Make A Vision Board

This is a fun way to map out your goals and kind of takes you for a flashback to school art class. The idea is to grab some old magazines and cut out words and pictures that represent different areas of your life and the intention you have for what is to come. You can draw or write directly on it or use those addictively cute scrap booking stickers and supplies

that, let’s be honest, are probably sitting in a box collecting dust. You can make one for the next 5 years, or just the upcoming year to help make it more specific and attainable. This can be a great way to get unblocked and allow yourself to bring to the surface desires or clearer paths for your goals than you could see before. It’s less forced and gets you in the flow. Hang your new goal orientated collage somewhere you will see it daily and take a moment to absorb it and get refocused as you go by.

Above is my 2014 board…I did not make one in 2015 and I missed having it and can see how much of an impact being able to look back on my previous ones has. I am doing one for 2016 as we speak!

There are many apps to use, I found Oprah’s the most user friendly, although I might do a paper one too …old fashioned that way…like the cutting and pasting ;p
http://www.oprah.com/own-oprahs-next-chapter/Start-Your-My-Next-Chapter-Story-Board

Reflect On How Far You Have Come Already

Track your progress. Make mini milestones to reach for while on the pat to your overall goal, to give yourself markers of how far you’ve actually come even though you may still have a ways to go on your journey. These little wins will keep you moving forward when the big picture seems so far out of reach.

These are two methods I find useful for helping to not forget how much progress you have

actually already made.

Taking before pics and measurements is a great way to do this…especially since the scale is not always an accurate tool (hello being up 4 pounds after a wknd…likely part water weight). Also having a tracking sheet for your workouts or a mini progress goal like being able to get your heels closer to the ground with every downward dog, will show you that you really are making change. Writing the amount of reps you can do or how much weight you have moved up in your workouts will help you see the transformations, and that is really empowering.

Make Your Environment Inspiring

“If you make sure that your environment supports your dreams, achieving those dreams becomes radically easier. Whatever you are surrounded by all day – influences you more than you think.” Personal-development-is-fun.com

This is a truth that was recently reconfirmed for me. I was living in a place that was cramped, dark and shared with people who did not share the same ideas on what constitutes a healthy, happy living environment. I was miserable! I became increasingly un-motived and lacking energy. I felt the heaviness of this place and eventually could not stand it. I started to remove myself from it and felt happier, however, this meant I was rarely home and therefor was still tired and was not able to sustain any kind of routine. I knew it was time to move and when I did, it was a 180°.

I know not everyone can just up and move… and hopefully your surroundings aren’t as oppressive as my previous place. Chances are though, there are some things that are working more against you than with you, and with some small, manageable tweaks around the house, you could feel a real difference.

When talking to my clients about this subject there is one thing we always agree on, clutter is stressful and demotivating. It clutters the mind and spirit. Now I’m not suggesting that your house must always be 100% clean all the time…Lord knows I would never get anything else done if that was the case in my house. Just choosing the best area in your place for you to workout or accomplish what is that you are trying to stay motivated with, and keep that area clean.

Also, keeping the decor simple can help. Simple doesn’t have to mean empty and boring either. By  just having the tools that are useful to your goal and a few carefully selected pieces that are bright, fun and uplifting can change the whole energy of the space and you.

Think fresh flowers, bright windows, and pictures that make you happy and feel empowered, such as a vision board that you have made displaying your goals.

Another branch off this same idea is learning what time of day is most motivating to you and creating habits that center your most challenging work around this time. For instance, I used to try and do my writing whenever I could fit it in, but sometimes would find it such a struggle to stay on task or find inspiration. I then realized that I am a morning person (most days), and it really works for me to just turn the lights out earlier, instead of staying up and trying to force it. I get up earlier and work with my natural cycle of energy. I grab my tea or coffee and get right into my writing while my mind is a blank canvas, and before I start anything else that might zap my energy.

Work In 25 Minute Increments

This concept of breaking your work down into 25 minute blocks is called The Pomodoro Technique, and it has been a revolutionary way for me to be much more productive in less time.
I have a very short attention span when tasks seem too large and begin to lose my inspiration if I focus too hard on projects for an extended block of time. It’s like when I try to clean my home office when I let it get too cluttered. I am all in for a while, but then I will undoubtedly find something that belongs in the bathroom and go to return it there, next thing I know, I am cleaning the shower! What I’m saying is, subconsciously my brain has gotten overwhelmed or bored by the task at hand and led me (astray) to find something else to do.

How it works is, when you have something you know you must or want to accomplish, but it seems lengthy, overwhelming or just plain uninteresting, you can use this technique to break it into manageable chunks. You start by getting a kitchen timer or use the one on your phone (although you should turn off all social alerts so you don’t get distracted), use this to set 25 minute increments for work, then take a 10 minute break for getting up to have a snack or stretch or check social media…but make sure when your time is up, you set another 25 minute timer and get back to work. This gives your brain a refresh with time to wonder and your body to get up and move around, but in a structured way. Then you can accomplish a lot more in shorter time and with much less inner conflict.

This is a great way to get your calendar organized with your workouts and days for meal prep and planning, which can sometimes feel like a chore, but is the # 1 key I have seen for successfully sticking to a healthy lifestyle 😉

Check out the actual 6 steps to using this awesome productivity tool at http://pomodorotechnique.com/

Follow YOUR Healthy Role Models

Now I could start this paragraph with telling you to get off social media and get your arse to your workout…however, while I do encourage to look at how much time they spend online when they say they can’t fit in 20 minutes of activity, I must be real that we or going to spend some time on our SM accounts, so why not make it to your advantage?!
Try starting to find and follow women that have a similar body type as you. Look for before and after pics that are actually attainable to you and get inspired by how far they have come from a similar stage as you are at now. Likewise, it can help to see who out there has a similar lifestyle, with similar “blocks”, who is making it work. Pick up tips on how they get around those “obstacles” such as having 2 or 3 kids, while working and still make time for their health. Pick their brains. At the same time while you are on the lookout for inspiring people to follow (try searching hashtags like: #busyfitnessmoms or #beforeandafters to find them), take a moment to looks at who you are already following. You need to take inventory of what you are seeing every day and decide if it is helpful. I have found following people whose body type is nothing like our own or lifestyle is much more flexible can sometimes cause you to compare and bring you down instead of lifting you up!
Another point of interest for me is how many people I work with who want to lose weight and eat cleaner, but continue to follow food accounts. Not just the healthy ones either. I get it, I am a foodie as well, but we are not invincible and are very impressionable. If you are constantly being flooded with food pics covered in cheese or pinning and following Pinterest boards about the best camping s’mores cones …is it any doubt why your fixated on hunger and making the wrong choices at the grocery store and probably when you open the cupboard?!

Bonus Inspiration: Buy Something New

I am not suggesting that buying things is always an answer, however on the odd occasion when I can afford to treat myself to something new, I do find it helpful motivation to get an accessory that has something to do with a goal I am working towards. For example, a new notebook and fancy pens when I have writing to do, or a new pair of runners to get me pumped for my workouts 🙂

This list is just a sample of some of the great tools I have in my arsenal to help keep myself and my clients on point and moving forward in crushing their goals! Send me a message (HERE) if you think working with a coach can help you organize your goals and make them a reality.

Are you ready?…I look forward to hearing from you and sharing with you my passion for helping people become the best and healthiest version of themselves!

XO Dalyce – YOUR Holistic Lifestylist

I have always been a lover of herbal teas and remedies and have been steeped (gosh aren’t I the clever writer lol) in this approach since childhood. For me its a generational thing, with a Grandma (Gigis as I call her) being ahead of her time and a total health and natural wellness guru. Here I will share some of my faves she schooled me to, as well as my grown up gotos I discovered while studying holistic nutrition.

I use a lot of these as part personal wellness codes that I write up for my one on one cliients and hopefully you will spot a few that could be of use to you 😉 XO

Holy Basil – Tulsi

Tulsi, also known as Holy basil is part of the mint family and actually the inspiration behind this blog post. After learning about its adrenal supporting properties and its incredible calming effect on anxiety (which I personally struggle with), it has been a constant companion in my cup. It is known as an adaptogen, meaning it helps the body cope with stress (who couldn’t use that). Its name Tulsi is Sanskrit and this plant has deep roots (pun intended) in Ayurveda medicine. It has high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and has also shown to relieve some asthmatic symptoms. This comes in many delicious flavours…my fave being blended with a chai, but make sure its decaf so you don’t get the opposite effect of calm on your nervous system.

Lemon Balm

Another part of the mint family, lemon balm is a well-rounded herbal remedy with a delightfully lemon/mint flavour. This is an ancient healer was used as far back as the middle ages. It has historically been known to fight of viruses such as cold sores, mumps and shingles. I love this tea for its stress reducing ability and I often recommend it to clients to aid in restful sleep, as a great headache remedy or for reducing heartburn. You can also keep a cold pitcher in the fridge to take the irritation out of bug bites.

Peppermint

I’m sure there are more than a few of you out there that are familiar with the awesomness of this particular tea. It’s light and refreshing on a hot day when enjoyed as an iced tea, but is comforting and clearing in the winter when you are bogged down with a chest/head cold. My grandma (my original herbal healing teacher) would always have peppermint tea on hand for an after dinner drink to help reduce bloating and aid in digestion and readily administered it as my “medicine” when I was ill with a cold or flu. This plant can also reduce headaches, relieves nausea, as well as gas. Don’t believe me…think about why all those gas or upset stomach otc “cures” are flavoured with mint 😉

Chai (cinnamon)

Chai is one of my most enjoyed teas. It’s a black tea base (naturally caffeinated. Look for decaf if you don’t want the buzz). One of the main ingredients in this traditional Indian elixir is cinnamon. I love cinnamon …big fan! The smell and taste say autumn to me, inducing warmth, coziness and make me want to wear big sweaters and bake apple pies (all that from one little spice. Impressive eh). Cinnamon has been known to help with sugar cravings while increasing blood flow and circulation. This is obviously an excellent choice for all women who want to stay off the sugary snacks and warm up those chronically cold toes!

Matcha Green Tea

I could have just listed green tea here, but not all green tea is created equal. I actually wasn’t even aware of the vast difference in potency and quality of this tea until I started studying nutrition. Though green tea has detoxifying and energy boosting capabilities, you are only getting a fraction of the goodness that is steeped from the leaves. Match on the other hand, is the entire leaf dried and ground into a powder which is then whisked into hot water for full potency. It is higher in caffeine as well as much higher in the cancer fighting and brain boosting antioxidants and EGCG. It is rich in chlorophyll and is a regulator of blood sugar as well as cholesterol and mood. This is a must have in my books and even my Mom’s naturopathic oncologist (cancer doc) insists on her drinking a mug of it a day.

We choose DoMatcha brand because of its purity and its adherence to the traditional way of harvesting for an optimal product.

DoMatcha comes in a regular or organic version (I use the organic), and there is a price difference. If you are not that keen on shelling out the bucks yet, the non-organic one is still a far better choice than most others, as well most health stores carry their individual packets for under 3$ to try it out first. Here is a link to what those look like (I have even seen them at Thrifty’s by the till) http://www.amazon.com/DoMatcha-Green-Tea-Packets-Count/dp/B00BU4770Q

Chamomile

This is a classic. Most people have heard of chamomile for relaxation and aiding in a peaceful sleep…that’s because it works! This is one I am never without for those nights when my bran just won’t stop taking an inventory of all I have going on. Thinking, thinking,. ..Zzzzzz.

Also a helper of those of us with floating anxiety (comes on for no obvious reason) as well as a relief of mild throat irritation and cough.

Passionflower

Passionflower tea is a double whammy in the digestive and mood balancing arenas. Recently there have been a few studies showing potential benefits in protecting against stomach ulcers caused by alcohol or taking aspirin (which some do for blood thinning). It has shown great antioxidant properties and is generating a lot of buzz. On top of those benefits, it is proving to be a pretty powerful anti-anxiety “medicin

e”. It boosts your brain’s levels of GABA, a natural chemical that lowers brain activity and can help with sleep too. GABA is also released when you have that glass of wine after work, and that is why you associate it with unwinding. Try this for less sugar and no harm to the liver.

Ginger

This tea is a winter staple for me. Its smell and taste is warming and so is its effect on the body. Perfect for someone with the chills and can help induce sweating to break a fever. I keep this on hand for any nausea, especially when I have the flu, a far healthier alternative to teaching your kids to reach for ginger ale. Clearly that old home remedy stemmed from the ancient knowledge of ginger for an upset tummy, however, ginger ale is full of artificial flavours and a ton of sugar…get your kids familiar with the real deal, after all, pop is pop!

Lemongrass

I love the smell of lemongrass! So fresh and relaxing. A cup of this daily can calm your nervous system and actually aid in reducing high blood pressure. I also like to reach for this tea when I am experiencing the joys of PMS (I do enjoy a bit of sarcasm), as it is a gentle diuretic and can help rid you of fluid retention that contributes to all that belly bloat.

 Rosehip

Another one from my Grandma’s natural aid arsenal. We prefer this one cold, but that may be a product of raising. This is also a fabulous immune booster full of Vitamin C. Also it improves adrenal function as well as increasing energy and the body’s ability to heal its tissues and cells.

These suggestions are based on the learning I have done in school for Holistic Nutrition as well as personal experience. I am not a doctor and I suggest consulting with yours before adding any new remedies to your health routine to avoid negative interactions or side effects.

Be safe and healthy <3 Daly