Recently you may have seen that Michael & I decided to go 70 days without alcohol along with doing daily movement & meditation.
Today is day 57 out of 70. We have gained muscle tone, clarity, focus & peace of mind.
Why 70? It just felt like the right number of days for us. We have a trip planned in November, so though we thought it would be fun to not drink & ‘pop our cherry’ with a cocktail on the first day of our trip.
In the past I’ve done Sober October but I never had a WHY. This time I had a very clear reason which is why it’s been easy to stick to.
So far I haven’t had even a drop of alcohol. Which is crazy because you guys know I fucking love a skinny marg with half rim of salt & a speck of agave – my fave recipe is here if you wanna try it.
Also, incorporating movement every single day has been a game-changer & I’m going to make it part of my daily routine. I was already moving about 5 days a week, but making it 7 just feels right for me.
The biggest thing though has been MEDITATION !!
Sitting with myself in silence has been so life-changing & made all the difference. If you asked me before I started the 70 days what would make the biggest impact, I would’ve said no alcohol. But now I can tell it’s the meditation.
I just feel so clear-headed & not feeling fuzzy from alcohol just helps the benefits of meditation really sink in. If you were thinking of doing something like this, I wanted to share some specifics that I found really useful.
{ custom champagne bottle & image from @avoirlechic }
TIPS FOR 70 DAYS OF ALCOHOL-FREE MOVEMENT & MEDITATION:
♡ take it one day at a time.
Looking at the whole 70 days is overwhelming. Just take it one day at a time, don’t think about tomorrow too much. Don’t think about the weekend, or that you’re going to this or that dinner, omigod, how will I not drink??? Just stay focused on one day at a time.
♡ make a plan for movement.
The only exception to not looking at the next 70 days on you calendar is to schedule your exercise. This could mean a walk with a friend, meeting a trainer, booking a Pilates class, or even just doing a yoga video at home. I love Melissa Wood Health’s app for all kinds of low-cortisol workouts. She has all different lengths too, so you can choose a quick 15 minute full body workout or do a 45 minute yoga/Pilates flow. ( If you want to get to know Melissa, stalk her 3rd episode on The Skinny Confidential HIM & HER show here ).
For me, having workouts or movement on my calendar ( in yellow, always ) means that I’m accountable & I won’t miss a day. I like to sit down on a Sunday to plan out my week of movement.
♡ meditation is just so beneficial.
15-20 minutes per day on meditation used to sound fucking nuts to me. Now, I CRAVE it.
Meditation is also something that I have on my calendar. It’s scheduled in the morning AND at night. I don’t hit both times every day, but at least having it in my calendar helps me meditate at least once.
My friends Ingrid de la Mare – Kenny & Mimi Bouchard have both raved about a specific meditation that involves putting your legs up the wall. This position is very restorative ( you know this if you do yoga) & it reduces swelling in ankles & feet, helps relax the mind, releases tension & calms the nervous system.
Here’s what you do ( I’m gonna get so psycho-specific & go off on a tangent because I feel like that’s why you guys come to the blog ):
I lay on my PEMF mat & turn it up to the highest temperature. Then, I put my legs up the wall, put on my super cute white & rose gold headphones & listen to a Melissa Wood or Mimi Bouchard meditation. They’re both amazing, you can’t go wrong with any of their meditations.
Benefits of a PEMF mat?
The mat I have is by HealthyLine. Basically this mat gives you hot stone therapy, far infrared therapy, negative ion therapy & photon light therapy. You wrap it around your body & the crushed Amethysts provide a calming effect. Amethyst emits a strong & steady flow of negative ions & promotes wellness & an overall better quality of life.
The benefits of negative ions are unreal: purifies your surroundings, counteracts positive ion disturbances ( toxins, chemicals ), attracts harmful airborne particles & pulls them to the ground, assists in detoxification of excess waste in your body, cleanses your mind.
Anyway, as I mentioned the mat has a ton of other therapies that are so beneficial. The ions from the crystals make you feel magical.
This mat is a little pricey so I got a code for you guys!
It’s an investment, but if you’re into wellness it’s really a must-have. You can use code THESKINNY10GIFT for 10% off, free shipping & a free gift.
I sit there with my thoughts & even use a chiropractic wedge that my friend Barry Sams gave me. I’ll use a CBD leaf roller on my neck & the whole thing is so relaxing. I look forward to it every day. I also like to use The Preggers Pantry Om Rollerball. I’ll roll it on my hands, rub my palms together then take a big inhale. It really sets the scene, lemme tell ya.
Louise Hay’s nighttime or morning meditations are also a go-to. She wrote an incredible book called You Can Heal Your Life which is for people who are trying to move on from their past & make their future the best it can be.
All these steps might sound overwhelming but once you start doing them, it becomes a system & you won’t even think about it. It becomes so natural.
If you’re into starting a meditation practice I have tons of tips on how to set up a meditation space at home. Recently I wrote a blog post about it but here are some of the tips:
How To Set Up a Meditation Space at Home:
Choose a spot:
So the first thing you want to do is choose a spot in your house that’s right for you. At first I thought it would be a great idea to share Zaza’s playroom with her & use it as my meditation space- THAT was a mistake. All the moms out there know what I’m talking about. I know I know. No need to discuss this any further.
So eventually I decided on a little space downstairs in my office. It’s got natural light, it’s bright & surrounded by nature because there are tons of windows. So figure out what space in your house brings you peace & stillness & make that your mediation space.
Set the vibe:
Next, it’s time to set the vibe. As I said, I wanted everything neutral & earthy so I started with a nude, very specific yoga mat. This one has a nice grip, is something I could practice yoga on, but also lay down on it & do Wim Hof’s breathwork.
The color & feel of this yoga mat is just right- it’s not too thick or too thin. It took me 500 years to find just this right one. Typically, I like to play Japanese zen garden music on a speaker while I just sit on it in stillness & breathe.
You might want a whole different vibe for your space, but everything in mine has to be neutral. Just be sure to set it up in a way that is unique to you & your meditation practice. It has to be set up perfectly for YOU.
The next thing you need to do is get your space comfortable for meditation. I scoured the internet for days until I found the best cushions by Mala Collective.
Mala Collective meditation cushions are hand-made in India, they’re the perfect height to support your hips & knees, plus they’re all made of recycled cotton which means each piece looks a little different. Anyone who comes over & sees my meditation space just HAS to know where I got them.
For more specifics & all of my favorite items from Mala, stalk this post. We get into it.
{ custom champagne bottle & image from @avoirlechic }
♡ no hangovers have been incredible.
In place of alcohol I’ve been doing a grapefruit kombucha with some Topo Chico in a wine glass & I’m good to go.
For me, I don’t have a problem with alcohol, but I drink when I’m socializing & over the last few months I was socializing & traveling a lot. It was just time for a little detox to clean out.
Taking 70 days away from alcohol has been really powerful – it’s helped me not feel attached to it, makes me feel rejuvenated, gives me clarity, makes me more present in my relationships & business, & overall I just feel sharper when it comes to interviewing guests for The Skinny Confidential HIM & HER podcast.
Now, I’m in bed by 8:30 & feel so fucking fresh when I wake up. I highly recommend not drinking alcohol if you want to feel more rejuvinated & clear-headed.
If anyone is interested in doing this DM me on Instagram, comment below & tell me how you’re feeling. Remember, it’s 70 days no alcohol, daily movement & daily meditation. YOU CAN DO THIS!
The discipline alone just makes you feel so amazing & powerful.
I LOVE YOU ALL.
x, lauryn
+ scope my favorite mocktail recipe.
++ check out the benefits of connecting with nature.
I don’t particularly drink anymore and it has helped me in so many ways!
Danielle | thereluctantblogger.co.uk
I hate to be *that girl* but are you preggerz? 😘
This is amazing! I really want to do this!
Just recently started my journey in recovery and I loved this so much. I’ve been struggling to find joy in my life and your outlook on the benefits of choosing sobriety for any length of time gives me so much hope. Looking forward to incorporating movement and meditation into my daily routine!
This is so inspiring! Please do a Podcast breakdown too!
I’m 4 days sober today and feeling great! No hangovers and I’m getting so much done for business.
Just recently started my sober journey, i only drink one night a week, however that one night ruins my whole week cant train, cant eat healthy, so this is so inspiring xx