5 changes in december

goodmorning friends, it is december & i cannot believe that the end of 2016 is already approaching. what better time to make changes than now? seriously, you have 31 days to eat smart, workout, get outside, make new friends & go on adventures. i know a lot of us wait until the new year to make these changes but that is just silly. it's a thursday; go against the odds and start making changes NOW!

starting next month there are a lot of changes coming to the blog, my site and my business but i will take my own advice and go against the grain here too. i am going to post 5 simple changes you can make this month that will kickstart your new year & leave your feeling refreshed as december flies by.

1. choose with your fork

so, what does that mean? it means to make smart choices in what you eat. choose local, organic & non-gmo. choose foods that are free from dies, additives, preservatives, refined sugar & refined flour. pick the produce that looks alive, fresh and young.

2. get some dang sleep

you hear this one all the time, so do it! get off your phone, iPad, computer, tablet, etc. and get some shut eye. your body needs sleep & lots of it. sorry to break it to you! all of our bodies are different; my body needs about 7 hours of sleep (good sleep). now that it is winter i have been sleeping more because the sun seems to be drunk. i go to bed around 9 and wake up naturally at 630ish (no sun = no ashlee)

3. unplug & plug in

okay, that doesn't seem to make much since but it really does. we spend far too much time on our instagram, Facebook, twitter, pinterest, google, youtube, snapchat & the other 50 social media sites. i downloaded this cool app that told me how long i had spent on my phone at any given time and i was appalled. it made me aware and showed me all the free time i really do have to read, go outside, hang out with friends & create new content for you! this ties in with #2 as well. get off of your electronics at least 1 hour before hitting the hay.

4. go smell some fresh air

i am not even going to start dropping statistics on ya, you have hands & google for that one. it's crazy that some of us never ever ever get outside. some people literally never even leave their apartment/home sometimes. some people only go outside to get into their car to go into their work building to make money to pay for the house that they NEVER leave (i'm passionate, can't you tell)! download the app alltrails and be amazed at all of God's creation that is right outside of your door. i challenge you to get out for at least 30 minutes a day.

5. educate yourself

read, read, read. if you hate reading, listen, listen, listen. i once was a hater of books. spark notes got me through high school & you wouldn't catch me dead with any kind of book in my free time. now, that i have matured and learned the value of relaxation & knowledge i LOVE books. for leisure i love Eating On the Wild Side, Left To Tell, & The Truth About Cancer. i love reading books on health, christian missions, culture, food and wellness. suggestions/questions? be sure to write them in the comments below.

alright, you are ready! hit the hills, leave your phone at home & get a good nights rest tonight!

& don't forget to enter my giveaway :) there are tons of goodies. click here to get the deets.