How often do you detox? Do you know how much your body has to do all the time? Your organs have a hell of job to do just to keep you alive, it’s probably quite exhausting, taxing and as we’re dying from the moment we’re born, they probably start slowing down year after year – like a machine. So how can you look after your insides? By detox of course!
In yoga, the headstand pose or any inverted pose essentially gives a little workout to your organs. In headstand, as you’re upside-down the organs get to hang loose and have their own stretch, it’s good for them, shaking loose anything that might be a little stuck. I can’t do headstand (yet) but even just half of the movement can make a difference and you will feel it.
There are other, more easier things you can do to give your organs a break; and I mean all your organs. In Ayurveda and Indian philosophy, we regularly fast (usually for religious reasons but I’m pretty sure that’s just an adaptation of yogic philosophy) and this regular break on the physical body, allows your organs a little rest. Of course not a complete rest but if the only thing your body needs to do that day is keep you alive, not try to reject booze, try desperately hard to process as much processed food or red meat in your system as well as your emotions, it’ll be a lot happier for it and will probably perform a little longer for you. You can read some science-backed benefits of fasting here.
The other really effective way to detox (you know this is coming) is a digital detox for the brain! Science has said that we only use 5% of the brain’s capacity. That’s pretty rubbish in itself – you’d think we would have evolved further by now but how much do you know about the affects of digital consumption on your brain? There’s so much information available today about the harmful benefits of technology and the way we consume information today – I don’t need to bore you with the details. I just merely urge you to accept the importance of taking a break from it all at least once a week. You can also do things in your daily routine that will contribute to using less which will be easy to do.
The first most important point about the digital detox is to get over ‘FOMO’ – It’s not a thing for you to be concerned about. If you think you will lose friends over not knowing what’s happening all the time, you don’t have good relationships. Harsh but true. Living your life, in truth and authenticity is crucial for understanding what happiness means to you, what you bring to your relationships, your work, your family, your life and living a life of purpose. May I also mention your mental health! Constant consumption of negative information – in whatever form whether direct, by comparison or judgement WILL lead to mental health challenges. FACT. Here’s the science for the skeptics. If you don’t have your mental health in check…[you can complete the sentence].
Here are a few tips to help manage a detox:
- Fast once a week, only consuming water – small steps would be a liquid fast for the day (soups, shakes, easily digestible.)
- Fast on clean food once a week – only fruit and vegetables
- Eliminate alcohol for a week, once month – small steps would be to only drink two days per week and limit consumption i.e don’t get pissed!
- Detox also relates to your environment – clean/tidy your house/your desk – get those chores you’ve been putting off, done. It will make your mind feel lighter.
There are a number of things you can do to digitally disconnect, here are my top 5:
- Use the new features on the smartphones to automatically switch notifications off at certain times – once you do it, you’ll not look back.
- Don’t take your phone out when you’re socialising. Human connection is key for our lives to thrive. Be present.
- Create set times to check in on technology whether that’s emails, social, articles. You don’t constantly need to be consuming information.
- Stop mindless scrolling. If you’re bored, recognise this and start to fill your boredom gaps.
- Have sex? or give yourself a treat. Those endorphins should keep you in the moment and you won’t need to tweet about it (I should hope).
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