If, like me, your 80/ 20 ratio of good living to ahem, very good living has been on a slippery slope, it may be time for an autumn reset.
Summer rules are just that. As we approach the end of a season of very good living indeed, my body starts to give me clues (and sometimes sledgehammers) that it’s high time to turn the page.
What it all comes down to is a little thing called alkalinity.
When there’s balance between alkalinity and acidity, you’re going to feel great. However, when all those fun things - wine, more wine, less exercise, junk food - start to squeeze out your yoga and kale salads for months on end, chances are you’re going to feel a little less great.
We can’t reset the world, but small changes at home can ripple out and help you get back to your best self. And who knows where it can go from there? Maybe we can save the world one workout at a time.
How to Achieve Balance
The obvious answer is to kick yourself back into a routine that’s a little more normal. Keep in mind that no-one is suggesting we shed everything fun and become puritans. That’s not sustainable, and it’s not balanced either. It’s called the 80/ 20 rule for a reason!
In my case, planning a weekly schedule has been a game changer (check out this excellent article by Nick Barbieri on how a pencil can rock your world).
For example, if a workout is written into my day, I have a harder time talking myself out of it. A schedule also helps me to meal plan for the week (full disclosure: this has been my go-to since the outset of Covid, because it means less trips to the grocery store, but it also results in better eating).
And then there’s booze.
No-one but you can define what’s the right amount, but in my case, it’s time to knock off the nightly round of cocktails. Oh, craft gin and tonics with a twist of lime, I’ll miss you. On the other hand, fall also means harvest season and cooking is a sensory delight. There’s a yin and a yang to everything.
Alkaline vs. Acidic
Here’s a handy guide to alkaline powerhouses. Maximizing your alkaline intake sets the reset button like nothing else. In a nutshell, almost all veggies, leafy greens, and whole grains are your friends. Exercise, absolutely. Get sweaty on a daily basis.
A less-known factor in boosting your alkalinity, but no less important, is deep breathing. Think about placing a brief mindfulness session into your day.
Finally, in the returning hustle and bustle of real life, do your level best to keep stress to a minimum.
You can do everything else right, but if you’re emotionally stressed, it’s extremely hard for your body to maintain balance – and thus, for you to feel like a million bucks.
So: eat well, exercise, set a schedule, and include quiet interludes in your day. Then kick back and enjoy all that the season, with its crisp sunny days and glorious finery, has to offer.
And watch your mojo soar.
