I have never been the kind of person who enjoys a routine or can stick to one very well. I get bored of doing the same thing over and over very quickly and I need variation in my routines in order to keep myself consistent – since they say consistency is key. But even learning that about myself has been an accomplishment and it’s allowed me to morph the little things in my daily life to get them done and keep me excited about them.
I’ve found that it helps me to be consistent with things when they fit into at least two of the three following criteria:
1. The thing itself is aesthetically pleasing
2. Using/doing the thing provides both immediate and delayed gratification
3. The thing is easy to do and/or use
So, while I enjoy switching up little aspects of my daily routine, there are several things that have proved themselves staples in my life over the past year or so. I might use them at different times of the day to keep myself from feeling like I’m in some sort of groundhog’s day loop. I might add things to them to see if the addition makes it better or worse, or I might test different versions of the same product to weigh the pros and cons of each variation. But overall, I’ve come to really rely on these products and recommend them to friends all the time (and I’ve gotten a lot of people on the bandwagon).
1. NuFace mini
I’ve been using this device nearly every day for over a year and a half now and have three friends who have ordered one after seeing my results. I jokingly call it my “face zapper” since it sends literal electronic micro-currents shooting through my skin. I’ve noticed a thinning of the face, more pronounced bone structure, and a decrease in the fine lines of my forehead.
One ideation of this routine is that I have switched from using the NuFace branded gel to an ultrasound jelly that I buy on bulk from amazon. It’s much cheaper and does the exact same thing: keep you from feeling the painful zapping of the device as it’s dragged along the skin.
Sometimes I use it in the morning, sometimes at night. If I have an event in the evening, I’ll use it before I reapply my makeup. The results have been so intense and so enjoyable that I have no difficulty using it each and every day.
2. Ankle weights
I have a long history with ankle weights since my mom let me wear them with her when we went on walks when I was a kid. I used to have to take them off and turn them into wrist weights before we made it halfway around the block, but over the years I’ve managed to build up my calves and now I use these weights whenever I’m walking around. Sometimes I’ll wear them around my apartment, when I go to the grocery store, or when I’m taking a nice long walk around the city. I’ve found that these are sleek enough that I don’t look too insane when I wear them with shorts and when I pair them with leggings or sweatpants, they’re virtually invisible. I can tell they’ve really helped me gain strength and definition in my legs and would be lying if I said I hadn’t been tempted to wear them to work.
3. Bose Headphones
I am not exaggerating when I say these are my favorite gifts I have ever received. I got them two years ago as a Christmas gift from my parents and have 1000% used them every single day since. My dad is a ride-or-die Apple user so he was not thrilled about me stepping away from the air pods but I will never switch back after using these.
They hook into your ear so no matter how far you run, how sweaty you get or if you’re laying down in your bed they will stay put. The touch commands are convenient, the case is compact and sleek, the battery life is amazing, there is really just nothing I dislike about these headphones.
4. Protein Powder
So many women struggle with eating enough protein and I am no longer one of them. I love smoothies and I add this protein powder into my smoothie every morning. I bought a huge tub of it from amazon and it lasts me about 60 days so the price per use is pretty affordable. My mom recommended it to me, she got referred to it by Bradley Goldman who works with women for diet and weight loss. They have a nice variety of flavors but I personally always get the gourmet vanilla. Here’s the ratio of things I include in it:
- Juice of one lemon
- One scoop of berry flavored Bloom powder
- 1 cup Kroger brand mixed berries (I also like the berry cherry blend from Trader Joes)
- 1 scoop of protein powder
- 1 tsp chia seeds
- Water to the top (orange juice if I’m feeling fancy)
I blend it all up in my nutribullet and call it a day. It’s delicious and when I mix everything together, I don’t experience the grittiness that I do from other protein drinks. Sometimes I even add less water to make it a thicker consistency and add granola to create a protein bowl!
5. Low Carb Tacos
I really struggle with not getting bored of meals – especially dinner for some reason. I want something that tastes good, has a nice amount of protein and is going to be satiating but not make me feel overly full.
I’ve been making these mini tacos for the past few months and they check all those boxes. I usually have about 3 and switch it up using avocado, fresh cilantro, adding beans or corn, etc. They’re great.
6. Ashwaghanda
I heard about ashwagandha on TikTok (where I hear about so many things) and initially just assumed it was a gimmick like a lot of things there are. But the reviews were relentless and profoundly positive and so I eventually decided to just go ahead and try it. It took a while, but eventually I noticed a very reduced sense of anxiety and stress. I’ve never been diagnosed with anxiety or stress but absolutely suffered from it especially in college. Once I started taking these little capsules – after about a month I would say, I noticed that when I remembered I had to do something my heart would sink into my stomach and my pulse wouldn’t start racing. I was able to complete tasks more effectively without overthinking them and lost the anxiety that often comes with trying new things. My mom and dad both take it now and it’s something I never forget to take.
So those are the parts of my daily non-routine that really keep me going and have stayed consistent in my life for quite some time now. I often am trying new things and when they really stick like these six items I share them with as many people as I can.