Happy New Year! 

Now, before you launch into any New Year’s resolutions, I want to recommend that you start by taking 14 days to find the calm after all the holiday excitement to reset your mindset.

It is sometimes hard to recognize the effects of stress, even when it has been in a time of celebration. It can be difficult to determine whether the worst part of stress is its source – work issues, family problems, or keeping up with a house that is in constant need of cleaning or fixing; OR the effects on your health and wellness with tight muscles, anxiety, or sleeplessness. 

Here is an Alaka’i “prescription” to take back your mind, body, and spirit – fourteen days to find your inner calm to begin a new year. Feel free to change the order of any of the days – except Day 1.

Day 1: Be grateful. Make a list of three to five specific things you are grateful for. When you focus on the good in your life it flips a switch in your brain and stress will recede. Make this a daily practice. It helps to keep a gratitude journal.

Day 2: Plant something. Even if it is just a small pot of herbs for your kitchen or a succulent that doesn’t require much attention.. Studies show that gardening can help shift the focus away from stressors and give you a sense of calm.

Day 3: Take a break. Have a cup of tea. Regularly drinking black tea can lower stress hormones and induce feelings of relaxation. (This is one I can easily remember! I love tea!)

Day 4: Get a massage. Even a quick hand massage you give yourself can help – Start by rubbing your palm on the pad beneath your thumb in circles, next rub the area beneath your little finger, now rub across your knuckle joints. Next, starting with your little finder – pull and pinch off at the end of each finger. Once you have completed that press your thumb and forefinger of one hand between the fleshy part of your hand between your thumb and forefinger on the other hand. Hold for 60 seconds.(Dont forget to do both hands!)

Day 5: Get distracted. Play solitary games like solitaire or sudoku, or do crossword puzzles. Find one that you really like so that you become so absorbed you lose track of time. 

Day 6: Survey your support system. I call this my “Lifeboat”.  Make a list of at least 5  people you could turn to for advice and a helping hand. Knowing that they are there can make you feel more resilient. And don’t forget to thank them for their support.

Day 7: Think Pink. Research has shown that a bubble gum shade of pink has a soothing effect so add a little pink to your wardrobe or your office space. It can be as easy as using light pink Post-it notes.

Day 8: Take a Drive. When you can, change your commute to take a more scenic route to or from work. This will give you a chance to either set your thoughts for the day or unwind on the way home.

Day 9: De-tangle Yourself. Make a point to stand up and stretch if you have been sitting for more than 45 minutes.(You can set a reminder on your phone or computer to stand up.) Consciously release the tension that has built up in your neck, shoulders, back, etc. And, BREATHE! Deep inhalations through your nose and exhalations through your mouth. (And add a little Gimme a Break “I got this!” shaka at the end.)

Day 10: Lend a Hand. Volunteering gets you away from your own worries and can often put things in perspective to make you feel better about your own circumstances.

Day 11: Laugh a Little. The minute you start laughing your body turns on the feel-good endorphins and provides oxygen to boost your mood. And laughing with someone doubles the dose. 

Day 12: Turn off the Tube. TV’s constant bombardment of information can add to feelings of anxiety so give yourself a night off. Find a more relaxing visual or aural stimulation – like reading or listening to music.

Day 13: Put up a Stop Sign. When stressful thoughts start creeping in, visualize holding up a bright red stop sign. Take a few deep breaths and decide your next turn. Turn towards a more positive thought.

Day 14: There is a Bigger Plan. As problems arise, ask yourself, “Will this matter in three months? Three years?” Try to see the bigger picture and take small steps to a better outcome.

Just writing these out for you has given me a chance to assess some of my own stressors and I will be taking my own advice for the next fourteen days of 2025. I’d love to hear if any of these ideas resonated with you.

You can find an additional resource, Cultivating Calm Out of Chaos, at https://alakaiassociates.com/downloads/

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New Year Detox

Feeling a bit sluggish after all the holiday indulgences? It’s no surprise – your diet, stress, and the environment are constantly releasing toxins into your body. When toxins collect in your tissues, they can overtax your liver and kidneys, the organs that are designed to remove them. Here’s a quick 3 day detox to help get your new year off to a healthy start.

Every day drink at least eight glasses of water (filtered preferred) to help flush out the impurities. When dehydrated, your body doesn’t absorb nutrients properly.

Day 1

Breakfast – sugar-free muesli with skim or other nut based milk, a tsp of organic honey, and ¼ c. blueberries.

Lunch – chicken vegetable soup, ½ of a baked yam, side of steamed broccoli and carrots.

Dinner – Broiled fish on a bed of mixed greens with olive oil & balsamic vinegar.

Snacks – handful of nuts, orange wedges.

Day 2

Breakfast – Fruit smoothie with protein powder and/or greens powder (I prefer Zena Super Greens -available on Amazon) mixed with water.

Lunch – Green salad with tuna, avocado, tomatoes, cucumbers, celery and olive oil/balsamic vinegar.

Dinner – Black beans/chickpeas with brown rice/quinoa topped with grilled veggies (i.e. red/yellow bell peppers, broccoli)

Snacks – dried cranberries or an apple

Day 3

Breakfast – Sugar-free plain yogurt topped with mixed berries, 1 tsp honey, and ¼ c. almonds or walnuts.

Lunch – Minestrone soup, salad with cucumber and feta cheese, olive oil/balsamic vinegar.

Dinner – Stir-fry chicken with rice noodles and veggies.

Snacks – slices cantaloupe, rice cake with nut butter

You are now on your way to a healthier, activated year!

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THE ALAKA’I BOOKSHELF

This month I want to highlight two poets that have inspired me.

Dr. Sarah Jefferis – What Enters the Mouth, is a book of poems written with both grit and tenderness. It wrestles with loss and pain but also brings forth power and beauty. Besides being an author, she is also an editor and  intuitive writing coach. 

Emily Jungmin Yoon – Find Me as the Creature I Am, reveals both the tenderness and harshness, the love and loss of life. Emily is an assistant professor of Korean literature at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. 

We need more voices like theirs speaking out in our world today. Perhaps that is yours?

Their words and work have inspired me to begin my second journey as an author. My first book, published in 2023, is Under a Full Moon and a Guiding Star. Stay tuned as I will share parts of this new journey along the way.

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YOUR HEALTH MATTERS

Time for a System Reset

You may or may not know that taking a single caplet of the Protandim® Nrf2 Synergizer™ supplement a day is thousands of times more effective at protecting your body from harmful free radicals than taking handfuls of direct antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E etc.; but did you know it’s essentially the equivalent amount of cellular protection you’d get by eating 7 pounds of broccoli sprouts?* 

Read more about this amazing “little yellow pill” and start your year off activated!

Behind the Scenes

First-time orders will receive an additional thank you gift once the order is confirmed.

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Subscribers ONLY

New Year’s Gift – Two lucky winners will receive the Subscriber Giveaway to help you on your wellness journey! In addition, any current subscriber who refers a new subscriber will receive an additional gift!

You can also contact me to schedule a free one-on-one Discovery Call to make a plan for your wellness.

#LiveAlohaLiveWell