Intentional Living Amidst Chaos
Amidst the chaos of the Covid-19 pandemic and the solitude of quarantine living, protests, and riots, our normal daily stress has significantly increased. Whether or not you are consciously aware of your stress levels, I can assure you that you are out of balance be it physically, spiritually, or emotionally. When our bodies are under such high levels of stress for an extended period of time, we often find ourselves with anxiety on the rise, a compromised immune system and sleeping poorly.
Although there are many things in life you cannot control, it is important to be intentional in creating a routine that can help minimize daily stress and anxiety. A good night's sleep often dictates the energy levels and productivity of your day, but rather than poorly reiterating all that I learned via this fabulous podcast, simply do yourself a favor and listen to Mind Muscle Project’s podcast, Dr. Kirk Parsley on Sleep Science & Your Hormones. I promise you won't regret it. In addition to the general importance of sleep, everyone already knows that things like yoga, working out, taking a bath, or even turning your phone off for a time, are all things that will help (not harm you). However, the key here is how willing are you to intentionally form habits that set you up for success and therefore cause you to thrive in life and not merely survive.
Ok, so now for a quick note on nutrition: Your nutritional habits play a massive role in how you will rest, recover, and perform each day. Take a minute to think over this week's grocery list. What is your ratio of frozen, processed, sugary foods to that of fresh meats, fruits, and vegetables? The more fresh produce you can add to your cart, the better; for you will be sourcing yourself with clean natural vitamins, minerals, and proteins. Eating foods such as red pepper (packed with 2x the amount of vitamin C found in oranges) or blueberries (packed with antioxidants that fight cell damage and reduce inflammation) are great additions to your daily diet, for these are nutrients that your body can actively use to help build your immunity. So what if you are struggling to get all your nutrients? We have recently discovered Vejo, a rapidly growing portable blender company who, along with the portable blenders, have created pods (kinda like the coffee pods) sourced with only the finest ingredients in which “fruits and vegetables are harvested at peak ripeness, freeze-dried into powder, and packed into blends within hours.” They have an ever growing selection of unique pods that range from pre- and post-workout blends to delicious nutrient-dense smoothies.
Hardkour and Hardkour Nutrition strongly stand by all that Vejo offers. So much so that we have partnered with Vejo for a giveaway of a Vejo starter kit and an additional 8 pack of blends! Head on over to our instagram page @hardkournutrition and keep a lookout for more details. If you already have a Vejo blender or are looking at purchasing one, use our code HARDKOUR8 at check out to get a pack of 8 pods of your choice on us! Since the rise of the covid pandemic, Vejo has launched a new pod they have called Immunity Fuel. This new pod consists of fortifying mushrooms, concentrated beta-glucans, zinc, green tea extract, and vitamins making a well balanced mix. In addition Vjeo has included a step-by-step guide to improving your immune health to help stay balanced and keep stress levels in check.
In the midst of life's chaos, we must maintain the goal of managing anxiety, boosting the immune system, and increasing sleep. For many of us, this will require a slight lifestyle change. But think of it this way: if you are putting the best possible fuel into your car in addition to keeping it well maintained and oiled, then you will have a reliable vehicle that runs smoothly for an extended period of time, the same is true for our bodies. There are countless resources available, but it's up to you to be intentional.
Stay safe and healthy my friends.
Annaliese Allen with Hardkour Nutrition
#FUELYOURPERFORMANCE