation for monthly maintenance. It works immediately. So much so that I have to check myself when I don’t find myself in a panic over that thing that would normally send me in a spiral. It’s that good. You can use acupuncture for just about anything. It’s a great way to regulate your nervous system.

Get a Hair Cut:

This may sound like a mindless, not very effective way to rebalance, reset, and restore. Hold on sister. Have you ever skipped a hair cut? Usually in the summer, I have so much going on, I skip my hair appointment. I feel so ragged by the end of the summer, it starts to get me down. There’s nothing like getting a fresh cut and color to boost your mood. A facial is also always a good idea—my skin is so stressed out right now. I’m sorry body and mind, I know I have been bad.

See a Counselor or a Life Coach:

Last, but definitely not least, it’s a good idea for all of us to have a mental health professional we trust! I set up a few appointments throughout the year, just to stay on track and I would recommend this to everyone I know. I used to think counseling had a ‘stigma’ attached to it. Are you crazy!?!? Not literally, but you are crazy if you think you can handle everything on your own. Ask for help and find someone that can help be a coach or mediator in your life.

There are so many other ways you can restore, rebalance, and reset your body, mind, and spirit. These ideas are just a tip of the iceberg. I hope these self care ideas get you pumped up to feel good again. Start out small. Give it seven days and see how you feel. Make it 21 days and you’ve now formed a habit. You will feel more present, everything will seem better, and you will be happier. When you have balance, this is when the good stuff happens. The joy.

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• Light
• Umbrella
• Chair
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• Rug
• Lantern

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The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of just live joy. We are not doctors and don’t claim to be. Always check with your health care provider for your best care prior to taking this or any supplements or medications. No information on this site should be relied upon to make a medical diagnosis, prevent, cure, or determine treatment for a condition. By reading this, you acknowledge that you are responsible for your own health decisions and that it is your responsibility to consult with your doctor about any health issues, supplements, or anything related to your own health. Stay healthy and happy. Thank you!