A 7-Day Practice: Rest is Best!
With the new year comes a list of new goals, new habits to adopt, from diet and exercise, to relationships and career. But in our fast-paced lifestyles, maybe the most important thing you can do to be the best version of yourself (any may be even support of those aforementioned goals), is REST!
Rest is Best
At nfuse, we’re big believers in the restorative power of resting our bodies and minds. That’s we made magnesium, aka nature’s chill pill, the star ingredient in our line of self-care products.
Join us over the next seven days as we roll out a daily suggestion to help your body and mind rest:
Day 1: Prioritize recovery after exercise
Being active is important for our physical and mental health, but the adaptation from all that work can’t happen without rest! Without rest, not only do you risk not achieving the gains you’re working toward, you also risk injury. So take that rest day, and soothe those sore muscles and reap the aromatherapeutic benefits of nfuse Eucalyptus Magnesium Lotion.
Read more about the importance of rest via the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
Day 2: Treat yourself to a little nature
Whether you carve out five hours or five minutes, spending time in nature is strongly correlated with a healthier, more relaxed body and mind. We’re not talking about a strenuous hike, offroad biking or trail running (which are all wonderful for your health). We’re talking about finding a quiet moment among a few trees, or a walk along a gravel path in your neighborhood. The calming effects of being in nature can promote a sense of relaxation, but did you know being in natural environments has been shown to actually lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol? If spending time in nature throughout your week becomes a habit, you may also expect to experience enhanced creativity and problem-solving, improved concentration and focus, and maybe even improved heart health, as your blood pressure lowers.
Bonus tip: Increase the relaxation quotient with an application of nfuse Rosemary-Mint Natural Magnesium Roll On Deodorant, with refreshing, herbaceous essential oils and a wallop of calming magnesium.
Day 3: Indulge in an evening bath
Don’t underestimate the relaaaaxing power of a bath. Indulge in a quiet bath before bed, giving your mind and body time to decompress. Muscles and joints relax in hot water, particularly beneficial if you’re physically active or live with conditions like arthritis. The cooling of your body temperature as you leave your warm bath can be a powerful signal to the body it’s time to sleep, leading to a better night’s rest.
Want to increase that relaxation? Give yourself a gentle foot rub with nfuse Lavender Magnesium Lotion or Sleep Lotion with magnesium, melatonin and lavender (available at Natural Grocers, Fred Meyer, Earth Fare and Central Market). Our topical magnesium delivers feelings of calm to help you drift off to a restorative night of sleep.
Day 4: Take a breath
Sometimes rest doesn't look like a full night of sleep; it's taking a pause from a hectic pace or a stressful moment to get grounded. Looking for a powerful tool to calm anxiety, reduce stress and bring you into the present moment? A simple breathing technique called box breathing could go a long way! Though this technique is employed by Zen masters to Navy SEALs, it can be practiced by anyone, anywhere:
- Inhale for four counts
- Hold your breath for four counts
- Exhale for four counts
- Pause for four counts
As your breathing becomes slower and deeper, your mind is focused on your breath and NOT on that pesky to-do list or anxiety-causing issue. Read more about the history and practice of this breathing exercise via Real Simple:
"3 Stress-Melting Benefits of Box Breathing (and How to Try It on Your Own)".
Day 5: Swap in a book in place of the bedtime scroll
We love our smart phones, don’t get us wrong. But the bedtime scroll doesn’t serve anyone well: To start, the blue light emitted by our phones can interfere with the production of the sleep hormone melatonin. Add to that anxiety-causing news notifications, reminders of unanswered texts and emails, and access to every piece of information/misinformation in the world, all just a tad overstimulating as we’re preparing to rest. Try swapping in an actual book tonight: Reading a book whisks us away from our day, requiring a different kind of concentration and deep focus. You might even learn a little something, experience new perspectives and even practice empathy!
Up the relaxation ante: Before you start your book, give yourself a short scalp massage with NightCap, our scalp serum enriched with magnesium, melatonin and lavender, delivering deep restorative sleep while reducing hair shedding and promoting thicker, healthier-looking hair. You won’t find that on your phone!
Day 6: Spend time with a furry friend
Did you know playing with or gently grooming a pet is correlated with reduced stress? It can lower cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, and stimulate the release of oxytocin, often called the “love hormone?” Taking a pause (paws?) with a canine or feline pal benefits you both—it’s time well spent!
Day 7: Throw those legs up a wall!
"Throwing your legs" anywhere may sound like an aggressive exercise, but “legs-up-the-wall” is a passive inverted yoga pose almost anyone can do. Mellllllt into the ground and let your stress and tension melt away, too.
To get into this pose, sit on the floor with your side against the wall, knees bent and feet on the floor. Then as you gently swing your legs up against the wall, maneuver your torso to lie flat on your back. Once in position, your hips should be against or very near to the wall. For a few minutes or as long as 20, enjoy a gentle stretch to the back of your legs (bend your knees if the stretch feels too intense) as your lower back releases and your mind relaxes. Important note: If you have medical conditions like hypertension or glaucoma, or have any concern with a rush of blood to your head, avoid inversions or speak to a medical professional before practicing.
You can practice this pose any time of day, but our tip is slather on nfuse Sleep Lotion before and practice before bed: Let the magnesium and melatonin get to work calming your body and mind, preparing you for sleep, and reap the aromatherapy of the lavender essential oils in this nourishing lotion.
Read more about this pose and its benefits via Healthline.
The information provided on this website should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician.
