Before I left Boston for pre-season, Walter Norton Jr., Sporting Chic’s strength, conditioning, and mental health coach, (whether he knew it or not) gave us some very simple advice: “Try new things and do things that make you happy." I know. So obvious, right?

I have now been in Washington DC for two weeks and have been constantly thinking about his advice. Leading up to pre-season, I wanted to feel my best. The best I have ever felt. I think everyone does. So I have been trying to explore things that make me feel healthy, strong, happy, and fresh.

Here are 5 simple things that I have done this week that you MUST TRY.

1. In the morning, before anything, I have done 10 MINUTES of stretching/muscle activating.

Now I’ve done yoga before but I tend to get to competitive in classes. I tell myself I'll just have a nice relaxing class to simply stretch out and feel good. But then I find myself trying to do a “flying donkey pose” (just made that up) because the girl in front of me who bends like a paperclip is doing it. And then I end up upset because I was inferior at something. I have extremely tight hips which lead me to have a tight back, hence why I walk and run like an old British man. (In a college soccer game someone yelled that at me and I’ve never been the same since.) This week, instead of limping to the kitchen to get my coffee, (which is about five feet away) I fricken strut. I feel like a million bucks. Just getting my blood flowing and loosening up any tight/sore muscles have 100% changed the way I feel for the rest of the day. So simple, but has made a huge difference for me.

2. Mid morning, I have made a green juice at home after breakfast.

Usually I buy my green juices but who wants to spend $10 on a juice when thats the price of a new lipgloss? At the store I buy a big carton of organic spinach, a bundle of kale, lemon in the squeeze thingy, a ginger stick thing, coconut water, and apples.

3 handfuls of spinach
2 kale leafs
Enough lemon to drown out the taste of the greens
A chunk of ginger the size of a quarter
1/4 an apple
And a generous splash of coconut water....

This is an extremely easy way to get yooooo greens in. The ginger and lemon is great for digestion. Coconut water for electrolytes and hydration. And the apple for fiber and so it doesn't taste like sh*t. TRY THIS every day for five days and your face will be glowing, your abs will be popping, and you’ll feel more energetic. Believe me.

3. I've gotten dressed up and cute for absolutely no reason.

Go to a new coffee shop alone. Now when I say dress up I mean wear yoga pants and your freshest white sneaks. When I say look cute, fill your damn eyebrows in and put lipgloss on. And when I say “alone," it's just because I don't have any friends yet so I didn't have a choice- you don't actually have to go alone.
I tend to be one of those coffee snobs. No, actually I am the biggest, baddest coffee snob there is. Ask Steph. The face she makes when I take my first sip is like watching a teenagers face when asked to parallel park in their drivers test. I always go to the same places because I don't want a bad coffee to ruin my day. Now, being in a new city, I am forced to try new places. Going to a coffee shop or restaurant dressed cute as can be can you feel HAPPY. I pretend like I actually have work to do on my new computer. But really I’m just online shopping for rompers and looking up the “the best burger in D.C.” I swear the guy next to me right now must think I am studying for medical school the way I am devouring these Yelp reviews.

4. I've taken my time.

I am always in a rush- one of the distinct traits of being a masshole. I am one of those people who glares at the red light and right when it turns green I beep at the person in front of me. Honestly, why am I rushing to Target? The frying pans aren't going anywhere. I wanted to feel more relaxed and have a clear mind so I didn't rush anywhere, left plenty of time for everything, and actually shaved my legs for once. This definitely isn't something that will stick everyday, but it feels good to relax (and have smooth legs.)

5. I wrote down my goals.

I am usually not one to do this but I forced myself to. I came up with some short term goals, long term goals, things I want to improve on, and things that I am good at. When you write it down it becomes real. I always thought it was real just because I was thinking about it. But to physically see it on paper and have it to look at is very different. It was uncomfortable for me to feel somewhat vulnerable towards words on a piece of paper. But, it feels good and my goals make me happy.

Try some of these things and see how you feel. Some might work for you and others might not. I texted Sam and Steph about this and their answers were totally different. The things that make us happy and feel GOOD are things that we shouldn't sacrifice, even if we are short on time.

Featured