Tag Archives: back to school

SHINE Smarter with Original G·E·M·S Life! (Smarty Pants Series Part IV)

Posted on August 18, 2021 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has Comments Off on SHINE Smarter with Original G·E·M·S Life! (Smarty Pants Series Part IV)

Take time for a little self-care so you can operate at your brightest this school year and keep stress levels low! Try out these SHINE Original G·E·M·S Life practices with your family for a Smarty Pants Semester.

START. COMMIT. GROW. JUMP INTO ORIGINAL G·E·M·S LIFE!

Starting Your Day with Original G·E·M·S Life

Our health is impacted by so much more than what we eat or whether or not we exercise. Mental health plays just as big a role as these practices in our overall wellness. Because of this, our daily habits have a HUGE impact on brain health—an important fact to remember as we begin this new school year!

Do right by your body and brain this semester by embarking on your own Original G·E·M·S Life — a playbook formed from our founding nutritional and lifestyle practices. Get started by checking out our tips on practicing GRATITUDE for a new school year, ways to EAT CLEAN to boost brain power, and our MOVE practices for a Smarty Pants Semester.

To round up our back-to-school series, here are our top practices to help you Shine smarter this school year!

6 Back To School #SelfCare Tips to Help You SHINE Smarter!

Get a full 8 hours of SLEEP! Deep, quality sleep helps with memory consolidation, where the brain processes events of the day, making memories and links. A good night’s rest helps you remember and process things better—crucial for smarty pants GEMs. Shine smarter by prioritizing your shut-eye time nightly!
Start a morning WATER therapy regimen. Here’s your new morning ritual: drink 32 oz of water upon waking. That’s it. SUPER beneficial to your overall long-term health, and an easy way to detoxify your system. We GEMs do it every day. Staying hydrated makes us more focused and keeps us energized throughout the day. Try it and see for yourself!
Cut down on screen time. Excessive time in front of our screens can cause parts of our brain to shrink—crucial parts that help us with empathy, planning, prioritising, organization and impulse control. Too much screen time can also make us feel disconnected from others, which is detrimental to our mental well being. Take a 10-minute break every hour spent in front of your device to keep you Shining Brighter all day long.
De-stress & detox with bath salts. Our GEM At Home Detox Bath Salts relax tense muscles, replenish magnesium, and reduce inflammation. Plus, their healing properties can help moisturize your skin, decrease stress, and help you sleep better. Give yourself a little R&R bathtime to soak away school stresses. Order now!
Relax & drink Natural Calm Tea nightly to help quell anxiety and promote a more restful sleep. It works by balancing your magnesium levels and calcium intake, helping you to feel less stressed and more relaxed. We recommend starting with just a little at first (half a teaspoon daily), and gradually increase to two teaspoons per day from there.
Stock up on supplements. Want optimal brain function? A stronger immune system? Better overall health? Look no further than our top GEM-approved daily supplements. Good news! We now carry the incredible Thorne brand. Give your body the turbo boost it needs to stay healthy and strong by supplementing your way to SHINE. Stop by and stock up today!

Make these daily SHINE practices part of your back-to-school routine, and you’ll set off a chain reaction of mental and physical well-being that will lead to a bright, shining, Smarty Pants Semester!

But don’t stop there; commit to one practice in each Original G·E·M·S Life category (Gratitude, Eat Clean, Move, and Shine) and reap the benefits of a healthier, happier mind, body and soul. Add in more practices as you go, and watch the transformation begin! Jump in today!

5 Practices to Ace GEM Class With Original G·E·M·S

Posted on August 18, 2021 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has Comments Off on 5 Practices to Ace GEM Class With Original G·E·M·S

A daily routine is key to a successful school year. Add these quick MOVE practices to your Original G·E·M·S Life for a focused, fabulous fall term!

START. COMMIT. GROW. JUMP INTO ORIGINAL G·E·M·S LIFE!

Ready for more focus, less anxiety and improved energy? Set aside a few minutes every day to move your body for a world of difference to your physical AND mental health.

It’s a scientific fact that regular exercise is linked to improved mood and reduced anxiety and depression. So do right by your body and your brain by adding in our third Original G·E·M·S Life category, MOVE, to your morning routine, and get ready to take on this school year by storm!

You don’t have to hit the gym after dropping the kids off at school — commiting to MOVE your body everyday is a lot easier than you think! One of the biggest mistakes we make when setting activity goals is trying to “get fit” by overcommitting to an exercise “program.” In other words: We shoot the moon, when really we just need to walk around the block. Some things to keep in mind:

Any movement is a good movement! It doesn’t have to be a heart-pounding sweaty gym sesh to improve your fitness.
Those little minutes of movement add up! A little bit here and there, when you can, can add up to a full work out!
Consistency matters more than intensity. You can burn a lot of calories walking — and a lot more than running if it’s just too hard or you don’t like it.
If you don’t like it, if it’s too hard, if it hurts, you won’t keep doing it. Movement should be fun, not painful.

To help get you started, try our top practices to help you ace GEM class this school year.

5 MOVE Practices for a Smarty Pants Semester

After School Dance Party! Shake away those back to school blues by throwing on some throwback jams to groove to! Try this ultimate dance party workout with Meagan Kong for some seriously good vibes. A dance a day keeps the doctor away, right?
Sneak In Mini-Moves: You don’t have to make it to class or the gym every day. Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Or take a quick walk around the block in between Zoom calls. Either way, take a few minutes to stretch your legs during the day. Those minutes add up!
Try a TikTok Trend! There are sooo many to keep up with, but a few TikTok trends we’ve loved lately are the #FlexibilityChallenge videos, the #Trackstars “runaway” challenge, and whatever #DanceTikTok’s viral dance of the week is! Get your family involved and try out these video challenges for your daily MOVE practice!
Find a “move” buddy. Having someone to keep us accountable helps us stay committed to daily move goals. Call up a friend you’ve been meaning to catch up with and try different classes with them for a month, or sign up for a weekly AM sculpt class at Ritual One Yoga on Knox with a friend (plus, get your daily GEM fix at our pop-up location here!).
Get a Personal Trainer. Can’t find time to make it to a class? Hire a personal trainer to come to your home instead—they can even give you light exercises or stretching work to do so you can check off your MOVE practice every day of the week.

Prioritizing your health is the BEST way to curb anxiety and stress that a new school year brings. Follow these Original G·E·M·S Life MOVE practices to help you and your family stay healthy this fall. And remember; it takes 21 days to form a habit, so don’t wait—jump in today!

Live an Original G·E·M·S Life

Commit to Shine Brighter in all areas of your life with our daily playbook formed around The GEM’s founding principles. Jump on our disco train and commit daily to just one practice in each of the categories, Gratitude, Eat Clean, Move, Shine. Add in more practices and grow with the program when you’re ready, and create your very own Original G·E·M·S Life!

How to Boost Brain Power by Eating Clean (Smarty Pants Series Part II)

Posted on August 13, 2021 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has Comments Off on How to Boost Brain Power by Eating Clean (Smarty Pants Series Part II)

“You is kind, you is SMART, you is important.” Say it with us now. Back to school time is upon us, and to celebrate we’re sharing our top Original G·E·M·S Life tips for you to have a Smarty Pants Semester—and this week is all about how to Eat Clean to boost brain power. Check out our brain-boosting daily practices and commit to Eat Clean this school year!

START NOW. SHINE BRIGHTER. JUMP INTO ORIGINAL G·E·M·S LIFE!

As we said in Part I of our Smarty Pants Semester series, lifestyle has a HUGE impact on our brain and mental health. Each of us has the opportunity to do something good for our brain (and, in turn, our body), multiple times a day.

When it comes to eating, start smart each day with these tried-and-true Eat Clean practices that keep your mind and body at peak performance!

5 Brain Boosting Foods for Back to School

BLUEBERRIES. These babies are PACKED with antioxidants proven to help delay brain aging and improve memory. Stick some in the freezer with a scoop of peanut butter for a delish after-school snack, or add them to your morning smoothie for a one-two punch of brain power!
TURMERIC. We’ve talked a LOT about the benefits of this anti-inflammatory super spice—but turmeric also has the power to improve memory, boost serotonin and dopamine levels, and help us grow new brain cells. Our Turmeric Latte is a favorite back to school accessory for this reason. So is the Iced Immunity Green Tea.
NUTS. Brain healthy fats and protein abound with walnuts, cashews, pecans, Brazil Nuts, mulberries and more. Snag a bag or two of our GEM Remix or Dance Mix to get your daily dose of nuts—super filling and packs a punch. Got nuts?
MAGIC MUSHROOM. Our Adaptogenic Powder contains Lion’s Mane, which boosts brain clarity and memory. Add to any of our coffee drinks or in our Crown Jewel smoothie!
GREEN TEA. In addition to fighting cancer, aiding in digestion, and improving cardiovascular health, studies have shown that drinking green tea daily can enhance memory and other cognitive functions. Green tea directly benefits the part of our brain associated with learning, memory processes, and decision making. Choose wisely and GO GREEN!
LEAFY GREENS. You know the ones—kale, spinach, Bok Choy, collard greens, etc. all have the power to slow cognitive decline. Stay sharp by packing in extra greens at every meal with these simple tips:
- Add to smoothies. Spinach and kale are our favorite additions. Make at home with your favorite organic ingredients, or order to-go from The GEM!
- Stir into soup. De-stem and cut a few kale leaves before adding them to soups in the last 10 minutes of cooking.
- Bake kale chips. Chop and toss with a little olive oil and salt, then bake at 350 for 10 minutes.
- Juice ‘em. Our Green Glow juice is the perfect starter kit to get your daily green fix (all hail the KALE!). Order now!

By adding just ONE of these brain-boosting foods daily, check off your EAT CLEAN practice while getting the nutrients you need to learn and Shine Brighter in the classroom this semester! And stock up with these foods to send your little GEMs off with fuel for the school day and beyond.

Keep an eye out for more Original G·E·M·S Life practices for a Smarty Pants Semester, coming soon!

Be A Smarty Pants with Original G·E·M·S (Part I: Gratitude)

Posted on August 10, 2021 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has 1 Comment on Be A Smarty Pants with Original G·E·M·S (Part I: Gratitude)

Gearing up for a new school year can be hectic, no doubt about it. BUT, if we embrace the chaos and express gratitude for our kids’ opportunities and abilities in the classroom, we can give them the support they need to perform their best, in school and beyond. Try these Original G·E·M·S Life daily GRATITUDE practices for a smarty pants semester this fall!

LEARN, GROW & SHINE BRIGHT DAILY. JUMP INTO ORIGINAL G·E·M·S LIFE!

Start Smart this Semester with Original G·E·M·S Life

Original G·E·M·S know the road to healthy isn’t paved with just clean eating and exercise. Our mental health plays just as big a role in our overall wellness as what we put on our plate and how we move our bodies. Because of this, our daily habits have a HUGE impact on brain health—a super important topic as we approach a new school year!

You have the opportunity every single day to do something good for your brain (and, in turn, your body). And what better way to start than with our first Original G·E·M·S Life category, GRATITUDE, each day? Read on for tips on how to practice GRATITUDE daily this school year.

Having GRATITUDE for A Shiny New School Year!

There is no shortage of studies that link a practice of gratitude gives way to an overall sense of well-being. But did you know that practicing gratitude can also have a positive impact on our focus and resilience in learning?

According to a 2016 study published in the Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, when students intentionally practice gratitude toward learning, they have better focus during class, while studying, or taking an exam.

Practicing gratitude then seems like a no-brainer (pun intended!) for excelling in the classroom! Try out these quick and easy Original G·E·M·S Life practices to start your day with a gratitude mindset before hitting the books this school year.

3 Ways to Start Your School Day with GRATITUDE

PRACTICE MORNING MEDITATIONS. Center yourself by taking 15 minutes each morning to meditate and reflect on the positive. Doing so will automatically start your day with an optimistic outlook and ready to tackle whatever may come.
START GRATITUDE MAPPING. Similar to a gratitude journal, gratitude mapping is creating a visual mood board to represent things you’re grateful for. Add to it daily and put it on display to help remind you of all the good things you have to be grateful for!
VOLUNTEER TO HELP. We all know someone who could use a hand. Volunteer to help your kids’ carpool lane. Sign up to become a reading buddy or a tutor in the classroom. Just put yourself out there and see—helping those in need brings on a sense of compassion for humanity, and helps us have gratitude for our circumstances!

Try these daily practices to help you have a smarty pants semester, but don’t forget; Gratitude is just ONE important element of living an Original G·E·M·S Life. To Shine Brighter in all areas of your life, commit daily to one practice in each Original G·E·M·S Life category, Gratitude, Eat Clean, Move, and Shine, and watch the transformation begin!

And be on the lookout for more tips on how to have a Smarty Pants Semester on our blog, Facebook & Instagram!

Back to School Part Three – Cleaner Junk Food and Quick Snack Food Ideas

Posted on August 14, 2017 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has Comments Off on Back to School Part Three – Cleaner Junk Food and Quick Snack Food Ideas

If we look at your pantry right now, would it be laden with the traditional snack items like Doritos, OREOS and General Mills Cereals that we all grew up with?

A toxic storm of chemicals and science lab ingredients. But let’s be realistic. You have to have some junk food in your house. We can’t be perfect all the time. And, quite frankly, do you really want to be??

You don’t, however, have to eat those processed, chemical-laden, GMO riddled snacks! There are so many new alternative brands and organic versions out there.

Fruit Loops, Lunchables, and Cheetos ARE NOT OPTIONS.

I don’t recommend packaged junk food all the time, but we live in the real world. It’s gonna happen. PLUS, if you want your teens to gather at your house, you gotta have some ready to grab snacks!

Give these organic and non-GMO snacks a try.

Instead of Doritos/Tostitos – Late July Jalapeno Lime Tortilla Chips (Warning: these are insanely good!)
Instead of Gold Fish – Annie’s Organic Cheddar Squares or Bunnies, Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers in great flavors
Instead of Ritz Crackers – Field Day Organics Golden Round Crackers
Instead of Fritos & Cheetos – Bearitos Corn Chips and Cheese Puffs

These snack brands do not contain MSG, an ingredient that keeps you going back for more and more. MSG is why many of the GMO snack brands like Doritos are so addictive!!

The key is to BE PREPARED. Make regular trips to the grocery store, with a list of things that will sustain your teens (and their friends) for the week. Or check out these AMAZING delivery apps:

INSTACART – Get deliveries within an hour from Whole Foods, Costco and Central Market. Awesome!

THRIVE MARKET – Get organic pantry products at great prices!

Don’t wait for them to start rummaging through the kitchen. They will snack on what is in front of them. So have it out on the counter.

Other awesome snack ideas:

Organic popcorn made on the stove top with coconut oil and sea salt. So easy. Tiny But Mighty brand non-GMO popcorn kernels are fantastic.
Sliced cucumbers/carrot rounds marinated in lime juice and sea salt. Don’t underestimate this one!
Tex-Mex rules! Keep grass-fed taco meat ready to go. Always have these in your fridge:
- Fresh pico, salsa, guac or bean dip. Nachos with pinto beans and organic cheese knock Cheetos out of the park! Make sure your tortillas are without chemical ingredients (say goodbye to Mission brand).
Amy’s Nacho Snacks, Pizza Rolls or Burritos
The GEM hummus with jalapeno pesto. Grab one of our snack packs for on the go!
Keep sunflower seed and pistachios in a bowl on the counter.
Make watermelon slushes in the afternoon. They will love you! How? Tons of watermelon on the bottom of the blender, frozen strawberries, a cup of ice, a peeled lemon or lime. Shazam!!
Mini pizzas made with whole grain English muffins, fresh marinara and organic mozzarella. Whole Foods has great pre-made ones.
Sami’s Cinnamon Chips will disappear at carpool time. Everyone LOVES these high fiber, low sugar (but don’t tell them that) chips. Available at The GEM.
Keep whole wheat pasta ready in the fridge with marinara.
Steam frozen ORGANIC edamame and add sea salt. Costco sells this!!
Popsicles? Try these Austin-based GoodPop® All-Natural Frozen Pops. I love the Watermelon Agave and Coconut Lime Bars!!

These are not all super-food healthy snacks – because we don’t always obey the rules. They are, however, CLEAN, free of harmful chemicals and dyes. This is really important to remember when feeding your families. Good luck and … Happy End of Summer!

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Back to School Part Two – Quick Pantry and Fridge Makeover

Posted on August 7, 2017 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has 1 Comment on Back to School Part Two – Quick Pantry and Fridge Makeover

If you keep healthy food in your pantry and fridge, you will eat healthy food.

Without question this statement is true … for overall health, daily energy levels, our ability to focus. A well-stocked pantry and easy to grab snacks help us boost metabolism and reduce cravings later in the day. You’ve got stuff in your pantry that shouldn’t be there, but do you know what should be there? This post gives you a quick run-down of what a healthy pantry should contain.

You don’t have to go toss everything and start from scratch in one day. Switching to 100 percent clean foods can be challenging and even costly at first. Give it time, and take it easy on yourself. Try replacing one food item at a time. Sub in brown rice pasta for plain white pasta, or skip the Reese’s and do dark chocolate and organic peanut butter instead. As you add in the good, your taste buds will change, and you will naturally want clean, whole foods. The “fake” foods will seem less appealing.

Remember this important detail: Always read the label! If you don’t know what the ingredients are or how to spell them, toss it.

Start by personally saying goodbye to a few main evils. This doesn’t mean you can’t indulge every now and then … you decide what works for you.

TOSS

Vegetable oils like Corn, Canola, Wesson
Sugary, food-colored cereals. Even the organic/clean ones are for fun snacks NOT breakfast
Canned soups
Sugar-sweetened soda
ANYTHING with artificial sweeteners: “Lite, Diet, Lo-Cal”
ANYTHING with artificial food coloring – it’s made from petroleum and causes all kinds of issues
Frozen entrees that have more chemicals than you can begin to spell
Conventional chemical and GMO laden chips like Cheetos, Fritos (there are simple alternatives)

Your Revitalized Pantry

GRAINS/PANTRY

Brown rice
Quinoa (also a protein source)
Soba noodles (also a protein source)
Organic wheat and/or gluten-free pasta (Tinkyada in my fave)
Beans! Black beans, cannellini, pinto, lentils, chickpeas
Sunflower seeds, pistachios, walnuts – great on your salads, oatmeal
Raw almond butter, organic peanut butter
Killer Dave’s Breads (multigrain or ‘white done right’)
Siete Almond Flour Tortillas
Bob’s Red Mill Rolled Oats
365 Brand Organic Taco Shells

PROTEINS

Vital Farms pastured eggs
Grass fed ground beef
Organic chicken and chicken legs
Bell & Evans Organic Gluten Free Nuggets/Strips

When purchasing animal protein/eggs, organic, free-range and pastured are non-negotiable factors, and avoid pre-packaged meats.

VEGGIES

Boxed lettuces—they are fresh and ready to eat. Spinach/Romaine/Super Greens
Onions and garlic always!
Broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower – all are great for quick sautéing or roasting
Organic sweet and regular potatoes
Artichokes are a really fun and simple appetizer
Carrots, cucumber, organic celery sticks – perfect for snacking
Frozen organic peas, corn, artichokes, shelled edamame to use for quick dinner preps

CONDIMENTS/FLAVORINGS

Extra-virgin olive oil for salad dressings
Bearitos Taco Seasoning packets
Hot sauce—Tabasco, Crystal and Cholula
Burger House Seasoning Salt – Amazing on homemade oven fries, grilled chicken or anything!
Maple syrup
Organic Tamari (instead of soy sauce)
Bragg’s apple cider vinegar
Bubbie’s pickles
Joe T’s or Royitos Salsa
Gorji’s Pomodoro Sauce

FRUITS

Lemons, limes
Avocado
Organic apples
Cutie oranges
Bananas – frozen for smoothies
Frozen berries for smoothies
Varied fruits (berries, melon, cherries)

BEVERAGES

Topo Chico Sparkling Waters
Healthy Sports Drinks like our Perform Hydration Drink
Keep Passion Tea and homemade lemonade in the fridge

SNACKS/OTHER JUNK FOOD

While we don’t suggest eating processed junk food all the time, we know it’s a fact of life … we love it. Stay tuned for our next post on CLEAN JUNK FOOD! We will share our favorite brands that are free from chemicals, food coloring, toxic MSG and GMO’s.

Need a little more hand holding? We can help! Our Diamonds on Your Inside Counseling Program brings us to your home AND on a shopping trip to Whole Foods/Costco to get you on the right track. Just ask!

Want easy and yummy recipes?

Cookbook Signing: Monday, August 21

Come meet our dear friend Pamela Salzman, author of the new Kitchen Matters Cookbook, at our Forest location August 21st, 10 a.m. – noon, for a book signing AND demo at 11 a.m.!

Back to School – Tried and True Breakfast Ideas for Everyone!

Posted on August 2, 2017 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has 2 Comments on Back to School – Tried and True Breakfast Ideas for Everyone!

Summer break is soon coming to an end, and I’m already anxious about how to keep my kids nourished (thinking of breakfast ideas) and my sanity intact as schedules start to ramp up. Staying ahead of crazy hunger is the name of the game, whether it be for breakfast, snacks or dinner.

In this three part series, we will share quick and easy ways to feed your kids and yourself.

First up, breakfast ideas!

Without question breakfast is the most important meal of the day … for brain development, daily energy levels, and our ability to focus. So make it a priority! Discover our top tried and true breakfast ideas below.

Keys to a successful morning:

Be prepared.
Shop for the week.
Buy in bulk – Organic lovers, meet Costco!
Get a jump start – Set the table and put ingredients together in the fridge the night before. Place vitamins in little ramekins at their place setting. Plan to get up at least 10 minutes earlier. It makes all the difference.
Think protein, fiber and good fat.

Our Super 7 Breakfast Ideas

Self Serve Oatmeal Bar. So cute! Just add hot water rolled oats and wait two minutes. Arrange toppings in small bowls:
• Maple syrup, organic brown sugar, cinnamon
• Blueberries and Bananas
• Hemp or Chia Seeds
• Coconut Butter, Organic Peanut butter or Almond butter
• Coconut flakes & Cacao nibs
• Toasted Pecans
• Tip: Cook steel-cut oatmeal overnight in your crock pot the night before so it will be ready in the a.m. This will keep for a week in the fridge!
Breakfast burrito/wrap – Fresh, whole wheat tortillas – not “MISSION” – or try my favorite, Siete Almond Flour tortillas!!, mixed with pastured eggs and pico de gallo. Drain a can of black beans the night before and add those in the mix too. Protein and healthy fats are crucial for brain function and keeping blood sugar levels even. Try your eggs scrambled in coconut oil.
Fresh smoothies made with frozen berries, bananas, raw almonds/water, Epic Vegan Protein. Stock up on your ingredients from our GEM at Home Collection. Keep cacao and dates on hand too. Try this Peanut Butter Chocolate Smoothie. My family so loves this with additional chocolate protein added.
Healthy Smoothie Bowl. Here’s a secret: Bowls are just smoothies with less liquid! Top yours with berries, hemp seeds, Marge’s granola. Another secret: Our FOYO Parfait is a smoothie bowl … in a travel ready cup! Need instruction? Check out this video on how to make the prefect bowl. YOU WILL BE A MORNING ROCK STAR!
King Arthur GF Pancake Mix with blueberries. This gluten-free brand is amazing!!!! They really are fantastic when cooked with coconut oil. They need almost no syrup! Combine with scrambled eggs to balance with protein or wrap up a Applegate Farms Chicken Sausage Link.
PB&J: Ezekial Bread toasted with almond butter and your favorite jam (not the kind with food coloring and lots of chemicals. Read your labels! I adore Avocado Toast!!
Get ahead of the game and make a Breakfast Casserole!! This Hashbrown and Spinach Egg Casserole is amazing. Even better, pour the mixture into muffin tins for quick on the go breakfast bites or protein snacks! Another recipe here.

And hey, remember: The time in the morning is precious and can be a great way to take a moment to set your intention for the day, spend a moment with your kids and practice your own self-care.

Want more great cooking instruction?

Check out our dear friend Pamela Salzman’s new Kitchen Matters Cookbook. In Kitchen Matters, she shares the recipes that have won the praise of Nicole Richie, Rashida Jones, Audrina Patridge and other mega-fans. Both practical and elegant, Kitchen Matters offers a road map for new and busy home cooks to begin including more wholesome foods every day, for meals as nourishing as they are unforgettable.

Want more?

Book Signing Monday, August 21

Join us at our Forest location August 21st, 10 a.m. – noon, for a book signing AND demo at 11 a.m.!!

5 Ways to Manage Back-to-School Stress

Posted on August 19, 2014 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has 3 Comments on 5 Ways to Manage Back-to-School Stress

School is almost back in session which means major organization needed, major scheduling, major traffic, AND obviously, major stress. Stress is an unpleasant fact of life. We all experience it, and for some of us, we allow it to take over our minds and eventually our bodies.

The key is to find ways to manage it—squash it—and don’t let it rule us. Stress does terrible things to your mood, your energy and your overall physiology. Common symptoms of stress we know all too well: insomnia, headaches, jaw pain, back and neck pain, heartburn and nausea, nervousness and anxiety, nail-biting, and trouble focusing. Even high blood pressure, stroke and obesity! But stress does some other crazy sh*t …

Stress changes the expression of your genes. Your genes load the gun, the environment pulls the trigger. Your stressed our body produces chemicals, activating genes that change everything — how much fat you store, your immune function, ageing and even the development of CANCER.
Stress affects memory function. High levels of stress hormones damage critical parts of the brain, especially the area responsible for memory. People experience adrenal burnout after chronic stress because the brain actually turns off the adrenals. So relax, silly.
Stress jacks with your immune system and increases inflammation. Stress is the ultimate immune-modulator. It slows wound healing and increases your susceptibility to infections.
Stress slows your ability to metabolize and detoxify. Genes responsible for enzymes that break down fats and detoxify prescription drugs are negatively impacted by stress. Stress also adds to your toxin burden by increasing your cravings for high fat, high sugar foods. We all know that one, right? The stress hormones actually make you hang on to your fat cells.

The American Institute of Stress (AIS) has a list of 50 common signs and symptoms of stress. Check it out! So in addition to making us cranky and fat, it can also make us chronically ill? Tell me how to fix this!

What we think and feel, and how long we think or feel it, determines our health. The science is strong, and yet so often since stress is considered something we can’t really quantify, it gets dismissed as not being “real.”

Here are a few ways to quell stress in your life:

Meditate. Come on … Don’t quit reading. Meditation can mean different things to different people. Mindfulness, intention setting, gratitude lists all are part of a mediation practice. Simple deep breathing exercises and morning quiet time (even 15 minutes a day will make an enormous difference). Gabby Bernstein rocks. Wayne Dyer too. This does not take the place of your daily prayer. Try deep breathing exercises in the carpool line or at a traffic light. I swear it will change your life.
Laugh. Call a friend, watch a movie, fake it if you have to!
Magnesium. Deficiencies in this mineral have been linked to anxiety as well as a litany of sleep disorders. Go get you some CALM tea today. P.S. It will also keep you regular. There is also a Calm Bath Soak that is amazing as a bedtime ritual along with some lavender oil that will knock your socks off.
Exercise. Do something everyday—preferably something that raises your heart rate and makes you sweat. Walk with a friend, jump on the trampoline with your kids, or turn up Donna Summer and disco dance off of the chandeliers for all I care. Just do it!
Plan your food. At the very least, have healthy food options in your fridge. You can’t manage stress on Cheetos and drive-thrus. Plus eating like that can add MORE depression and anxiety to your life. (Insider scoop, we will be blogging about this in September: simple, healthy fridge options). Start your day with a Green Glow or a superfood-packed Crown Jewel smoothie. What stressor can possibly bring you down now??

We can help you with all this at The GEM, whether with your nutritional needs, a much-needed laugh or schedule a Diamonds Counseling Stress Session – Just ask!

Next up: Stress and Yoga!!

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