I have some habits that I believe are going make me healthier: physically, mentally, emotionally, spiriticually. I’d love a team of people to gather around and go in on this with me. These are easy, practical ways to make your year a little less cluttered, a little more loved and a lot more beneficial. 

There’s this thing called the 21/90 rule. It takes 21 days to form a habit — but, 90 days to form a lifestyle. So, let’s create a lifestyle, people.

1. make your bed every morning

You know that feeling when you get home and you want to relax from work, school, etc and your bed is still ruffled from resting the night before? At that point, I just want to come home to a clean house. 

Not only does making your bed create a disciplined lifestyle, I think it just helps your stress when you get home from a long day. When I make my bed, my room looks automatically cleaner. So, why not take the 5-10 minutes pulling up the sheets and loading on the pillows every morning before you head out? You’ll thank yourself when you get home from errands. 

2. wash your makeup off before bed

The easiest way to protect your skin from aging and damage. Seriously, imagine leaving all that gunk on for hours to just sit and then think of your pillow case collecting all that gross-ness. I’m not judging, trust me. I’m guilty of this bad habit. Throughout college, either after a fun night out or a long day of classes, the last thing I wanted to do was walk to the bathroom and take off my makeup. But, I wish I had started this sooner.

Not only do you feel cleaner going to sleep at night, you feel rejuvenated and your pores open up and will thank you for days to come. Rinse off your face, wash it with facial cleanser and apply moisturizer (coconut oil will do!) and Vitamin E around your eye to protect your eyes from wrinkling when ya smile all the time. 

3. minimize your wardrobe

I’m the worst at this. I actually recently created a shop on Instagram to get rid of all of my clothes because I realized I never wore 80% of it. I couldn’t stare at my closet every morning and see the same things again. So, I started this thing where after I wear a clothing item, I turn the hanger around so it comes the other way on the bar in my closet. Every month, I take a look at what is still facing the right direction and I question myself, “why didn’t you wear it?” “will you wear it? Rachel…honestly?” Then I sell it, consign it, donate it. 

4. give something away every week

We were created to serve and to give and you know it’s the best feeling. Christmas is our favorite for that reason, we have the opportunity to give something to someone else and enjoy their excitement. So, let’s celebrate Christmas year round and give something away every week. It could be a bouquet to a stranger in public, it could be chocolate to your co-worker, it could be the jacket you’re wearing when someone compliments you. It’s healthy. 

5. 30 minutes of “you” time before you start your day

For me, it’s worship. Either while I’m showering, making breakfast, cleaning or hanging out with Remi, I listen to my favorite worship playlist. For you, it might be stretching, reading, doing some pushups or crunches. What ever it is, you deserve “you time” set aside for you for at least 30 minutes before you start your day. It will center you, I swear. You, your co-workers, people around you, everyone will benefit from it. 

6. vitamins + essential oils

I’m not a huge guru when it comes to vitamins, health and essential oils but what I do know is our body needs more than the (honestly) crap we’re feeding it everyday. It deserves some love and attention. Purchase some vitamin supplements. 

Essential oils. I currently use peppermint oil when I have headaches from sinus issues or when my allergies flare up and it clears me up in no time. I also am using lavender oil when I feel stressed, or my heart rate goes up or if I can’t calm down before I go to sleep. I just put a dab on my temples, wrist, behind my neck, yada yada yada and it helps!

It’s quicker working for me that any medicine I’ve found. 

7. find a podcast

Not only does our body deserve some attention, but our brain does too. We need something to keep us occupied, inspired and always running towards the goals we’ve set. Podcasts are freakin awesome and most of the time, free. My current favorites are: Goal Digger by Jenna Kutcher and Build Your Tribe by Chalene Johnson.

I listen when I’m driving, walking, running and yes, sometimes I’m that crazy woman wearing earphones while grocery shopping. Judge me. 

8. sleep with your phone in a different room

I’m guilty of staring at my phone before I go to sleep to make me sleepy or when I wake up, first thing, checking my notifications. When in reality, my husband and family deserve my attention before and after I go to sleep.

“But my phone needs to charge!” Good thing you have several outlets in your home!

“But, I need an alarm clock to wake up!” Get an old school alarm clock (without the snooze.) Or, set your alarm on your phone and make yourself get up out of bed to turn it off. Boom. 

All in all, these are practical, simple steps to making your life a little more simplified, healthy and prepare you to rock and roll this new year. It won’t be easy but we can do it together! Who’s in?