It’s all too easy to indulge in all of the fun and tasty treats life has to offer, as well as the plethora of inundation of digital information and media that comes our way, whether we’re seeking it out or not. Binging on Netflix and YouTube videos, having a bottle of wine every night with dinner, or for dinner, desserts out with friends, junk food for a snack (just this once, I swear!), eating out and shopping to fill up already full closets and garages to satisfy needs we don’t fully understand. In early January 2019, the phenomenon of the KonMari method took society by storm. People binge watched the release and were instantly inspired to tidy up and clean out their lives. Let’s look at a few areas of life that can deeply benefit from periodic detoxing:
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Body detox. Our body’s natural elimination methods are actually a working marvel. Modern research has lent us an interesting theory about how losing fat follows the breathing path. Fat and waste are converted to carbon dioxide, which we then breathe out. Liquids follow their natural paths and exit the body in the form of sweat and urine. Solids exit the body as excrement, or feces. All of these processes are natural and necessary for our optimal health. When we consume more than our body can easily eliminate and expel during its natural rhythm, symptoms like sluggishness, lethargy, mood swings and other unpleasant feelings give us signals as part of the body’s natural warning system. There are some shortcuts to releasing some toxins when life puts you in a pinch like a drug test for a new job, such as detox pills which help your body flush out the toxins faster than the natural occurring detoxification process of your body. Using methods to rapidly change anything about your body aren’t unheard of, though should always be done with proper medical supervision. Celebrities like Tim Ferriss talk about dropping weight for athletic competitions at rapid rates and expedited timelines, though under direct medical guidance and monitoring. Most of life is not that intense and can be managed in more normalized routines and patterns. It’s always a good plan and set of skills to listen to your body and get to know what it needs, and doesn’t need. And of course the easiest method to detox, is to be intentionally selective about what you consume.
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Digital detox. This is a mental health buzzword made popular by necessity in recent years, and it’ll only become more relevant. Technology affords us amazing benefits and conveniences not previously fully grasped or measured, and still being realized each day. It also has infiltrated our brains and bodies, and put many people spending most of their time indoors, subjected to artificial lights, and less time outdoors, connecting with nature. There’s a lot to be said for spending time in the forest, at the beach, basking in the sunshine or dancing in the rain. Connecting with nature helps keep us grounded, feeling connected and calmer. Simply taking walks outside in your own neighborhood, or walking barefoot in the grass in your yard or local park can provide amazing benefits when you start to feel overwhelmed and anxious without easy explanation. Intentionally curating what you consume in digital format is just as important to your health as what is going into and on your body.
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Material detox. Detoxing your material life, or decluttering as it’s more commonly known as, can have profound effects on your levels of stress and anxiety. Everything is energy, and it all affects our states of health, wealth, happiness and moods. Whether it’s time spent organizing a closet, drawer or entire room, the effects of decluttering and detoxing your material world can have just as much impact and benefit as a digital or body detox.
Whether you start with one area to focus on, or take a wide swath and attempt detoxing multiple areas of life at once, which can be overwhelming, but deeply rewarding if managed through to completion. Detoxing your body back to a state of stability and health, detoxing your social media consumption and decluttering your material world can make a lasting impact on your socializing stamina, overall happiness and mental health, as well as your sense of freedom and confidence. Consider what areas of your life can benefit from some focus on reducing and curating what you keep and allow into it, and watch how your life improves and expands as you create space for the new!
