2017 Winter Wellness Challenge

2017.. YES!  That's tomorrow!  I don't know how they new year came up on us so fast, but it did.  Yes, there were a lot of awful, horrible, very sad things that happened in 2016, but it was also full of some really remarkable, wonderful things too.  However, time to move on...time to move FORWARD.
Let's get right to the Challenge. This challenge depends on YOU.  That's right. >>YOU<<  And do you know what? You deserve a wonderful start to the year.  Winters here in Ontario are long, cold and snowy.  (UGGGGHHHHH!)  So in a desperate effort to change my usual "I HATE WINTER" into a more accepting "I like Winter", I have tried to devise a plan.  It includes everything from eating better food, to taking an online course, to purging toxic people.  

Lets have a look at some of the things you may be doing in this challenge:

~~MONTHLY FITNESS CHALLENGE ~~
There are probably hundreds of monthly fitness challenge graphics floating around on Facebook and Pinterest.  Pick one and stick with it for the next month.  Move on to another after you are done!  FUN!!


~~DETOX BATH ~~
 One of my fave things to do on a chilly winter night!  Here's what you'll need:

• 1 cup Mineral Salts/Epsom Salts/Sea Salts
• 2 tbsp ground ginger (be prepared to rinse the tub after)
• 1/2 cup Baking Soda 
• Lavender essential oil (optional) 

 Run a hot bath (as hot as you can tolerate!!), mix in the above ingredients into the bath water until dissolved (the ginger will mix in but won't entirely dissolve).  Soak in your detox bath for 20 - 30 minutes.  It's a good idea to bring a glass of water for sipping, as this combo of salts, ginger and soda will make you sweat and encourage detoxification!  Sweating in the bath...weird, right? Well, you will.  Pull the plug while you are still in the bath, then get out S-L-O-W-L-Y.   A nice slow departure from the tub will prevent any light-headedness that may occur.  Be sure to slather yourself in your fave lotion (I love coconut oil!) and hop into your coziest p.j.'s!  Don't forget to hydrate!  And don't be surprised if you have a GREAT sleep - just an added bonus!

~~SELF-CARE ROUTINE ~~
This one is pretty self-explanatory but worth a revisit here.  Begin and end each day really honouring yourself and all that you've accomplished.   Here are some ideas if you are stuck:

• Yoga
• Deep Breathing
• Journaling
• Stretching
• Aromatherapy
• Reading
• Meditating
• Too many other things to list! 

~~HYGGE~~
I've recently discovered this amazing Danish word ... Hygge.  Do yourself a huge favour and look it up, especially if you feel like you don't enjoy winter as much as you should.
 
        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 I'll leave that with you for now!  I'm looking forward to the next few months, looking after my self, my family and my surroundings!  So exciting!  
All the best in 2017  

~ Dawn