We’re two weeks into the new year and many of us are already thinking ahead. What are our health goals in 2024? Is it time for a new year detox? Should we get in a cleanse or two right off the bat, or is it better to pace ourselves?
I find that New Year’s resolutions can be fraught with a lot of baggage. So many of us have good intentions when we set accomplishments to reach throughout the year, but so often, these resolutions create a sense of guilt and failure if we don’t reach them or if we don’t show progress quickly enough.
Do you put a lot of pressure on yourself to heal fast and get over your symptoms or health challenges quickly?
Do you find that you have a hard time during the holidays when it comes to sticking to your healing protocols and healthy choices? Then this blog is for you.
NEW YEAR DETOX AND WHY IT WORKS
I’m all about making healing simple, and when possible, EASY. I’m spending all of January talking about this exact topic (how to Make Healing Simple) in my Intuitive Healing Community membership program. Learn more here.
When we find ways to make a healing lifestyle work for us while it also heals our bodies, we reduce stress, avoid resentment toward time-consuming routines, and set ourselves up for long-term success. If we can’t sustain our healing protocols, they won’t work.
The reason I love this time of year for detox and cleansing is that, if you ask me, it’s the easiest time of year to focus on our habits and avoid so many of the things that make cleansing and detox plans difficult. Things like social pressure, group gatherings, and unhealthy temptations.
The holidays can be a challenging time to maintain health-building habits. We are tempted by sweets and comfort foods as we spend time with family and friends to celebrate festive occasions when most people are drinking alcohol, consuming a lot of decadent treats, and generally indulging a bit.
Once the holidays have passed, though, it gets so much easier. Social pressure disappears as we all return to our daily routines after the holiday break. Without any major holidays in the first few months of the year, we have good cause to focus on ourselves.
In many parts of the world, the winter cold brings a sort of hibernation during these months that can bring a bit of isolation but along with that comes the freedom to focus on your habits and routines without outside influence.
Looking for support in finding the best possible healthy meals for you? Download my free meal planner here!
CLEANSES TO CONSIDER
Are you wondering which cleanse might be the best option for you? I’ve created a blog post laying out all of the primary cleanses included in the Medical Medium book series, which are the most powerful cleanses I have found to build and restore health.
Visit the blog to read How to Choose the Best Cleanse for You.
The most important thing to consider when selecting a cleanse or detox protocol is to choose whichever one you can achieve without unnecessary stress or overwhelm. There is no gold star for choosing an advanced cleanse if you’re not yet ready for one! And healing the body is not a race. It’s about making sustainable and steady progress each day to get you to your best possible health.
I personally just completed a potato mono-eating cleanse, which felt right for my specific needs right now. I am now in the middle of a long-term advanced 369 cleanse(my favorite!) from the Medical Medium book, Cleanse to Heal, but it’s not always the right time for that cleanse as it requires more time in the kitchen and more ingredients.
I’ve also created a 7-part video series on how to use food to heal your body and mind including a DIY Intuitive Cleanse program that you can customize to your own needs. Learn more here!
YEARLY RESOLUTIONS VERSUS MONTHLY MILESTONES
Arianna Huffington has spoken a lot about microsteps, which is the idea that breaking goals down into very small daily actions makes them more achievable and more enjoyable. I resonate with this idea.
Instead of setting lofty New Year’s resolutions that you may or may not achieve this year, it might be helpful to consider setting monthly milestones that get you closer to your overall goals in smaller steps. Or you could go even more micro and set weekly or daily micro goals.
Perhaps you have a goal to finally lose the persistent weight that’s followed you around for much of your life. If you have been following me for a while, you know that I talk about reducing dietary fats, removing processed foods, and healing the liver to accomplish that goal.
Your monthly milestone could be completing one cleanse per month that lasts at least seven days throughout the year and reducing coffee in January and February until you stop drinking it altogether starting in March. Your daily microsteps could include drinking at least two liters of water and doing at least 20 minutes of gentle exercise or stretching every day.
Choose milestones and microsteps that make sense for you and move you toward the big goals that you may be thinking about as we get into 2024.
EASY DOES IT
When I work with clients, it can be challenging to help them find a positive relationship with healing protocols. Healthy living can feel restrictive in a world that glorifies and normalizes unhealthy foods, and it can feel challenging if you’re eating differently than friends, family, or co-workers around you. Very often, it’s our relationship to healing foods, detox, and cleanses that can make or break out progress.
This year, I want to encourage you to focus on making your healthy habits easy for you. Be conscious of any mental or physical habits that create pressure, guilt, or stress in any form. As you become aware of what causes tension, think of ways to shift your relationship to whatever the source of that tension is until it dissolves.
Before you know it, we’ll be talking about the holiday season and another new year (it seems time moves faster every year, doesn’t it?). If you set yourself up for a year of steady progress without all the pressure of the past, you’ll look back at this year amazed at how far you’ve come. And you’ll have proven to yourself that a healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to be hard.
Start now by taking advantage of this beautiful season of winter slowdown where social gatherings and celebrations calm and there’s a bit more reflection and solitude. Your future self will thank you for building a foundation of ease when before you would have pushed yourself more than you needed.
To your health and peace,
Muneeza
