5 Simple Health Hacks for City Living
As a simple small town girl, ever since I started to live and work in major cities for long periods of time, I’ve picked up on a few habits to keep my health intact and create balance amid the noise, pollution and fake food…
Barefoot earthing
Living in a built up, high traffic area often presents challenges that prevent us from being well connected to the earth. Throughout the day and particularly in the mornings upon waking from sunrise to 8-10 am, I make sure to go barefoot on the earth’s surface during the warmer seasons (or even briefly in the snow at latitude 46…). The best conductors are grass after the rain, dirt, sand, rocks, and immersing into natural, less polluted bodies of water, absorbing the earth’s Schumann resonance. I often like wearing my Earth Runners if I need some sort of covering for the soles of my feet while still absorbing the earth and reducing inflammation.
Eating seasonally and locally
For happy mitochondria and human development throughout life, we need the information from the UV light at our current latitude. One significant way to achieve this is through the careful sourcing of locally grown, seasonal ingredients and cooking with them whenever possible. Cooking at home with local, fresh ingredients full of prana remains my biggest priority no matter where I am on earth. I always like to check out the farmer’s markets, health food stores and natural food sections of conventional grocery stores—and avoiding toxic junk in, around, and on my body when possible (like conventional cleaners, makeup/skincare, unnecessary drugs and even essential oils, personal care products, and chlorinated unfiltered tap water…). Sometimes I have vegan/vegetarian days, usually I have omnivorous days, and higher or lower carb depending on my daily goals, but at the end of the day what matters the most is light and the outdoors.
Full spectrum sunlight throughout the day
Even if it’s cloudy or rainy, I make sure to get outside throughout the day and have my eyes absorb the natural, full spectrum UV light that my mitochondria need to function optimally. I take my glasses off for at least a few minutes while enjoying a morning lemon water or hot herbal tonic. Even looking at the brighter parts of the sky will inform a good circadian rhythm in tune with the earth and the natural world. If anything, I prioritize morning light above all else.
Sleeping deeply at night
Bright artificial light at night can be a real challenge when it comes to cultivating and correcting the sleep-wake cycle, downregulating cancer genes, and a good natural circadian rhythm. Where I’m currently living, I ended up temporarily taping cardboard panels over my apartment windows that were facing a horrifically bright street light all night. I also use my comfortable sleep mask by Block Blue Light every night (10% discount code: ROOTTOSKY), use clip on blue light blockers by Spectra479 on my prescription glasses, and even though I don’t have any red bulbs with me currently, I dim the overhead lights as much as I can and cover my skin in front of the laptop with f.lux installed to reduce and avoid artificial light exposure at night. Regular camping in nature can also be a great way to sleep well again and repair the body.
Carving out time for outdoor activities in nature
This is kind of a no-brainer but I was surprised and dismayed at how little I saw this happen in my generation after I was no longer a kid. The world can seem increasingly isolated these days, but even spending a day with a tour group and a trusted guide (especially if there’s no easy access to a car) can refresh, revive and inspire on a cellular level.
Physical movement throughout the day is also crucial whenever you can implement it! When I’m at a desk all day, I like sitting weirdly on my chair when possible, and being cross-legged on a chair has helped me avoid back pain over the years. Another thing I like to try to do is to find a dry sauna somewhere, like at a gym or a spa. I’m always looking for ways to sweat, move and detox, and the sauna has been one of the most transformative ways to enhance my day, especially during the colder and darker seasons.
The more I cultivated these simple lifestyle hacks, the more inspired I became, and the more I found I could do outside (and therefore enhance!) my 9-5 work hours.
What are your preferred hacks where you’re living?
