As the new year is well underway, and resolutions set for the new year may be waning, it’s an opportune moment to delve into the topic of establishing sustainable habits.

Habits are the building blocks of our daily lives, influencing our actions, choices, and ultimately, our wellbeing. Whether big or small, habits shape our routines and play a significant role in achieving our goals. By focusing on small, consistent actions, we pave the way for significant and sustainable results.

The link between healthy habits and overall well-being is undeniable. Physical health, mental clarity and emotional balance are all influenced by the choices we make daily. Cultivating healthy habits is not just about reaching a goal; it’s about creating a lifestyle that enhances every aspect of our lives.

So, what are the secrets to building sustainable healthy habits?

Commit to one thing at a time. It’s easy to start a habit, then after a few days decide to add another, and another, but this will make it all the more difficult to stick to your original goal. Don’t underestimate the amount of focus and effort it takes to actually stick to a new habit! Before you continue any further down this journey, make a mental note that you WILL NOT add additional goals to your primary objective.

Focus on starting. When it comes to making a change in any element of your life, the only part you need to focus on in the beginning is STARTING. Maybe you want to run a marathon? That’s likely not where you’re going to start. At the beginning it’s less about the results and more about forming the habit. Consider a good starting point. 

Start small. Begin your journey by incorporating small changes. Consider what you want to accomplish, then think about a way to simplify it so that it’s so easy you would have a hard time NOT doing it. For example, say your goal is to start doing an hour of yoga every day. Maybe you start with doing three yoga poses a day. The goal, in the beginning, is to just get into the habit of DOING the thing (in this case, yoga) each day. Then you can build from there. 

Create a routine. Embed new habits into your existing daily routine. I like the concept of habit stacking. You can do this by identifying a daily action or habit that you already engage in and add your new habit before or after it. Capitalizing on a structure that already exists, rather than starting something completely new, makes it easier to remember and can help these habits become ingrained in your lifestyle.

Be consistent. When implementing a new habit, consistency is important. It’s okay to skip a day – but try not to skip two. Once a habit is solidly ingrained in your routine, you’ll be able to take a few days off then jump back on the horse. But in the beginning, you should avoid skipping more than a day at a time.

Overcoming Challenges in Habit Formation 

While the road to forming new habits is exciting, it’s not without its challenges. Understanding and overcoming obstacles is crucial for long-term success.

Address common obstacles. While you’re in the beginning stages of creating change, take steps to restructure your environment so that you’re less tempted to fall back into old ways. Identify potential challenges such as time constraints or resistance to change. Knowing these hurdles in advance allows you to develop strategies to overcome them.

Adaptability and resilience. Habits may face setbacks, but the key is resilience. Learn from setbacks, adapt your approach, and stay committed to the bigger picture. Try to withhold judgment. Progress isn’t linear, and real change can be a long and sometimes trying journey.

Maintaining Healthy Habits for the Long Term

Building healthy habits is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. Consistency and long-term success go hand in hand.

Focus on enjoyment. Choose habits that align with your interests and preferences. When you enjoy what you’re doing, it becomes easier to stay committed over the long haul.

Build a supportive environment. Surround yourself with people and settings that foster your desired habits. A supportive environment can make the journey more enjoyable and sustainable.

Accountability. Consider working with a coach or having an accountability partner. Someone who shares your goals can be a valuable source of support and motivation.

Celebrating progress and success. Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. Recognizing progress is a powerful motivator that fuels your commitment to maintaining healthy habits.

Be mindful. Notice if you’re engaging in negative self-talk, starting to avoid your new habit, dread it, or feel like quitting, pay attention to these feelings. Practice shifting the blame off of yourself and starting again with different factors in place.

The journey to incorporating and maintaining healthy habits is a continuous process with long-term benefits. By understanding the power of habits, being consistent, overcoming challenges, and building a supportive community, you pave the way for a healthier, more fulfilling life. Embrace the journey, celebrate your victories, and savor the positive changes that come with the consistent practice of healthy habits. Your well-being is worth the effort.

Krissy Nevero is a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner and Integrative Nutrition Health Coach based in Sonoma, California. To learn more about Krissy and her services, please visit her website: www.regainhealthcoaching.com

The Vernal, or Spring, Equinox marks the beginning of the new year—of rebirth, of starting anew, of hope. As the days grow longer and more light-filled, it is a great time to set forth new intentions, to bring to life your wildest Winter dreams, and to usher in new habits that support this season of growth and transformation.

Here are seven simple habits to implement into your daily routine to support this season of growth and expansion:

1. Drink a glass of water upon waking. Hydrate, and get your digestive juices flowing, too. Add lemon for a boost of vitamin C and antioxidants. Remember, always drink up after brushing your teeth and scraping your tongue but before having breakfast or coffee.

2. Eat breakfast. Don’t skip the most important meal of the day. Instead, start the day with a nourishing, energizing, and satiating meal that helps support your hormones and blood sugar levels.

3. Wait to have coffee. Wait at least two hours after waking to drink your cup ‘o joe, preferably after eating, too, so as not to throw-off or manipulate your cortisol levels, which naturally rise upon waking.

4. Take a walk—everyday. Take a 30 minute walk everyday and notice the positive changes that arise. Not only does walking get us outside into the fresh air and sunshine, both of which are immensely healing, but walking daily boosts our cardiovascular health, strengthens our bones and joints, increases our energy, helps us maintain a healthy weight, tones our muscles, and decreases our chances of developing diseases like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and cancer.

5. Eat dinner as a family. A conflict of schedule is not an excuse—make it happen. Eating together is a simple yet profound moment of connection and ritual that strengthens the family bond and helps children develop an appreciation for and connection with their food (and the preparation involved in making it).

6. Put down the phone one hour before bed time. Catch-up for a bit, then opt for airplane mode, or turning it off completely, in favor of picking up a book, connecting with your partner or children, playing a card game, listening to music, collecting your thoughts, or stretching it out before bed. The blue light emitted from devices like smart phones interrupts the production of melatonin, which naturally increases as the sun sets.

7. Don’t over commit. Don’t be afraid to set boundaries and to say no. Over-committing is what leaves us feeling tired and burnt out half-way through the year. Prioritize self-care and downtime; it’s essential.

We’ve all heard of the trending adrenal cocktail by now—but what is it exactly? And is the trend worth the hype? Let’s demystify this and find out once and for all:

What is an adrenal cocktail? An adrenal cocktail is a non-alcoholic elixir that aims to balance key vitamins and minerals in the body, replenishing fatigued adrenal glands and, therefore, supporting the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. While specific ingredients and recipes may vary, it always includes Vitamin C, potassium, and sea salt.

What are the adrenal glands? The adrenal glands (you have two of them) are located just above the kidneys and regulate key hormones, namely cortisol, aldosterone, and adrenaline, which help regulate various processes like energy production, metabolism, and stress response.

What is adrenal fatigue? Adrenal fatigue occurs when chronic or severe stress effects the body’s ability to make the hormones needed to handle the stress. The adrenals can no longer produce sufficient levels of cortisol to keep up with the demand and become overwhelmed in the process. Because cortisol production is a top priority, other hormones begin to take a hit, and imbalances ensue.

What do vitamins and minerals have to do with it? Balanced minerals equal balanced hormones equal happy cells. Happy, hydrated cells require a particular ratio of sodium to potassium (1:16), and most Americans don’t get enough potassium. Because of this transport process imbalance, too much sodium leaves the cells with water, leaving the cells dehydrated and even dysfunctional. The adrenal glands use up more Vitamin C when under chronic or severe stress, depleting the body of this essential vitamin, which can leave you prone to oxidative stress and compromised immune function. Sea salt contains vital trace minerals and electrolytes like magnesium that help with energy levels, blood pressure regulation, and adrenal function. It really elevates the taste, too.

Who is the adrenal cocktail for? The adrenal cocktail is an easy way to support and nourish the adrenal glands and is chock-full of essential vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes. It’s an ideal drink for anyone, especially those feeling sluggish or fatigued in the afternoons or is suffering with daily stress.

When should I drink my adrenal cocktail? It’s best to drink your adrenal cocktail when mineral levels begin to dip naturally, around 10AM and 2PM. If you have blood sugar management issues, it may be best to consume your adrenal cocktail 15-20 minutes after eating to help blunt a potential sugar spike. As with anything new, start slowly with one adrenal cocktail per day and see how you feel before introducing a second glass.

How do I make an adrenal cocktail? An adrenal cocktail is made using a source of Vitamin C, potassium, and sea salt. This could be orange juice (Vitamin C), cream of tartar (potassium), and Celtic sea salt (sea salt). You could also purchase an adrenal cocktail mix—just make sure it’s clean, with no added sugars, flavors, or additives. I like Jigsaw Health’s Adrenal Cocktail + Whole Food Vitamin C because it’s simple—and very clean. I add one scoop to a glass of spring water with a splash of pineapple juice and a squeeze of lemon. Be sure to mix well.

Favorite Recipes:

Tangy Orange:

1 cup fresh squeezed orange juice + 1/4 tsp cream of tartar + 1/4 tsp sea salt + splash of plain sparkling water

Tropical Paradise:

1 cup coconut water + 1/2 cup pineapple juice + 1/2 cup lime juice + 1/4 tsp pink Himalayan salt

Optional add-ins:

grass-fed collagen / coconut cream / protein powder

So what do you think? Will you give the adrenal cocktail a try? Try one of our favorite recipes above and be sure to report back to us.

Cheers to happy and healthy adrenals!

Yoga is a layered practice with myriad benefits, but perhaps the greatest and most obvious benefit of incorporating yoga into your daily movement routine is the literal room it creates in the body. Tight muscles a.) impact our joints and our range of motion, b.) have a harder time eliminating lactic acid, and c.) keep prana, or life-force energy, from flowing freely throughout the body.

Here are my top five picks for yoga poses that everyone should incorporate into their daily movement routine (modify if necessary) and what muscles they strengthen and stretch.

Child’s Pose: The ultimate grounding posture, Child’s Pose gently opens the hips and stretches the thighs and tops of the feet while simultaneously lengthening the spinal column and inviting the heart to meet the Earth. It’s time to leave the outer world behind and take some time to turn your focus and attention inward.

How To: From Table-Top Position (all fours), bring your big toes to touch and draw the sits bones toward the heels as you outstretch your arms toward the top of your mat, lengthening your spine. Walk the knees as far apart as is comfortable and allow the torso to ‘snuggle down’ between the legs, with the heart falling toward the Earth. If possible, rest the forehead, or third-eye, on the mat. Now begin to inhale slowly and exhale slowly, noticing the spine elongating with every inhalation and the body softening with every exhalation. Take this time to check-in with yourself today, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally, too.

Crescent Moon Pose: You can work this juicy, standing side-stretch into your day anytime, anywhere. Crescent Moon Pose stretches the entire side-body, from the outside hip, to the obliques, to the intercostal muscles between the ribs.

How To: Standing with your feet either hips-width distance apart or completely together, inhale as your draw the arms upward in an Upward Facing Salute to lengthen the spine. Bring the palms to touch as you interlace all the fingers except for the index fingers, which come together in Kali Mudra. Once again, reach upwards as you inhale, creating as much space as possible before exhaling and leaning over to the right side. Stay here breathing mindfully for as long as needed before repeating on the left side.

Reclined Twist Pose: One of the most satisfying stretches, Reclined Twist Pose stretches the low back, the glutes, and the outer hip. I could stay here all day!

How To: Lay on your back and take a full-body stretch before you begin. Now, draw the knees into the chest and wrap your arms around your legs in a ‘hug’. Gently allow the knees to fall to the right side on an exhalation, doing your best to keep the hips as stacked as possible, and both shoulder blades firmly on the mat. Outstretch your arms and shift your gaze over your left shoulder and close the eyes. Notice your body softening into the posture with every exhalation.

Downward Facing Dog Pose: This well-known posture does it all. It lengthens the spine while stretching the lats, the abdomen, the calves, and the hamstrings, and strengthens the arms and shoulders, too. If you ever only have time for one thing, let it be Downward Facing Dog.

How To: From Table-Top Position (all fours), walk your hands forward and step your feet back as you draw your hips toward the ceiling on an exhalation. Keep the knees bent to start, and take some time to ‘feel into‘ the pose, or to ‘walk it out’, as you adjust your hands and feet into a comfortable and correctly aligned Downward Facing Dog. The fingers should be spread wide, with your weight evenly distributed into all ten fingers. The shoulders should be externally rotated, so that the insides of your elbow creases face each other and your back is open and wide. The feet should be positioned about hips-width distance apart, and slightly pigeon-toed (toes in, heels out) and the knees may remain bent, or may slowly straighten as you warm up, and the heels driving toward the mat (even though they may not touch it). Activate your core muscles by drawing the navel in toward the spine. The neck should remain neutral with a soft, steady gaze back between your upper thighs. Stay here and breath slowly and deeply, matching your inhalations with your exhalations. When finished, return to Table-Top Position, and then Child’s Pose.

Forward Fold Pose: A cooling, calming posture, standing Forward Fold relaxes and releases the muscles of the low back and neck, especially as you gently sway from side to side, and rock your head forward and back and side to side. This posture lengthens the spine and the hamstrings, while allowing you to reflect inward once again.

How To: With your feet hips-width distance apart, reach upwards with your arms, finding length in the spine and side-body first. Bring the hands to rest on your hips, draw your navel in towards the spine, and begin to hinge forward from the hips—not the waist. Bend your knees as much as you need to as you slowly fold down, torso over thighs. Relax your arms heavy, or grab opposite elbows, and relax the shoulders, neck and head. Gently sway from side to side, helping to ease low back tension, and lightly stretching the hamstrings and even the outer hips as you bend one leg and straighten the other as you sway. Notice how each inhale lifts you, inviting in more length and space, and every exhale eases you deeper into the fold. Stay here as long as it feels good before slowly lifting up.

Ashley Rarick of Ayurvedic Vitality shares this calming evening tea recipe that helps sooth both the mind and body.

“Rose has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years, and is regarded for it’s healing benefits and it’s ability to calm the emotions as well as the skin.” she says. “It’s balancing for both Vata and Pitta body types. Kapha body types can add honey for sweetener and have in moderation as a treat.” she adds.

Chamomile-Rose Tea:

1 bag Chamomile Tea

1 tsp Edible Rose Water

1-2 tsp of Herbal Sweetener or Maple Syrup

1 1/2 cups of Hot Water

1/2 Ghee

Optional: Milk or Favorite Milk Alternative

Enjoy!

More and more Americans are lacking three fundamental components required in building and sustaining a robust immune system: sleep, sunshine, and movement. There are likely many reasons for this, from sedentary lifestyles (as compared to our ancestors), high-demand, high-stress jobs, and an exaggerated fear of the sun (disclaimer: burning is never good).

Consistent sleep is paramount when it comes to boosting both our immediate (innate) and learned (adaptive) immune function. Even if you aren’t obviously hurt or sick, studies have shown that our immune system revs up the production of cytokines (proteins that act as immune system messengers), helping to strengthen our body’s “immune memory”. As the body begins to wake (thanks to our circadian rhythm), this inflammatory response winds down. When you don’t get adequate sleep, you risk compromising this delicate self-regulating system, allowing inflammation to persist, and risk many unfavorable short-term side effects and in some cases, the development of  chronic conditions. You may function on insufficient sleep, but your body will never grow accustomed to it; human beings need a minimum of 6-7 hours of restful sleep at night. For tips on establishing better bed-time habits, be sure to read Seven Steps to Better Sleep.

Human beings need sunlight. Vitamin D isn’t found naturally in many foods but your body produces it when exposed to direct sunlight. Vitamin D is integral for bone health, but it also plays a crucial role in both the body’s innate and adaptive immune response (hello, monocytes, DC’s, T and B-cells!). Vitamin D deficiency is associated with autoimmunity and an increased risk of infection. It’s best to get outside in the sun, but if sunshine is lacking, you may wish to supplement daily with 600IU of Vitamin D. Remember, there’s a difference between safely spending time in the sun and burning, which is never good.

Movement is also an important component of healthy immune function as movement and exercise mobilizes immune cells. Depending on the intensity and duration of your exercise, the number of circulating immune cells increases by 50-400% for up to three hours! Research shows that even 20-40 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per day is enough to boost the immune system. So while we may think of exercise and movement as mere methods of slimming down, we can see that an active lifestyle is important in many ways.

These three simple, yet vital, components of healthy immune response are worth emphasizing in a world that’s constantly barraging us with the latest high-price health trends and modalities. It can seem overwhelming to sift through. I encourage you to keep it simple by sticking to the time-tested basics.

The rigors of daily life coupled with poor lifestyle choices can lead to, or exasperate, a number of chronic conditions and ailments, and adrenal fatigue may be one of the first noticeable symptoms of prolonged stress and bad habits. The adrenal glands, a part of the endocrine system, produce and regulate hormones in the body and chronic stress, a lackluster diet, or poor sleep habits can send this delicate system into a frenzy, resulting in either too much or too little cortisol in the bloodstream. The result? Adrenal fatigue: tiredness and low-energy, brain fog, irritability and moodiness, decreased sex-drive, insulin resistance, hair, skin and nail changes, sleep issues, and hormone imbalances.

So how do we keep our cortisol levels in check and avoid adrenal fatigue? Reducing stress and developing healthy, adrenal-supportive habits are essential. Here are some helpful tips on how to reduce stress and support your adrenal glands:

Avoid foods that can over-work the adrenal glands. This includes caffeine, refined sugars, processed foods, and an excessive intake of carbohydrates.

Include foods that support the adrenal glands. This includes nuts and seeds, pasture-raised lean meats, wild-caught salmon, fruits and vegetables (especially cruciferous), fermented foods, and avocados.

Prioritize rest. Rest when you feel the need to rest. Prioritize sleep by putting away the blue-light emitting smart phones and laptops well before bed-time and enjoy a book and a cup of chamomile tea instead. Aim to be in bed by 10PM and get 8-10 hours of sleep each night. Check out our article, Seven Steps to Better Sleep, here.

Move your body daily. Be sure to exercise or move your body daily even if it’s only for 20 minutes. Tackle some yard work or go for a brisk walk around the neighborhood or office building. Yoga in particular is a wonderful, stress-reducing practice.

Supplement with adaptogenic botanicals. Adaptogens like ashwaganda, astragalus, ginseng, rhodiola, maca and cordyceps have been used for centuries to help the body cope with stress and to support the adrenals.

Practice self-care. Do things that make you happy. Laugh daily. Slow down. Relax. Tell yourself “I love you. You are enough.” and believe it—often. Self-love and self-care is at the root of healing. Check out our article, Human in the Mirror, here.

Intermittent fasting (IF) is very popular but is it right for you?

What fasting is and isn’t.

Fasting is the voluntary withholding of food for spiritual reasons, health, weight loss and other reasons. Fasting, done correctly, should not cause suffering and is very controlled. It is not skipping meals and it is not a diet but rather an eating pattern.

Intermittent fasting generally involves varying periods of fasting interspersed by shorter windows of eating. There are several cycles of this which have been proven to work for those seeking to lose weight.

During fasting windows you can drink non-caloric liquids such as water, tea or black coffee.

Some of the most common cycles include:

• 16:8. This is where you fast for 16 hours and eat within an 8 hour window. The 16:8 method pretty much involves just skipping breakfast, and then ensuring your last meal is consumed at least 2 hours prior to when you go to sleep.
• 5:2. This option involves fasting completely for 2 entire days a week and following your normal diet patterns on the other days.
• OMAD. This stands for one meal a day. This involves eating one large meal a day during the day or only small amounts of vegetables and fruits during the day and eating one huge meal at night.
• Alternate day fasting. This is fasting every other day, either by not eating anything or eating only a few hundred calories

By adjusting the pattern and frequency by which you consume your meals, you restrict your eating hours to a shorter period during the day. This prolongs the period of fasting, generally reserved for night time, allowing the body more time to digest and assimilate what was consumed.

The important part of this cycle is to ensure that the meals you eat in between fasting periods are balanced and contain enough nutrients and minerals to see your body through the next period of fasting.

What the research says.

Studies have shown that intermittent fasting can affect the functioning of your cells, genes, and hormones, as the altered pattern of your eating will ultimately release the hormones necessary for cell growth and repair. In particular, intermittent fasting can be effective at regulating the hormones that have to do with hunger, blood sugar and metabolism.

So its benefits can include weight loss, improved insulin sensitivity, balanced blood sugar (thus lower type two diabetes risk), better mental clarity and less brain fog, better hormonal balance (specifically ghrelin and leptin), reduced inflammation, better mood, improved anxiety, depression and more.

With benefits like that, it sounds pretty tempting, but it’s definitely not for everyone.

Who can benefit from fasting?

As is common with research, a bulk of scientific evidence for the health benefits of intermittent fasting primarily comes from male subjects.

Cycling females, with monthly hormonal fluctuations, may have different caloric and energy needs at different times of the month and can experience different effects from intermittent fasting than males so I advise this group to proceed with caution.

Additionally, fasting for extended periods of time is a physiological stressor. So, if you have low adrenal or thyroid function, are struggling with stress or related symptoms such as irregular or missing cycles, poor sleep, cravings, binging or blood sugar imbalance, now may not be the time to try intermittent fasting.

And if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, have a history with an eating disorder, are prone to experiencing anxiety or fainting intermittent fasting is probably not for you.

In these cases rather than fasting, I recommend focusing on the fundamentals: incorporating regular stress support, good sleep hygiene, regular restorative movement and getting necessary nutrients by eating protein, healthy fats and fibrous carbs three meals a day.

But if you’re feeling great and want to give it a try, I typically recommend starting with a 12 hour overnight fast. For example, you finish eating dinner by 7PM and don’t eat breakfast until 7AM. It can be a good way to ease into it. However, it’s always best to seek guidance from your health practitioner before starting any new healthcare regime.

Krissy Nevero is a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner and Integrative Nutrition Health Coach based in Sonoma, California. To learn more about Krissy and her services, please visit her website: www.regainhealthcoaching.com

You’ve likely heard of the importance of having healthy boundaries, but what does that actually mean? Boundaries can be defined as limits you identify for yourself and apply through action or communication to protect your time and energy.

Another way to think about boundaries is like a property line. You may see a fence or a “NO TRESPASSING” sign, which clearly indicates a boundary or even a consequence. Of course these boundaries are much easier to see and understand whereas personal boundaries require a bit more communication.

Why are boundaries important?

Having set, personal boundaries:

• is an essential piece of self-care and self-respect
• allow you to set limits for healthy relationships
• enable you to communicate your needs in a relationship
• encourage you to make space for your feelings and emotions
• facilitates more positive interactions with others

Often, we go beyond our comfortable limits and push boundaries because we feel guilty about something or feel as though we need to live up to a certain expectation that has been set for us. This can lead to feelings of discomfort and resentment.

So while setting boundaries may be uncomfortable at first, it’s essential for your overall well being.

How do you define your boundaries?

When it comes to setting healthy boundaries in your life, the first step is determining where and what those boundaries are. As you go through your day, take note of what actions make you uncomfortable, then decide how much of those actions you can tolerate and accept. As you determine where you choose to draw the line in every situation, consider your physical, emotional, and mental limits.

Here are a few examples to get you thinking:

• If you consider yourself an introvert and it takes a lot out of you to go out on the town with friends, take some time to think about how that extra energy affects your physical, emotional, and mental health. Are you physically exhausted the day after a night of socializing? If so, do you need to decline certain invitations in the future or is there a way you can plan to recharge the next day and make space for that?
• When you’re in a situation that you don’t feel great about, check in to see if you’re feeling discomfort or resentment, then ask yourself what could be influencing that feeling. Is it the way an interaction is going? Does the other person have a specific expectation that’s bothering you? Do you feel as though you’re being taken advantage of? Or unappreciated? How can you communicate that or avoid this type of situation in the future?
• Consider your work environment. Is it normal for your coworkers to work beyond the 8-hour workday? This feeling of wanting to measure up could be wreaking havoc on your physical and mental health. Is this truly a requirement of your job or can you meet the expectations of your employer during standard business hours? Do you need to have a conversation with your boss about it?

Once you define your boundaries, you will need to communicate them.

Tips for communicating boundaries :

When we first start practicing setting boundaries, it can feel challenging. We might feel guilty, afraid, or self-conscious but it’s important to remember that setting limits will help make relationships healthier in the long-run.

• Start small. Before you tackle important relationships or significant life changes, start with something small that doesn’t seem super threatening to you. This could include scheduling time blocks for work, exercise, a meal or self-care.
• Get support. Develop a support system of people who respect your right to set boundaries.
• Communicate clearly. When you identify the need to set a boundary, do it clearly, calmly, firmly, respectfully, and concisely.
• Take action. If you set a boundary, follow through with it. Stay strong; don’t give in.
• Learn to say no. If your plate is full, it’s OK to say “no” or “not right now”.
• Take the emotions out of it. You’re not responsible for the other person’s reaction to the boundary you’re setting. You’re only responsible for communicating your boundary in a respectful manner. If it upsets them, know it is their problem.

Like any new skill, communicating and maintaining boundaries will take practice. You deserve to be comfortable in everyday situations as often as possible. If you have the opportunity to make your day easier or less stressful, why not do it? Remember, boundaries can protect your time and energy and these days that is priceless!

Krissy Nevero is a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner and Integrative Nutrition Health Coach based in Sonoma, California. To learn more about Krissy and her services, please visit her website: www.regainhealthcoaching.com