Carrie Ann Inaba is an Emmy Nominated host, producer, choreographer, writer and wellness advocate. She is most recognized from her work on ABC's megahit Dancing with the Stars, and for her previous work as moderator of CBS's The Talk. She was diagnosed with Lupus, Fibromyalgia, and Sjogren's syndrome in 2013 and has since become an advocate for those living with autoimmune illnesses and for those seeking wellness, leading the the way for wellness warriors everywhere.
Whether you’re in a creative field professionally or not, creativity is one of the most important parts of being human. No matter what outlet or form it takes, creative expression allows us to explore and understand our thoughts, experiences, and deeper impressions in a way that we otherwise wouldn’t be able to. Being creative helps us construct our own world and explore the way it looks through our eyes. We experience so many things every day, have millions of thoughts and feelings, and creative expression is the main way we’re able to get all of these ideas out of our heads. Spending time focusing on your own perspective can help you understand yourself and the world better, as well as increase your confidence; the more time you spend listening to your own deeper thoughts, the more you will come to realize that the way you view the world and the ideas you have are unique and important!
Getting In Touch With Your Creative Side
Creativity is important, but how do we get started? It can be so difficult to get motivated, or even know where to begin. If you’re feeling stuck, stagnant, or just feel lost without a routine, here are a few tips to start building creativity.
Try the “Blurt” Method
When you’re getting into a creative mode, one of the most important things to do is silence your inner critic. We’re so accustomed to editing ourselves and thinking about what others will think of us. But when we’re creating, we need to learn to let this voice go and give up on trying to control everything. Not every first idea will be brilliant, but getting them all out is the most important thing at first. In her writing book Bird By Bird, author Anne Lamott talks about the importance of a “sh*tty first draft.” She says that nobody, not even the most acclaimed authors, sit down and spin gold on their first try. The most important thing is simply to sit down and start. “Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere. Start by getting something— anything— down on paper.” The first draft is for getting everything down, she says, and the editing and fixing and polishing comes later.
This is true of any creative pursuit, not just writing. Whether you’re just starting out or have been pursuing an art form for years, don’t let yourself get caught up in trying to be perfect. This is where the “Blurt” method comes in. If you’re trying to write something, simply sit down with a pen and paper and just write down whatever comes to mind without trying to self edit. The important thing is getting everything out so that later you can make connections. If you’re drawing, just let your pen or pencil wander, creating whatever shapes are appealing to you until it starts turning into something you want to create. If you’re dancing, just start moving, and if you’re singing or writing music just start with the sounds you feel like creating. Trust the process and know that even when these first attempts are messy, they’re simply the first steps towards something that’s going to be great.
Start Journaling
Keeping a journal is a great way to keep track of your thoughts and feelings each day. We experience so many things every day; simply getting down a record of things that happen and the way they make you feel can be so helpful. Not only does it help provide a record of your life to turn to when you’re looking for inspiration but it will also train you to be more mindful throughout your days, remembering more and more things that are significant or interesting.
Designate A Time For Creativity
In this day and age, distractions are hard to escape from. We have screens with us at all times, vying for our attention and eating away at our time. One of the easiest ways to get more creative is just to make it more of a priority. Set a time for creativity every day (or every week, whatever feels right) where you put all distractions aside, turn your phone off, and put your whole energy into being creative. The more often you commit to this kind of schedule, the more your mind will start to catch on and get used to switching into creative mode on command.
Get Moving
Time and time again, we’ve seen that moving around is one of the best ways to problem solve and get creative. The physical act of moving helps us feel like we’re moving through whatever obstacles or blocks we’re experiencing in our minds. As soon as you start moving, something you’ve been trying to work out for hours with no success might suddenly become clear and straightforward. Whether it’s pacing around your house or getting out for a jog, putting your body in motion can help your brain make new connections. When we spoke to author Alex Kahler about his process, he shared that going for a long walk was one of his favorite methods for engaging his creativity.
Revisit Your Favorite Work
It can seem counterintuitive to look at someone else’s work when you’re trying to create something original, but getting in touch with something you truly love can be a great place to start if you’re feeling stuck. Whether it’s a favorite book, movie, painting or song, pay attention to what you love about it and how it makes you feel. This can often help reveal more about what you’re hoping to create, giving you some inspiration for the feelings you hope to invoke with your own work.
Try A New Medium
A great way to invite more creativity into your life is to switch things up. If you’re used to drawing or painting, see what writing a brief essay or piece of prose unlocks for you. If you’re more of a writer and less of a visual person, getting loose with some watercolors or experimenting with an instrument could give you fresh inspiration or a fresh sense of satisfaction.
Learn About Something New
If you’re feeling fresh out of ideas, it can be helpful to stock up on inspiration. Pick up a book about a new subject, put on a documentary or even just dive into something new on Wikipedia. You never know what new piece of inspiration will spark a new idea or connect to something you’ve been pondering for a while.
Pick Up A Book About Creativity
There are so many great books about engaging your creativity; why not seek out advice from the experts?
In Big Magic Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love and City of Girls, shares about her creative process and encourages readers in discovering their own regardless of their life path. This book is full of encouragement to embrace creativity, break free from the fear of failing, and find the special magic within each of us.
Steal Like An Artist is a great book with tons of bite-sized pieces of advice for readers who like books that are a bit less linear. Stocked with tons of quotes, analogies and explainers, this books is perfect to pick up whenever you’re looking for a fresh dash of inspiration.
Just like with any other practice, self care in creativity is vital. Stacie Bloomfield’s guide provides the perfect reminder to not take our mistakes too seriously. Full of gorgeous illustrations and stories, this book can help you remember to take a breath and hold love for yourself as well as the creative process.
Who better to consult on the process of creativity than one of the creators of Monty Python? As a lifelong writer, John Cleese has so many pearls of wisdom to lend about getting into a creative mindset and embracing inspiration. Without being too long or overbearing, this book is a fun yet practical aid for having fun with inventing something new.
No matter what format, medium or venue you’re drawn to, creativity has something to offer each one of us. It can help us learn more about ourselves. give us an outlet to express ideas that are hard to pin down and it can give us an escape from everyday life. I hope some of these tips help you capture the magic of creativity in your own life.
Boiron has been a fixture in holistic health since it was founded in 1932, working to help provide homeopathic health solutions to the community. Homeopathy has been such an important resource in my health journey, as it has been for many looking to supplement their health regimens and treatments with resources outside of conventional Western medicine. Whether you’ve been enjoying Boiron products like Arnicare and Occilococcinum for years or are just getting curious about what the world of homeopathy has to offer you, Boiron has so much to offer anyone looking to incorporate holistic treatments into their life. I had the chance to talk to Deborah Kelly, who has worked as the Director of Public Relations at Boiron for over a decade. Deborah had so much wisdom to share with us about Boiron’s passion for homeopathy and the community that has formed around it in its almost century of existence.
Carrie Ann: Thank you so much for being a part of Carrie Ann Conversations and sharing about Boiron with us today. To start, could you speak a bit to Boiron’s philosophy and mission?
Deborah: Since our early beginnings in 1932, our mission has been to provide the purest medicines possible while employing sustainable practices to protect and preserve the environment. Quality has always been our passion, and our ultimate goal is the well-being of our consumers as our vision of health care puts people at its center. This focus on improving the quality of life for each and every person is our true purpose just like our founding pharmacists Jean and Henri Boiron intended. We are committed to the pursuit of a holistic vision of health care for all in a way that’s better for people, the environment, and our community. Our strong sense of obligation and respect for the environment is reflected in our commitment to good harvesting, manufacturing, and control practices that guarantee the quality, traceability, and reliability of our medicines.
Carrie Ann: How would you define homeopathy? What are the roots of homeopathy, and what do you think homeopathy has to offer the modern consumer?
Deborah: Homeopathy is a therapeutic method that uses highly diluted extracts of plants, animals, and minerals to relieve symptoms. Homeopathy largely relies on the ‘principle of similars’ where a highly diluted preparation of an active substance will relieve symptoms similar to those produced by the same substance given in a concentrated dose. For example, a microdose of a coffee bean can help relieve nervousness.
The use of homeopathy in medicine dates as far back as Hippocrates and in modern form since the late 18th century when German physician Samuel Hahnemann first discovered the homeopathic principle of ‘like cures like.’ Homeopathic medicines have been regulated as drugs by the FDA since 1938. Just like their conventional over-the-counter counterparts, homeopathic medicines are clearly labeled for specific indications and are available in a variety of forms such as tablets, gels, ointments and creams, syrups, eye drops, and suppositories.
Homeopathic medicines are considered a mainstream choice in Europe but are now being discovered by more and more Americans. They value that these medicines will not cause drowsiness or hyperactivity or interact with any conventional medications, supplements or herbal remedies that they may already be taking. For those that want to take an integrative or more personalized approach to their health, homeopathic medicines are serving as a complement to other treatments. Homeopathy is also a big draw to busy individuals who can’t afford to lose personal or professional productivity to drowsiness, seniors who are taking multiple medications, and athletes and fitness buffs who need to avoid performance-hindering or prohibitive substances.
Oscillococcinum Homeopathic Medicine, Photo Courtesy of Boiron
Carrie Ann: There are certainly a lot of reasons someone would want to incorporate homeopathy into their health regimen. You mentioned that more and more Americans are finding their way to homeopathy. As of 2019, homeopathy was a 1.2-billion-dollar industry in the U.S. Why do you think homeopathic solutions have been booming so much in recent years here?
Deborah: Homeopathy is booming as it is considered to be one of the safest choices for self-treatment. Parents can give their children homeopathic medicines if they have concerns about medications that might cause drowsiness or hyperactivity or interactions with other drugs or remedies. Homeopathic medicines are not contraindicated with pre-existing conditions, making them ideal for even those considered high-risk. They are also safe for use in small children and older adults. In recent years, consumers have been pulling back on their use of traditional over-the-counter medications because of safety and purity concerns. Research shows that when consumers are given a choice, they will purchase a ‘better for you’ or more natural medicine versus a conventional one. As consumers found themselves spending more time at home during the worst of the pandemic, they realized that keeping their medicine cabinets stocked with homeopathic medicines and at the ready was essential for good self-care and important in managing minor health issues.
Carrie Ann: I’ve definitely found it helpful to stock up on a variety of holistic solutions so that they’re always available, whether I’m going through an autoimmune flare or just feeling worn out. What do you see as the ideal relationship between homeopathy and conventional Western medicine?
Deborah: Many healthcare professionals have incorporated some form of complementary or alternative medicine as part of standard care in their practices. Some of this is driven by patients increasingly asking for something other than conventional treatment. A therapy such as homeopathy allows patients to receive more individualized care which in turn gives health care professionals a better way to serve these patients and differentiate their practices. Naturally, doctors want to recommend the most appropriate tool in their toolbox while adhering to the creed to ‘do no harm.’ Homeopathic medicines can easily and safely be used as a complement with other more conventional or Western medicines, including those available by prescription.
Like all therapeutic methods, homeopathy does have its limits. Its scope is limited to everyday health conditions like allergies, coughs, colds, flu, stress, muscle pain, and teething. When the condition treated is not reversible like Type 1 diabetes where the function of the organ is gravely impaired or when the patient is unable to react to homeopathic stimulation such as a deep-rooted infection, then homeopathic medicines should not be used.
Carrie Ann: What are your most popular wellness products? Some of my personal favorites are Arnicare, Nux Vomica and Oscillococcinum.
Deborah: Those are good choices as Arnicare and Oscillococcinum are two of our best-known medicines! Many consumers are first introduced to Boiron medicines and homeopathy through Oscillococcinum, our flu medicine which has been on the market for more than 75 years. Our Arnicare line of pain relievers has grown so popular that we now offer it in a variety of forms such as meltaway tablets and oral pellets, topical creams and gels, and formulas for arthritis, leg cramps and bruising. In recent years, our Camilia for teething pain, Acidil for heartburn and indigestion, and our StressCalm and SleepCalm medicines have grown so much in popularity that they now can be found in many drug store chains and mainstream stores. Appealing to health-conscious consumers like yourself, our medicines have no known interactions with other medications or supplements, are non-drowsy, and won’t mask symptoms of a more serious condition. We also do not use artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives in our pellets and tablets or use any fragrances, dyes, and parabens in our topicals.
Aerial View of the Boiron Medicinal Garden, Photo Courtesy of Boiron
Carrie Ann: I’ve always loved that my favorite Boiron products are effective without having side effects or strong odors or tastes.
Pain management is such a personal journey, especially for those of us who struggle with chronic pain. Can you speak to what homeopathic products like Arnicare have to offer people as a tool in their pain management arsenal?
Deborah: When it comes to pain, many people will try a multitude of products and medicines to bring themselves much-needed relief. Our Arnicare line of pain relief products can be taken alongside conventional internal and external pain relievers, and its use may help to decrease dependency on options that might have long-term use risks. Made with fresh Arnica mountain daisies responsibly sourced from the French mountains, Arnicare can provide relief from everyday muscle aches and pains.* It can easily be used at the first sign of back, neck, knee, shoulder, and leg pain, swelling from injuries, and on bruises.* Our popular topical gels and creams do not have that traditional strong medicine smell and do not contain menthol, camphor, methyl salicylate, capsaicin, fragrances, dyes, or parabens which is especially important when you are concerned about what you put in and on your body.
Carrie Ann: Community is obviously a big part of Boiron— could you speak to the role of community in Boiron’s mission and for homeopathic healing at large?
Deborah: As world leader in homeopathic medicines, Boiron is committed to lead by example. Our employees have a great deal of passion for homeopathy and so much pride in our compassionate, ecological, and comprehensive approach to medicine. You can see it in our interactions with and close connections to our loyal consumers, retailers, medical community, and community advocates. We have a team of people devoted to the public answering live phone calls, email, and social media posts every day. Boiron’s pharmacy education, medical and retail teams are continually educating thousands of retail staff and health professionals representing a variety of specialties.
Our medicines have always enjoyed tremendous word of mouth but this has been amplified on social media by our rich community of enthusiasts sharing with us and the world their positive experiences with homeopathy and our medicines. Moms are especially active and vocal when it comes to learning and sharing information about homeopathy. And let’s not forget our amazing long-time community partners like Rodale Institute, Holistic Moms Network, and National Center for Homeopathy, just to name a few, whose missions mirror our own and center around our values of health, education and green living. With the help of these partners and others, we are able to educate a wider audience on the many benefits homeopathy has to offer and the necessity of modern medicine to heal without harm.
Carrie Ann: Boiron’s mission is clearly grounded in a relationship with and respect for the natural world- could you speak to how this relationship plays out through projects like the Boiron Medicinal Garden and the sustainable harvest of arnica montana, the flower used in Arnicare?
Deborah: One of Boiron’s long-time partners is Rodale Institute, whose mission is to grow the regenerative organic movement through research, farmer training, and consumer education. Our Boiron Medicinal Garden, an educational showcase for flowers and herbs used in manufacturing homeopathic medicines, is located at the institute’s 333-acre farm in Kutztown, Pa. This beautiful garden, which first opened to the public in June 2015, features therapeutic plants like calendula, chamomile, St. John’s wort, rue, comfrey and many others commonly found as active ingredients in Boiron’s most popular medicines. This year, we have partnered with our friend Danny Seo and his Naturally House at Serenbe to create a similar garden as another display of homeopathy’s connection to nature.
As a company, we have a strong sense of obligation to respect the environment not only through our partnerships but the way we conduct our daily business. Preparation of our medicines has a limited impact on the environment, and we promote re-supplying wild and organically farmed plants when possible. This, in turn, improves the quality of raw materials we use and the future of our medicines. We also work with botanist-harvesters well-versed in diagnosing the land and employing harvesting strategies to anticipate continuity of supplies for the future. They generally harvest plants from their natural surroundings. Boiron’s high-quality Arnicare products are derived from the French mountains, where Arnica flowers are hand-picked the way founders Jean and Henri Boiron did in the 1930s. Within 48 hours, the fresh plants arrive at Boiron’s lab. A team of botanists and pharmacists transform this mountain daisy into Arnicare, one of today’s most widely relied upon homeopathic pain relief lines.
A Harvest of Arnica, Photo Courtesy of Boiron
Carrie Ann: That’s so fascinating! I love the idea that a product like Arnicare can make you feel good about using it, both for your own health and for its sustainability for the planet. For someone who’s just learning about homeopathy, it can be intimidating to know where to start. What resources or products would you recommend to a newcomer?
Deborah: Our website is certainly a great place to start for newcomers to homeopathy. Our site offers a wealth of information that includes recommended books and guides, online interactive trainings for consumers, retailers and health care professionals, video library and FAQs. Consumers can explore our website for information on the various homeopathic medicines available and the many symptoms and conditions they can treat. They can also access or download our free interactive app, the Boiron Medicine Finder, that helps match hundreds of symptoms to the right medicines for more personalized self-care. We also have a Wellness Naturally blog that is updated weekly and offers a deeper dive into the history and traditional uses of many homeopathic medicines.
Carrie Ann: What are Boiron’s “staples” you think everyone should keep in their cabinet?
Deborah: Keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet is vital to good self-care! Boiron specialties that should be in every medicine cabinet include our Oscillococcinum to relieve flu-like symptoms including body aches, fever, chills, headache, and fatigue.* If it’s a cold coming on then you want to stock essentials like ColdCalm and our Chestal Honey cough syrup. Arnicare is offered in oral pellets and tablets as well as gel and cream topicals for relief of muscle aches, pain, stiffness and bruising.* For first aid needs like cuts, scrapes, bug bites and minor burns, you should always keep on hand a tube of Calendula, available in ointment, cream, or gel.* For occasional bouts of heartburn, acid indigestion, bloating, upset stomach, and other digestive upsets, there are Acidil meltaway tablets.* For those stressful days and restless nights, you can manage them better with StressCalm for occasional nervous tension, irritability, hypersensitivity, and fatigue due to everyday stress, and melatonin-free SleepCalm for occasional sleeplessness, restless sleep, and intermittent awakening.*
We also offer our ‘blue tube’ single-active ingredient medicines for more seasoned users of homeopathic medicines or those wanting a more customized solution. Some of the more popular singles are Nux vomica when you have indulged in too much food or drink, Hypericum perforatum for nerve pain, Histaminum for hay fever and hives, Ignatia amara for hypersensitivity, irritability, moodiness and apprehension, and Arsenicum album for diarrhea and vomiting relief.*
Carrie Ann: Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us today and share all of the ways Boiron is working to make a difference in people’s lives and in the future of the planet. I love the products I’ve been stocking up on for years and I’m excited to try more in the future!
We’ve known for a long time that elements from the Earth can help improve our spaces and our health, from protective stones like tourmaline to cleansing ones like quartz. Keeping crystals in our homes can help balance our energy and provide neutralizing frequencies as well as beautifying our spaces. But keeping these stones on us in the form of bracelets, necklaces and anklets can also be a great way to introduce the benefits of healing crystals to your daily routine. Taking these crystals wherever you go and letting them provide you with their calming and balancing effects as you go through your day can help give you more of a buffer in even stressful situations. Here are a few interesting- and stylish- ways to keep healing crystals close.
For Protection
Tourmaline has three different kinds of energy that make it powerful as a healer. It helps to convert body heat into healing far infrared energy, it’s capable of producing negative ions, which can improve cognition and keep depression at bay, and most importantly it generates a therapeutic flow of electrons that can help to align us with the planet’s natural flow. Tourmaline resonates at the same frequency as the Earth, and keeping it on your person can help realign you with the “Earth’s heartbeat.”
Historically, black tourmaline has a connection to the root chakra, and as such it is known for having the ability to ground and protect. It’s very useful for keeping negative energy at bay, which makes it an especially helpful ally for empaths or anyone else who tends to take on others’ energy and worries. Keeping black tourmaline with you in a piece of jewelry will keep you grounded in yourself and shield you from negativity.
Rose quartz has a strong connection to the heart chakra, making it the perfect place to start if you’re looking to harness crystals to increase self love and compassion. With its direct connection to the heart, rose quartz can do a lot to clear out emotional blocks and open us up to receive new connections, relationships and perspectives. It can also help to provide deep comfort in times of grief. If you find yourself in a tumultuous time or feel out of balance emotionally, rose quartz is a perfect stone to keep close by.
Especially when combined with rose quartz, African opal’s purifying qualities can help to create emotional clarity and bring stability to the heart chakra. It can also help to foster creativity and bring fresh inspiration, so it’s a great choice if you’ve been experiencing stagnation or want more imagination in your daily life.
Rhodonite is a very nurturing crystal that helps to create emotional balance and fuel compassion within ourselves and for others. It can help to gently mend old wounds, creating space for new growth and allowing us to move forward to fresh emotional ground. Wearing it in a piece of jewelry will help you feel embraced by this crystal’s soothing energy all day long and it can be especially helpful if you’ve been going through a difficult emotional time.
Using the power of scent to change our surroundings and foster emotional boosts doesn’t have to end at home! Some types of jewelry are specifically designed to help you bring the benefits of aromatherapy, and the healing properties of essential oils, with you as you move through the world.
Lava stone has a connection to the root chakra; when you wear it as jewelry, it serves to help keep you grounded throughout your day. What’s more, because of the stone’s natural porousness, a lot of lava stone jewelry can be used to diffuse a small amount of essential oil so you can create the desired energy around you at all times.
Amethyst is a crystal that has been used for bringing on clarity since the times of Ancient Greece; it gets its name from the Greek word amethystos, meaning literally “not drunk.” In modern times it’s still considered very useful for creating tranquility, dispelling negative thoughts and creating mental clarity. It’s a great stone to incorporate into your jewelry if you spend a lot of your time encountering stressors like a fast-paced work environment or challenging living situation. It can help to create a protective buffer for your personal sense of calm against stressful energy our outside negativity.
Jewelry that incorporates crystals can be the perfect way to carry their help and protection with you wherever you go. After all, so many of the emotional challenges we face happen when we’re away from home, so why not equip ourselves for emotional grounding and stability in all circumstances? Whether you need the love-boosting qualities of rose quartz or tourmaline’s ability to keep you in step with the Earth, healing crystals have a lot to offer anyone who’s looking for more peace and wellness in their daily lives.
In his book Last Child in the Woods, author Richard Louv coined the term “nature deficit disorder” to describe the experience common to many of us who live in cities and spend most of our time indoors. Louv argues that we need nature to survive, and that without it our mental and physical health are both affected. I’m sure you’ve found this to be true in your own life. Think about the last time you enjoyed your favorite outdoor place, whether it was a beach, a hiking trail, or a park filled with trees and flowers. If you come away from these places feeling more invigorated and happy, it’s not just your imagination. Science can confirm that being outside is essential to our health and wellness.
Health Benefits of Nature
Studies have found that spending at least two hours outdoors a week can unlock so many benefits for our physical and mental health.One study showed that accessing green spaces like parks, hiking trails, and other natural environments can help to undo the negative impacts we face in modern society, from anxiety to high blood pressure, and can even improve our immune systems.
One study in England even found that when a community has more access to natural, green spaces, the crime rate goes down significantly. A study by the University of Illinois found something similar, noting that public housing residents who lived near trees and green space reported a closer community, felt a greater sense of belonging and even said they knew more people than residents without this access to nature. Putting yourself near nature really can impact the way you view the world and keep you feeling happier and healthier.
What Nature Does to Our Brains
Scientists think that one big reason why being in nature is so good for us is that it gives our brains exactly what they want. A concept called Attention Restoration Theory, which was first coined in the 1970s, says that living in urban environments surrounded by man-made sounds like traffic and construction make it actively harder for our brains to pay attention and process information. Going outside and being surrounded by natural sounds gives our brains a chance to finally relax and take in information without having to work so hard.
A study by the University of Sussex confirmed this. The study compared MRI scans of people’s brains while they listened to natural sounds to scans taken while they listened to artificial, or man made, sounds. It found that when subjects were listening to artificial noises their brains were directing a lot of attention inward, which is similar to what brains do when they’re experiencing anxiety, PTSD and depression. On the other hand, when the sounds of nature were played, the scans showed that the subjects’ brains were directing focus outward. When we’re out in the sounds of nature, our brains find it much easier to pay attention to the world around us and burn through stress. This same study even found that the more stressed you are, the more you have to gain from nature’s restorative impacts.
The Power of Sound
You probably already know about the power that sound can have on your mental state; a song or white noise machine can bring you peace or boost your energy, while distracting or annoying noises can easily derail your focus and happiness. As it turns out, natural sounds have immensely healing powers. A report on 36 studies on the impact of natural sounds on people found that just the sounds of nature on their own can have a healing effect and can even reduce pain. The noise of running water, like streams, brooks and lakes, were found to be very good for increasing subjects’ happiness and cognition, while bird sounds were the best for relieving stress and annoyance.
This means that if you live in a very urban area, going to your local park might not be quite enough to get the full benefits of nature— if you can still hear sounds of traffic, your brain isn’t getting the chance to wind down and open up, and all the activity might scare away the birds and their healing calls. If you’re really looking to take advantage of nature’s healing abilities, finding a more remote park or hiking area where it’s quiet enough to hear the sounds of the ecosystem will be worth it. And if there happens to be a river or water feature, even better!
Negative Ions
If you ever find yourself drawn to the beauty of a crashing coastline or rushing waterfall, you might be benefiting from more than just a pretty view. Negative ions are created in the air anywhere that water crashes into itself, whether it’s at the beach, a river, or even a fountain or park water feature. Just getting out into the rain can get you close to these negative ions. Many studies have been done on the impact of negative ions on our health, and there’s some good evidence that they can have positive side effects. In particular, being near negative ions can reduce the symptoms of depression and seasonal affective disorder. There’s evidence that these ions might also help normalize sleeping patterns, lower stress levels, and give immune systems a boost. If you live near a beach or any other place where there’s moving water, consider paying one of these locations a visit and reaping the health benefits they have to offer.
The Importance of Fun in the Sun
We all know the joy of seeing the sun for the first time after a long winter or rainy week. There’s a good reason for this response; spending time in the sunlight has many health benefits. Sunlight causes your brain to produce serotonin, a chemical responsible for positive feelings and a sense of calm. Sunlight also helps you regulate your sleep better; your circadian rhythm takes its cue from the sun, telling you to wake up when it’s light out and causing you to get sleepy after it gets dark. Research shows that getting an hour of natural light in the morning can help reinforce your body’s natural clock, helping you to get better sleep at night.
Sunlight is also our greatest source for getting vitamin D. Spending just five to thirty minutes a day outside while it’s sunny helps our bodies produce more of this vitamin, which contributes directly to strong and healthy bones and keeps our immune systems strong.
All of these benefits and more are a great argument for going out and getting your recommended dose of sun. Just remember to put on sunscreen before going out to avoid risks of skin cancer or skin damage.
Nature has always called to us as human beings, inspiring some of the greatest works of art and serving as daily inspiration for us all. Not only is nature good for our souls, it’s also a powerful source of both mental and physical wellness, helping get our natural rhythms in sync and giving our brains some much-needed calm and rest. If you’ve been feeling physically drained or mentally distracted, try getting out into nature and drinking in all the benefits it has for you.
Connection has gained a completely different definition over the past year. As our world has changed, we’ve had to adapt the ways that we interact with each other, care for each other and connect with each other. Now, we are seeing our worlds change once again. And while this change comes with exciting possibilities for the future, it’s also easy to feel overwhelmed or unsure where to start. This past year was one of reduced interaction for most of us and finding our way to fuller social lives will be an ongoing process. Whether you’re trying to reconnect with old relationships or hoping to foster new ones as the world begins to open back up, intentionality can often be the best remedy.
Here are a few ways to connect with others if you don’t know where to start.
Connecting In Person
As the CDC continues to give us encouraging news about what’s possible for people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and in light of the weather getting warmer, it’s never been a better time to start planning some creative outdoor activities. A potluck-style picnic with a few close friends is a great way to soak in the sights and sounds of nature while reconnecting with the people that matter most. If you’ve got a musician friend, why not try putting on a backyard concert? You could even rent a projector, grab some blankets and popcorn and start hosting weekly outdoor movie nights.
Many of us have gotten into the habit of taking a walk each day, which can be great for our mental and physical health— recruiting a friend who lives nearby to be your “walking buddy” can help you keep this good habit alive while giving you the boost of catching up with someone you care about.
The outdoors also brings plenty opportunities to spark a new interest or meet new people. A local outdoor yoga class or other distance exercise class can help you feel better, get some fresh air, and get used to being around people again.
As always, it’s important to stay abreast of the CDC’s most recent recommendations. You can read their current advisories here.
Strengthening Remote Relationships
As we prepare to see our social media flooded with footage of people out and about once again, it might make us feel like we’re expected to have a full social calendar at all times. It’s easy to feel like the only connections that matter are those you can see in person, and this might be stressful after a year when we haven’t been able to maintain many of these connections. If you feel like your in-person social circle has shrunk, try to remember the lesson this past year taught us: just because someone isn’t in your physical presence doesn’t mean they aren’t there for you. Think of your relatives or friends who live in a different city or state than you and consider reaching out. You can still take advantage of how easy it’s become to connect with loved ones virtually, whether it’s through a video chat or a Netflix With Friends session.
If everything is starting to feel more fast paced as our worlds open up again, letter writing might be the solution for creating space and slowing things down for thoughtful communication. If you find yourself texting and emailing all day long but still feeling disconnected, you might want to change up the way you’re communicating. See if any of your friends would be interested in becoming pen pals; chances are, some of your friends have been feeling the same way. Written mail is a great way to be more mindful about your connections to the people you care about, and the best part is how reciprocal it is! You get to brighten someone’s mailbox with a hand-written missive, and you receive the same joy when they reply! You can even use this strategy to bring an entire friend group closer together— if many of your friends live far apart, try starting up an email thread where someone different sends a little update about their life each week. It’s an easy way to make you feel more aware of and connected to your friends, and helps the distance feel a little smaller.
Finding New Community
Even as things start to open up, the Internet can still give you a head start when it comes to meeting people. Chances are, your neighborhood or town already has a Facebook or Nextdoor group devoted to staying connected and updated on local happenings. Getting plugged in not only keeps you in the know, but can help you keep an eye out for community events you’re interested in where you might make a new friend. In addition to the general neighborhood groups, Buy Nothing groups are a great way to seek support and give back all at once. Buy Nothing groups are Facebook groups for your specific area where users can post about a need or something they’d like to give away. They’re a great way to feel the impact of living in a close-knit community, and are always there for you to seek help or give an old possession a second life. With a little intentionality, your neighborhood can turn into a real community for you with all the support and connection that that entails.
If you love to read, book clubs are a great way to turn a passion into a chance for real and lasting connection. Sites like Reader’s Circle and MeetUp have listings for book clubs in your area with descriptions so you can find the exact right fit for you and your genre of choice. Your local library might also host book club events, and you can always search for local groups on Facebook for likeminded readers.
Taking a class is a great way to expand your horizons, but it can also help you find new people who have the same interests as you. The Daily Om has offerings centered around fitness and wellness, while Skill Share can help you pick up a new creative skill and Master Class can bring you wisdom straight from the experts. For a free alternative, check out your local library’s event roster to see if anything piques your interest; most libraries offer classes in everything from personal finance and small business advice to conversing in a foreign language. You can start to build a community by finding connection around something you care about and expanding your perspective or developing a skill.
After a year of quarantining, we all might feel rusty when it comes to making connections and having conversations. The most important thing to remember is that this period is an adjustment. It was a challenge for all of us to get used to living differently in the pandemic, and while getting some aspects of our old life back is exciting, you can’t expect your brain and body to snap right back into their old groove. Be patient with yourself if things feel overwhelming— you don’t have to follow anyone’s pace but your own. No matter what your needs and style are, there are so many opportunities to meet someone new, establish fun traditions or rediscover old ones. Whether you decide to take a class, start a group or invest more in your neighborhood, here’s hoping that this year will mean more community for us all.
Earth Day is a great opportunity to reflect on our relationship to the planet and deepen our connections to it. The best way to celebrate today is to think about the parts of nature you feel the most grateful for, and then consider ways you can protect and respect those spaces. Here are some ways to remember your relationship with the earth and why it’s so precious.
Invest in Earth-Friendly Products
Getting reusable, non-plastic home goods when you can is a great way to help protect our natural resources and can even save you money!
If you constantly have a hair tie on your wrist in case of emergencies (or a windy day!) you’ve probably never paused to think about what’s in them. Many elastic hair ties aren’t biodegradable, meaning that whenever you break or lose one it ends up creating waste. Terra Ties are a fun and easy solution. Made with natural rubber and organic cotton, these ties are 100% biodegradable and they’re just as durable, stretchy and long lasting as the competition.
A lot of common household sponges are made from materials like nylon that can release plastic microfibers into the water as they’re used. In this case, returning to nature can be the best solution! Natural sponges are better for the environment and often you can buy them online at really low prices. If you shop around you can find some exciting small businesses that might even throw in some goat soap! While you’re at it, pick up some silk face sponges that are gentle on skin and great for makeup and nail care.
We all love leftovers, but keeping them fresh can have an environmental cost. Luckily, both cling wrap and plastic bags both have reusable alternatives! You can buy a pack of reusable cling wraps made from beeswax that can keep food fresh, whether you use it to wrap up fruit or seal a bowl. Each wrap will last for around a year and can be composted when you’re done.
Connect with the Elements
Courtesy of Unsplash
Earth Day is about more than just making environmentally friendly purchases. It’s also a chance to remember and appreciate all the natural beauty around us. Yes, this could mean going on a hike but it also could just mean honoring the elements of the natural world. Focus on your senses: feeling the sun on your skin, hearing the wind rush through the leaves, feeling the grass under your feet. If you live near the coast, try taking a trip to listen to the tides and reflect on the power there is in being part of this great big ecosystem. Think about what you appreciate most about our home planet, whether it’s the sound of birds singing or the view from your favorite overlook, and spend today chasing those favorite sensations and honoring the connection you feel to them.
With the pandemic moving so much of our life online, it’s never been easier to attend an event right from your own couch. This year there are so many great Earth Day events being hosted digitally to educate, connect and just have fun. EarthDay.Org, has a full roster of live workshops, panel discussions, and special performances you can stream for free today or you can browse recordings of past panels here. Earth Day Initiative also has a lineup of speakers including Elizabeth Warren and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and you can watch all of last year’s momentous Earth Day 50 coverage here.
Connect with a Cause
Courtesy of Unsplash
There are so many ways to invest in the planet we love, and they don’t just involve money! Donating your time or other resources to a cause you care about is a great way to honor the planet this year and after a year of isolation it can really help you find connection and build community around something you’re passionate about. Try looking up a conservation effort near you, find a park or beach cleanup event on Facebook, donate or volunteer to a wildlife project, the sky is the limit!
Earth Day is also the perfect chance to plan a little movie night, whether you want to check out a moving documentary or watch something that connects you with the beauty of the planet. Gorgeous, soothing documentaries like the BBC series Planet Earth, a narrated journey through the wonders of nature, or Disneynature’s Ghost of the Mountains, which follows a team of filmmakers’ attempts to photograph an elusive snow leopard family, can help you remember all the beautiful biodiversity that makes this planet so incredible. Or a documentary like Chasing Coral, about scientists’ fight to preserve our reefs, or a film like Dark Waters, based on the real story of a community impacted by chemical contamination, can provoke deeper thought or conversation about environmental issues that ultimately impact us all.
For something on the lighter side, try BBC’s Animal Babies: First Year On Earth, or theirSpy In The Wildseries that uses robotic animals to get close-up recordings of species like otters and chimpanzees. It’s as cute and funny as it is fascinating.
Being environmentally conscious doesn’t have to be a drag or an obligation. At the heart of it, holidays like Earth Day are opportunities for us to connect with what the earth means to us, to find those special places we want to connect to and preserve and spend a moment being grateful for them. Use today as an excuse to get out to your favorite nature site, look out for one of your wildlife neighbors, learn something new or make a reusable purchase that will make a difference every day.
As I’ve said before, creative writing can be an incredible release, allowing us to escape to new worlds, explore things we’re wrestling with and express ourselves fully. Sometimes it can feel difficult or even intimidating to get started in creative writing. To find some guidance on how to get started, we got a chance to speak to author Alex R. Kahler. Best known for works like The Immortal Circus and TheRunebinder Chronicles, Alex has written two dozen books for readers of all ages and has focused specifically on bringing more LGBTQ+ representation to genre fiction. We got Alex’s advice for diving into creative writing as well as his go-to tips for gaining inspiration and diffusing writer’s block.
Carrie Ann: Are there any practices or exercises you do to engage your creativity?
Alex: I absolutely love going for long walks. Nothing gets my creative brain engaged better than, well, actively stepping away from the computer and doing something physical. By putting my ideas on the backburner and just absorbing my surroundings and falling into a rhythmic exercise, I find that my subconscious or writing brain is able to make connections and build a story better than I ever could if I was just sitting and trying to force it. Even just pacing back and forth has helped me navigate difficult plot holes.
Carrie Ann: What do you think creative writing has to offer people who pursue it, even just as a hobby?
Alex: So much. Creative writing can be very therapeutic. It can offer a space to reflect, a space to let go, a space to process. It can also give the writer a chance to ‘try out’ other lives. Writing develops a great deal of introspection and self-awareness, an ability to problem solve and think ahead. Plus, there’s the satisfaction at the end of the day that you have created something that simply did not exist before. You’ve put something new into the world.
Carrie Ann: Are there any specific works, types of media, places or people that make you feel particularly inspired to create?
Alex: This is a tough one. I think that once you start writing (or creating in general) you begin opening up to inspiration wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, so it’s difficult to pinpoint an exact source. I know, however, that being out in nature inspires me. As does a good song I can have on repeat for hours. Or live shows. Or a binge-worthy TV series. Honestly, I think most of my inspiration comes from non-book sources, from places that engage my other senses.
Carrie Ann: Do you experience writer’s block at all? What does it feel like when you get writer’s block and how do you combat it?
Alex: Oh of course. I’ve just started running, and besides feeling like my joints are much older than the rest of me, the similarity to working on a project is far too apparent. There’s the sluggishness right before you’re about to Do The Thing. The desire to stay in bed just a little bit longer. And then, the first few minutes when all I can think is why am I doing this? This doesn’t feel good.
But, like running, the only way out is through (and pacing yourself!).
I do think it’s necessary to take breaks from projects, to work on something else for a time. Especially if it’s an altogether different creative medium. But you eventually just have to come back and push through. It gets a little easier when you’ve taken some time off. You strengthen the creative muscles and give your subconscious something to mull over.
And, hey—the most important thing to remember with writer’s block is that it doesn’t have to be perfect! You can always go back and edit.
Carrie Ann: What are your favorite things to write about?
Alex: I love love love world building. Dreaming up fantasy worlds and magical systems is one of my favorite things. Probably because that’s how I spent most of my time as a kid. So my favorite things to write are inspired by fairy tales and myths and daydreams, but also colored from my life experiences: wizards and circus artists, faeries and boarding schools, magic and friendships. Getting to step away from the mundane world and into pure fantasy is incredible, especially since I know I get to share that with others.
Carrie Ann: When you get an idea you want to write about, how do you get started? Do you usually work to create the big picture or do you begin by focusing on smaller details?
Alex: A friend of mine has a saying: don’t scare the bunny. And I’ve held onto that phrase for years.
When I get an idea (usually as I’m trying to fall asleep) I’ll write it down in a note app or on a scrap of paper and then I’ll let it sit. I don’t want to scare the good idea off. And I think that’s what happens if you jump at it the first time you see it. The Idea usually just isn’t ready.
Sometimes it will sit there for hours, or weeks, or even years. But I always go back over my list of ideas, and sometimes a few of them join up, and sometimes the spark turns into a bang and suddenly The Idea forms. When that happens, I’m all about world building. I’ll grab a big sheet of paper and list out everything I can think of pertaining to this particular world or story: architecture and landmarks, plot points that I know I want to happen, magical systems, mythologies, the characters I see inhabiting the world. Slowly, as the world forms, the plot takes shape. But it’s rare that I start a book based off a character. It’s almost always about the world.
Carrie Ann: What advice would you give to someone who wants to write but doesn’t know what to write about?
Alex: I say this gently: Just start.
It’s that simple, and that difficult. You won’t know what you love to write about until you’ve written a bunch of things you don’t. Just as you won’t find your voice until you’ve mimicked many others. Read broadly, write broadly. And, most importantly: don’t share those first tender drafts. Even to people who will be respectful and positive. I think that the magic needs to be kept to yourself at first—you have to let it build, and then your confidence will build. I still don’t talk about first drafts or ideas to anyone except my agent and a select writing friend or two. Even then, I keep details vague.
I say this because even though we are our own worst critics, I think we all write with the idea— and fear— of someone else reading it. So we self-edit. We don’t give ourselves room to play. We immediately crush the dream by saying this is stupid or this has been done or this will never sell. Those statements aren’t important. What’s important is giving yourself space to play and create without outside interference. That’s where the magic is.
Carrie Ann: Are there any prompts or exercises that you’ve found especially helpful when you’re trying to write something new?
Not to sound like a broken record, but walking. Any repetitive physical activity that lets me drop out of my brain and into my body. That, and I’ll start a new document and format it all pretty and just start tossing in ideas and notes.
Put as much as you can on the page to start— there are no wrong answers or ideas! Give yourself everything you can to work with.
Crystals can do a lot for a space, whether you’re collecting them with specific intentions in mind or just responding to ones that call to you personally. For centuries people have felt drawn to crystals and stones their ability to impact our energy, provide clarity and protection, or even heal or cleanse us. It can be daunting to start the process of collecting crystals if you don’t know where to start or don’t have a favorite source yet, and as so much of our shopping has gone online this year, why not buy crystals online too?
You can have just as much fun shopping for crystals online as you can finding them in real life; you can still follow your intuition, scrolling through the inventories of well-stocked shops and reading their meanings to guide you to the perfect new crystal for you. Having a few reliable online stores can be a great way to start to learn your taste and see what crystals are available.
Here are 9 stores with quality inventory that can ship the crystals of your choice directly to you.
Aum & Garden is a boutique that sells everything you need to make your home and garden into your personal sanctuary. Their online crystal selection includes both small, inexpensive pieces and larger and rarer stones.
Based in Los Angeles, House of Intuition has earned a reputation as a provider for spiritual wellness and guidance, offering everything from candles and healing baths to online classes. Luckily, their high quality crystal stash is available online for people to buy wherever they live. House of Intuition’s crystal inventory includes descriptions of the benefits of each stone, including which chakra they have a connection to.
The Sage Goddess has a wide collection of different types of crystals, from stone slabs and fossils to carvings and pillars. This site is a great resource if you already know what type of crystal you’d like to buy and are looking for some amazing options.
If you don’t know where to begin while searching for crystals to buy, Crystal Muse has a glossary of meanings to help you find your way to the right stone for you. Crystal Muse’s easy-to-use inventory labels each crystal with keywords, making it easy to find exactly what you want. They’re also well stocked on touchstones, bowls, crystal grids, phone cases and anything else you could hope to encounter while browsing!
Etsy is a great place to shop around and find stores that sell crystals, and Sun Moon & Earth is one of the best. In addition to offering whole natural crystals, Sun Moon & Earth also sells tumbled crystal chips, smoothed stones and pyramids and even large and rare stones. They’re the perfect online destination whether you’re a first time crystal buyer or looking for something truly unique for your collection.
Another Etsy shop, Shiny Happy Spirit House has an impressive collection of interesting and unique crystals to buy that come from all over the world. You could spend a long time getting lost in their inventory that ranges from affordable to rare.
In addition to full smudge kits and perfumes, Mandala Gems has a large collection of ethically sourced crystals and gems you can buy online that are sure to complete (or begin!) any collection.
Bliss Crystals is known for their larger pieces of eye-catching crystal, but they also have smaller crystals and healing bracelets made with stones like quartz and tiger’s eye. If you’re looking to buy a crystal that’s compatible with your star sign or welcomes a certain energy, their intricately labeled inventory will guide you to exactly where you need to be.
Julie Abouzelof, the owner of Moonrise Crystals, makes sure to give detailed information about the source of each crystal she sells because ethical sourcing and purity of energy are her priorities. Moonrise Crystals has a crystal index that divides stones by their healing abilities and offers a wide variety of beautifully polished crystals. It’s a great resource for anyone looking to learn more about crystals before they buy.
Buying crystals is always a deeply personal journey; the only one who can choose a crystal for you is you. These online resources make it easier than ever to find the exact crystal you’re looking for, sometimes before you know to look for it. Whether you’re an avid collector or just curious about crystals, these stores are sure to be a great help in your search.
Health conditions, age or even simple genetics might all contribute to your hair getting thinner over time. Between my autoimmune conditions, medications, and the wear and tear of regular stylings, my hair can often be brittle and thin. For so many of us, hair is an important part of our self expression and when our hair is thinning, it can make us feel less confident and less like ourselves.
Luckily, we have so many options to help our hair look and feel fuller, restoring our confidence every day. Treatments, products and even quality extensions can help to combat thinness and give you a fuller look. Here are a few options you have for changing up your look, making your routine more convenient, and getting the hair you truly want.
Many women experience thinning near the part in their hair; it’s a natural place for hair to fall out or get worn down but that doesn’t mean it’s fun! Coping with thinness on top doesn’t have to require a whole wig; a simple topper, designed to fill in the thinner parts on the top of your head, can blend seamlessly and make your hair look fuller and easier to style. By browsing online you can find hundreds of options to suit every color and every price point; if you dye your hair, many toppers can also be dyed to match. Depending on your budget, you can find toppers made from human hair or many high-quality synthetics that are just as soft and real looking.
Extensions are useful for filling in hair that’s thinner throughout, clipping them in to provide more body where you need it. When you get a pack of extensions, you can trim them to different lengths to blend in with your natural style. An easy tip that will save you time when you’re trying to find the right length extension for each section is carefully labelling each extension with a silver sharpie right near the clip. You can number them or name them by sections of your head (front left, back right etc), making it easy to get them all in just the way you need them.
Products for Thinning Hair
There are a lot of products on the market that can help to treat thinning hair, nourish it and encourage growth. Here are a few of my favorites.
When your hair is thinning a little trick in the industry is to get a root concealer spray that covers up grays— it can also help to cover up places where your hair is thinner or fill in your part. There are several brands; I use L’Oreal’s and Salon In A Bottle. Just find a color that matches your root color, or a little darker, and your hair will instantly look fuller!
When your hair is thinning on the top as mine is, incorporating a solution like this one into your daily hair care routine really can make a difference. Just a few drops of this helps to clear my scalp of a day’s worth of products and encourages hair to grow.
I’ve been using Terax Crema since way back when I was a fly girl and the stylists would use a lot of heavy irons that would damage and break my hair. One of the stylists on the show recommended Terax Crema and it worked so well that I’ve been using it ever since. The packaging and formula have changed a bit over the years but it’s still a great conditioning treatment for brittle or thinning hair.
Pureology’s Nanoworks Gold shampoo and conditioner have been a new addition to my hair care routine and these days I use it as much as the Terax. It’s a great treatment to help restore and strengthen tired or fragile hair.
I’ve tried so many conditioners and hair masks on my journey to trying to have healthier and fuller hair; when my boyfriend recommended this one, I didn’t have high hopes. However, I was quickly proven wrong and this has become one of my favorite products. I leave it on for an hour while I do my tasks around the house. It’s so affordable and it always leaves my hair feeling shiny, silky, and full of body.
If you style your hair a lot, it’s important to keep it protected from heat damage. A thermal protection spray like this one is great for people who have thinning hair because it protects the hair that you have when you use hot irons or curling irons. It’s amazing.
A Mason Pearson brush can be so helpful for anyone with thinning hair because it stimulates your scalp while you use it, waking up the follicles and promoting healthy growth!
Color Treatment
If your hair thinning isn’t too severe, a simple change in shade might be the perfect solution. Lighter hair looks fuller and thinness shows up more on dark hair, so if you’ve been looking for a bit of a change, try going for a lighter shade. Not only will you get the confidence of a fresh look but thinness might become less of a problem for you!
Dealing with thinning hair is never fun, but it can be so manageable with the right tools. There are so many different solutions depending on your style that can give you a full, healthy look that has you feeling confident every single day!
In this year of social distancing, going for a walk or hike can be one of the easiest ways to get fresh air and activity while protecting our health. A walk in nature, whether it’s a remote trail or just a nearby park, can have enormous benefits for both your physical and mental health. If you’re trying to instill a new healthy habit or just keep up the love for the outdoors you’ve always had, a lightweight water bottle or easy-to-carry hammock can only serve to make the journey more enjoyable and restorative! Here are 11 pieces of walking and hiking gear to keep you company as you explore.
Taking even a few items on a long walk or hike can start to get unmanageable. With several pockets and zippers, this crossbody bag has room for all the essentials and will keep your hands free.
Have you ever wanted to spend more time in nature, taking in the fresh air, sights and sounds? An easy portable hammock like this one can be a great addition to your hiking gear, allowing you to rest or even spend the night among the trees.
If you spend a lot of time outdoors in cold or dry climates, you know how quickly the air can take a toll on your skin and lips. L’Occitane always receives top marks for their shea butter formula that can soften and protect your lips from damage; bring a tube along on your next hike or walk.
Whether you like to walk after dark or just like to be prepared, everyone should have a portable flashlight. Small, powerful and easily chargeable, this keychain light is small enough to bring with you wherever you go.
Phone charging banks are always convenient if we find ourselves suddenly low on power, but this charger has the added bonus of being solar powered. Keep this with your hiking gear to ensure you’ll never be out of contact- or without everyone’s favorite camera option.
One of the nicest outdoor luxuries is a nice picnic. Whether you simply want to take a break and a snack while on a hike or want to treat a loved one to a special meal under the trees, this ultra lightweight picnic blanket will always be there for you.
If you’re on a long walk or hike, chafing can quickly go from a minor annoyance to a nightmare. This stick or balm is specifically designed to protect your skin from chafing, keeping you comfortable all day long.
If you hate having to carry a clunky water bottle on your hikes and walks, know that you don’t have to compromise your hydration! One of the most convenient additions to your hiking gear is sure to be this soft, collapsible water bottle that’s big enough to take all the water you need.
If flyaways and stray hairs are always getting in the way of your nature walks, a high-quality, comfortable headband is sure to be a welcome addition to your ensemble.
Lightweight and stronger than carbon fiber, this set of walking sticks will provide you with support especially if you often find yourself hiking on rockier terrain. Safety is always the most important thing on a hike and having something on hand to give you extra support and stability will always be worth it.
If you’re an experienced hiker, this piece of gear is a must-have. The Life Straw is a personal water filter that can create drinkable water from almost any water source you come across, meaning that you’ll never risk dehydration again if you hike near rivers often.
Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or just like taking walks in the fresh air, a few easy accessories can elevate your experience and even keep you safer and healthier. Getting outside is so good for us already; why not make the experience even better by getting out your new walking stick or carrying a water bottle that isn’t clunky? I hope something on this list makes it easier than ever for you to get out and enjoy all that nature has to offer.
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