10 Clean And Cozy Wellness Rituals I'm Loving This Season

The holidays are always filled with so much love, wonder and warmth. And for many of us, all of that merriment is often accompanied by overindulgence – which, at times, is completely okay and needed! It’s fun to cut loose every once in awhile.

But being the all-or-nothing person that I am, when I overindulge…I overindulge. (Give me allll the honey mama’s chocolate, paleo Christmas cookies and clean cocktails from now until Dec. 31st!)

I know I’m not alone in this, which is why just about every health-focused company out there capitalizes on this period of overindulgence with some type of intentional reset in January.

I have nothing against resets – they’re amazing. And regardless of how much I do or don’t indulge this season, I’m sure I’ll do some sort of reset in January (because even though a new year isn’t necessary for a fresh start, who isn’t inspired by the whole “new year, new you” parallel!?).

However, I don’t want to feel like I went so hog wild during the holidays that I have to reset in some way afterwards. I want to enjoy the celebratory nature of the season without a side of brain fog, digestive distress and compromised immune function.

So this year, I’m attaching different kinds of activities, foods, etc. to all of that holiday magic – things that promote health rather than taking away from it. So much of why we eat the wrong foods or make poor lifestyle choices has to do with the memories, habits and cues that are ingrained into our psyche. So why not create new, more life-giving traditions that are just as special?

This is a newer thing for me, but I’m hopeful that the list below will help to create a more health-filled holiday season for myself and my family (and don’t worry, I would never completely do away with the paleo cookies and clean cocktails!).

Here we go!

1. Jazzed up Bone Broth + Health Elixirs at night. It’s all too easy to get caught up in consuming hot cocoa, seasonal cocktails and wine (even clean varieties of those things) too often this time of year. But at the same time, enjoying some sort of beverage at night (especially when the weather gets cold) is undoubtably super enjoyable.

So instead of ditching them completely, opt for a warm cup of bone broth (I like blending it with Redmond Real Saltand grass-fed butter in my Nutribullet) or whipping up a warm health elixir. To make these, I blend hot water with coconut milk powder, collagen peptides, grass-fed butter, some type of superfood powder, and a bit of honey.

Bone Broth and Health Elixirs are perfect for providing that touch of warmth while watching cheesy Christmas movies or taking a nighttime stroll with loved ones to look at Christmas lights.

2. Add some holiday cheer to your morning routine. Set the stage for your day with some classical Christmas music (Kenny G is my fav!) and diffusing our Winter Essential Oil Blend before cozying up under a warm blanket to read or journal.

3. Read a novel. I rarely take breaks from nonfiction. Because when I do allow myself to get caught up in a fictional story, I don’t accomplish a whole lot until I’ve finished what I’m reading!

If you’re like me and love to learn, consider giving your brain a break from constantly taking in information and instead allow your imagination to take over as you enjoy a novel in the midst of the holiday hustle and bustle.

4. Make gelatin gummies.I love baking with my girls, but too many treats (even clean ones) isn’t always a good thing. We’ve been such a fan of gelatin gummies over the last several months as a less sweet, health-promoting treat!

To make them, just bring 2 cups of liquid (some of our favs are kombucha, fresh-squeezed OJ or organic spiced apple cider) to a simmer along with 1/4 cup honey. Slowly blend in 1/2 cup of grass-fed gelatin powder (so good for joints, hair, skin and nails). Mix well, pour into silicone molds (these are fun for the holidays) and pop in the fridge until hard.

5. Bring the spa home. Create a life-giving at-home spa experience complete with all of the holiday feels using products like our Holiday Candle, Holiday Body Wash, Plumping Mask and Sea Soak.

6. Get bundled up for a crisp morning walk.Early morning sun exposure can be a powerful way to regulate our circadian rhythm and improve sleep quality.

I aim to get myself and my two kiddos outside for a 15-30 minute walk every morning before the sitter arrives. It always feels good to be outside and breathe in that crisp morning air, especially this time of year!

7. Find ways to sweat, even in colder temps. Sweating is a healthy, natural + necessary function to rid the body of toxic buildup. Exercise, detox baths and saunas are all amazing ways to release toxins via sweat! I recently purchased an all-natural sauna from Heavenly Heat(the smallest, most affordable model) and it has quickly become a staple in my wellness game. After 30 minutes of sauna time in the morning followed by an ice cold shower, I feel incredibly alive and ready to take on the day.

8. Take up dry brushing. Dry brushing can be powerful way to improve circulation and stimulate the lymphatic system, leading to improved detoxification. Plus, it feels really good and makes your skin feel baby soft!

Dry brushing takes less than 5 min/day and does wonders in boosting the body’s natural detox pathways – something that’s so needed in our modern, toxin-filled world.

9. Create a clean home environment. With studies showing that indoor air quality tends to be worse than outdoor air quality, it’s important to do what we can to improve the air that we’re breathing in for so much of the day (especially during the colder months when many of us tend to spend more time inside).

It’s been fun to involve my kids in improving the air quality of our home by using safe cleaning products as well as using 100% natural home scents that actually improve air quality + immune health (my 4 year old can’t get enough of our Winter Room Spray).

10. Be like a bear.Take advantage of this season’s darker evenings by setting an earlier bed time and allowing yourself to rest, recover, and hibernate. Trust me, your body will thank you for any bit of extra TLC + beauty rest you give it!

And if you’re serious about improving your sleep game, consider investing in a pair of blue light blocking glasses to wear before bedtime (it’s seriously hard for me to stay awake after an hour of wearing these).

I’d love to know about your health-promoting holiday wellness rituals! Tell me all about them below in the comments!

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Bethany McDaniel

Bethany is the Founder of Primally Pure and lives in Southern California with her husband and two daughters. Having used all sorts of harsh prescription creams to treat her acne as a teenager and young adult (and dealing with red, raw, irritated skin as a result), Bethany was blown away by the effects she eventually experienced after ditching the harsh chemicals and replacing them with natural ingredients. Bethany’s journey inspired her to start Primally Pure (with an initial $250 order for ingredients + supplies) to help others experience the benefits of using clean products. In addition to leading the PP Team and envisioning new product ideas, Bethany is passionate about all things clean living, biohacking and personal growth - as well as taking regular tropical vacations with her family to reset + refresh.