Is your bathroom shelf starting to look like a pharmacy?
Most health routines begin innocent enough. You’ve got good intentions. Then they evolve. One powder becomes two. A new bottle of pills. Some amazing gadget that claimed to change your life…
Before long, the routine is so big that nobody sticks to it.
Here’s the problem:
Bulk doesn’t equal healthy. Often times when schedules become hectic the FIRST thing people cut is their fancy routine.
The good news? You can trim most of it away and only hang on to what truly works.
Let’s jump in!
What’s inside:
- Why Less Is More For Your Health
- Fast Absorbing Electrolytes: The Keeper Most People Forget
- The 4x Minimalist Health Routine Keepers
- What You Can Safely Cut
- How To Declutter Your Routine In 3x Steps
Why Less Is More For Your Health Routine
Nutrition supplements and health products are all the rage these days. The Council for Responsible Nutrition reports that 75% of Americans use supplements. Three out of four people to be exact.
And that’s not a bad thing on its own…
The problem is that the more products you try to add, the more difficult it becomes to understand what is actually working. A minimalist health routine simplifies. It boils everything down to just a few game changing habits.
Think about it:
Do 5x things a day and you’ll get them done. Do 20x things a day and you’ll avoid half by Wednesday.
Simple routines = routines that stick.
Fast Absorbing Electrolytes: The Keeper Most People Forget
Water is one of the foundations of any healthy regimen. Your body is approximately 60% water and you lose water daily through sweat and exhaling.
But here’s the thing…
Water only goes so far. If you sweat heavily, are ill or otherwise find yourself out in the sun all day your body is losing electrolytes (salt, potassium, etc.) as well. Electrolytes allow your body to retain the water you drink.
For that reason fast absorbing electrolytes are one of the only products you should keep on a barebones shelf. Just add a packet to your water and you’ll hydrate faster than water by itself.
Electrolyte powders like DripDrop take up next to no room since the packets are so small. They’re also easy to pack in a gym bag or travel kit. This is actually more common than you might realize. The NIH has published studies that dehydration impacts between 17% to 28% of older adults living in the United States.
So when should you reach for electrolytes?
- After a hard workout or a long run
- During hot summer days
- When you’re feeling under the weather
Only drink them when you need them. Don’t drink them all day every day. Water is fine during regular days.
The 4x Minimalist Health Routine Keepers
Now onto the good stuff. These are habits you should definitely keep forever. They’re inexpensive (or free) and simple to maintain.
Sleep
Sleep is the most underrated health tool out there.
It’s free. It requires no devices. But it influences your mood, energy, weight and concentration. Adults generally need between 7-9 hours per night. Get into a routine of going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. Even on weekends! Keep your electronics out of the bedroom if possible.
That one change alone can make a huge difference.
Daily Movement
You don’t need a fancy home gym or a pricey membership.
Walk for 30 minutes a day. Easy. Walk up stairs. Stretch while waiting for the kettle. Park further away from the shop. Bit by bit these small amounts of exercise can build up quickly and are much easier to maintain than a strict exercise regime you’ll soon abandon.
Whole Foods
Here’s something that often gets overlooked…
Lots of nutrients you buy in capsules come from whole food. Eat plenty of vegetables, fruit, lean protein and whole grains. Cook basic meals from scratch whenever possible. A small list of whole foods will always win over a long list of powders.
Neat huh? It also saves you money. Think of all the money you’ll save from not buying five different bottles each month. That money can go towards purchasing more fresh groceries to provide for your family. Less products = less decisions and less items to remember each morning.
A Few Proven Basics
Not every supplement needs to go in the bin.
Some individuals require a vitamin D supplement, particularly during winter months. Others may need iron or B12. The goal is to only have what your doctor has SPECIFICALLY prescribed for YOU. The rest is junk crowding your shelf.
What You Can Safely Cut
This is where the real decluttering starts.
Look closely at your schedule. Most likely, much of your day is wasting your time. Here are some things that typically can be eliminated:
- Duplicate supplements: Two products that contain the same vitamin? Keep one.
- Unused gadgets: That massage gun collecting dust isn’t helping anyone.
- Trendy detox teas: Your liver and kidneys already handle detox for free.
- Too many health apps: One tracker is plenty. Five is just noise.
Try this little trick: If you haven’t used it in 30 days, toss it.
Be real with yourself here. It can feel wasteful to throw stuff out. However, keeping it “just in case” is how you accumulated the clutter again last time.
How To Declutter Your Routine In 3x Steps
Ready to take action? Follow this simple process.
- List everything. Write down every product, app and habit in your routine.
- Divide it up. Place each expense into one of three categories: Keep, Cut or Maybe.
- Monthly review: Place all of your “Maybes” in a pile, and weed them monthly.
That’s it. It really is that simple.
It takes you 10 minutes after you’ve completed this process one time. Each time you repeat the process your routine becomes leaner.
Bringing It All Together
Minimalist doesn’t mean doing less stuff. Minimalist means doing what’s important. So here is a brief reminder of the keepers:
- Quality sleep
- Daily movement
- Whole foods
- Doctor-approved basics
- Fast absorbing electrolytes for hot days, hard workouts and sick days
Everything else is optional.
Declutter, keep the staples and see how simple it is to live a healthy lifestyle. Begin with the shelf in your bathroom right now… You’ll be amazed at how few things you really need.
