Sleep, Hydrate, Exfoliate
By Catherine Granito
2023 is the year of health and wellness. It’s a new era of putting your body first. The post-grad transition can abruptly throw you into a less structured lifestyle. But there are simple changes that only require consistency you can take to become balanced, toned, and lean. Here are the three commitments I made to improve my skin, weight, and cognitive health.
Because Washington, D.C., girls love their acronyms…
SLEEP, HYDRATE, EXFOLIATE.
“S.H.E looks amazing!”
How?
Sleep
Good sleep is imperative. You can still have a great night out, but on average you should be getting six to eight hours of sleep a day. I am a morning person, so I like to be in bed by 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM, with ten to 30 minutes of that time devoted to winding down. Using guided meditation to fall asleep drastically helps when you are adjusting your sleep cycle. Manipulating your circadian rhythm is a big change, but don’t knock meditation until you try it. A silk eye mask is a must to combat acne, and a cold migraine wrap can also aid relaxation and pain.
Hydrate
For every espresso martini, you need roughly one extra glass of water to bring you back to hydration homeostasis. Even without the martini, our bodies need at least six to eight glasses of water a day. Dehydration is a product of a multitude of choices, not just alcohol consumption. Lack of sleep, stress, illness, travel, and exercise are some. A gallon of water a day is a steep goal, but these tweaks to your habits can help you get there. Coconut water, Pedialyte, your favorite water bottle, and add-in formulas like Drip Drop help. Celebrities health gurus also swear by IV drips.
Taking the world by storm, IV drips are becoming increasingly accessible and reasonably priced, depending on the service. The “hangover cocktail” usually consists of a yellow tinted bag packed with ultra-hydrating saline, folic acid, magnesium sulfate, thiamine, and multivitamins. Alcohol depletes the B vitamin thiamine from your body. A typical drip bag consists of 100mg of this vitamin to alleviate symptoms. Invest in your body like a house you have to live in for the next 70 years.
Exfoliate
I cannot emphasize this enough. If you want to limit cellulite, wrinkles, and body bumps— exfoliate. When generations of models and mothers claim it makes a difference, they’re not lying. Natural loofahs and sea sponges are a must, and dry brushing, many claim, is even better.
P.S. other pro-tips:
Hitting the sauna on a weekly basis increases blood flow, endorphins, norepinephrine, and boosts BDNF. In other words, the sauna can improve neuron growth, reduce pain, can aid depression, improve focus and attention, and reduce cardiovascular disease. Kayla Barnes details studies like this.
When it comes to exercise and mental health, Melissa Wood has the space by storm. Improving health and physical appearance can be as simple as adding low-impact lengthening pilates movements to your exercise routine.
Catherine Granito is a former D1 athlete, graduate of the University of Michigan, and contributing columnist at The Conservateur. Catherine also serves Team Impact, a national nonprofit connecting children with disabilities to college athletic teams.
media via @oliverandmoose
