With a lot of the concerns that we find in our everyday life, a lot of people are starting to try and live healthier lifestyles. Whether they’re concerned about GMO ingredients, want to eat healthier, or just want to lose weight, living a healthier lifestyle has become a regular part of many people’s lives – and a healthier lifestyle means also living “against the grain” in a lot of standard American situations. The time when most people want to start living that lifestyle? Right at the start of the brand new year. After all, it’s a clean slate, and you can forgive all of the false starts you had last year.
With that in mind, it means that it might be difficult to get a good start on your New Year’s Resolutions without the help of good items. It’d be hard to learn advanced mathematics without the textbook. It will be hard to improve your daily athletic activity without any way to track your progress. It will be hard to learn to manage your time without seeing where your time is going. It will be hard to improve your relaxation and meditation time without all of the items that make it better. For that reason, most people usually end up picking up some new toys and gadgets at the beginning of the year to make sure that they can meet their New Year’s Resolution head-on. That’s where I’m going to try and help! If your New Year’s Resolution is here, here are some of the fun gadgets and essentials I’d recommend!
HELP! I Want to Lose Weight!
I’ve been addicted to my LifeTrak Move C300 watch for the last couple of months, and that’s because it fits so wonderfully into my lifestyle. Pretty accurate, the watch does more than just count steps – it estimates how many miles have been walked, how many calories have been burned, displays your activity versus the rest of the week, your activity versus the specific hour, and more. Plus, for specific workouts, it has a workout-only mode that displays the calories burned, the time elasped, the steps taken, and the miles walked. Plus, it attaches via Bluetooth to any iOS devices to let you look at data in full-color and in real-time. For those with an Android phone, their app is coming to Android early 2014. For those that hate fussing with recharging, the LifeTrak Move C300 also uses watch batteries, so it never requires charging or fussing with – plus, it’s waterproof! For anyone that is trying to make themselves healthier, the watch does an amazing job of helping them meet their goals and make sure they’re reminded to get a good amount of exercise every day. You can read my LifeTrak Move C300 review or go straight to the LifeTrak USA website to order.
New from EatSmart is the Precision Tracker Digital Bathroom scale. To make sure that you’re making progress, this scale is fantastic and an essential tool for weight management. Allowing 8 different “user profiles”, this scale instantly recognizes who steps on it and displays three things: the current weight, the weight change from the last weigh-in, and the total change from the starting weight. It has a huge, 3.5″ LCD that makes it easy to read, and it has “Step-On” technology for fast and easy weighing. Plus, it can weigh up to 400 pounds and features a sleek, tempered glass platform. I’ve owned a EatSmart Precision Digital Bathroom Scale for over two years now (the previous generation of this scale), and I can’t say anything but amazing things about it. It’s truly effortless, amazing, and completely reliable. You can go purchase an EatSmart Precision Tracker Digital Bathroom scale for yourself, or you can read my EatSmart Precision Tracker Digital Bathroom Scale review.
When someone starts to watch their health more closely, it may lead to them being on their feet even more. Even if they’re on their feet the same amount, it can lead to them starting to feel strain and pain in new places as their workout routine gets harder – or maybe they’re just looking for healthier and better ways to get along with their regular shoes. That’s where the Therafit Shoes come in. Especially designed to cater to women, Dr. Lisa Masterson (of the The Doctors series!) created this line to help prevent pain associated with being on the feet most of the day. Accredited by the National Posture Institute, these shoes are designed to work for the 12-hour days that many women are experiencing. The Therafit shoes are available in Sandals, Athletic Shoes, Uniform Shoes, and Walking Shoes, the Therafit line is available in bright, cheerful colors as well as more plain colors for work wear. You can easily check out the Therafit line, or read through my Therafit Shoes review.
When it comes to doing regular fitness activities, it’s vital you have the right equipment. Especially with high-impact exercises or intense exercising, it’s important to make sure you aren’t being too hard on your joints. With the Sol Dry Grip Yoga Mat from Gaiam, you will stay secure and slip-free as you go about your workout. Designed for heavy sweating and hot environments, the Sol Dry Grip Yoga Mat wicks away the moisture to provide an even better grip the hotter they get. Plus, it comes in a stunning, black material that features a beautiful design. You can read my Sol Dry Grip Yoga Mat review or go straight to the Gaiam website to purchase any of their fantastic fitness items.
When you’re set to workout, music can be such a huge help. Studies have shown that music helps push ourselves even farther than if we hadn’t been listening to music. However, keeping that music nearby may be more of a challenge than you originally intended. At the gym, that might entail having cords all over the place, or when you’re outside, it might mean catching your hands in your cord while running. No more! Touted as the Ultimate Armband, ArmPocket makes sleeves that go on your upper arm that hold your device to keep it easy-to-access while also keeping it out of the way. Unlike standard armbands, though, the Arm Pocket does more. Many of their armbands include special pockets to hold your credit cards, keys, cash, and more. Their workout armbands are available in a rainbow of colors, and they make them to fit a variety of devices including Android, MP3 players, and Apple items. You can go straight to the Arm Pocket website to purchase one.
HELP! I Want to Remove Toxins from My Life!
When you want to watch your toxic chemical dependence, that’s where iGozen cleaners can come in. Featuring both a meat and veggie wash as well as an Everyday Cleanser (which is my favorite!), these non-toxic cleansers do an amazingly great job of cleaning up your food and your house. They leave absolutely no smell, and they actually do get rid of the stains – which is what I’m always worried about when I try a new cleaner. Plus, they use reusable bottles, so the cleanser itself comes in a little “packet” that gets dumped into the bottle and added to water to make it effective. iGozen sells cute (and affordable!) sets that include the cleanser powders as well as the bottles. When you need more, you can just reorder the powder and save some money (and this stuff is MUCH more affordable than standard cleansers or food washes). You can read my iGozen natural cleaners review or go straight to the iGozen website to purchase some!
A lot of people are concerned about getting sick and trying to stay healthy during the colder months (and during the warmer ones too!) Why not help fight the bacteria and infections in one of your most-personal products: their toothbrush! Violife offers toothbrush sanitizers, and no matter the household or the preference, they sell something that works. If you have a full family, you may want to look into their Countertop products that can sanitize up to 4 toothbrushes at once. For those who are always on-the-go, they offer Travel Toothbrush Sanitizers. For those who love fun, Violife offers cute “Zapi” single-toothbrush sanitizers that are available in fun colors and fun animal designs. You can read my Violife Toothbrush Sanitizer review or go straight to the Violife website to buy this fantastic household item!
Do you know what is in some of those lipbalms you see at the store? It’s nothing completely organic! Considering that lip balm absorbs through the skin AND gets ingested, it’s vital that you make healthier choices when choosing a lip balm. Why not have lip balm that you can fully customize? From My Eco Lips, along with getting to choose the flavors of the balm, you can choose the bases of the balm, the extra ingredients, the container, the label, and more! The balms are USDA organic, Gluten-Free, GMO-Free, Cruelty-free, and more! And if you think you would much more prefer a standard balm, you can purchase standard lip balms from Eco Lips as well! You can read my My Eco Lips Review (hint: I love it!), or you can go straight to My Eco Lips to start customizing!
HELP! I Want to Make Better Food Choices!
Potato chips are downright delicious, but for someone who is watching their health or their ingredients, it can be hard to find a good-for-you potato chip. Why not enjoy your newfound, delicious freedom with the Way Better Snacks? Each one of the chips features sprouted ingredients which increase anti-oxidants, increase vitamins, increase digestability, increase nutrient absorption, and more! The Way Better Snacks contain all-natural, non-GMO ingredients that have no fillers or preservatives. Their Tortilla Chips taste JUST like regular tortilla chips, and although they aren’t colored the same, they’re just as delicious. Try out the Way Better Snacks with your friends and family and use them as a regular snack to make healthier food choices. You can find out where to purchase the Way Better Snacks or read my Way Better Snacks Tortilla Chips review.
Tea can be an insanely healthy thing to drink. Along with being mostly water, some teas have zero calories, and green teas are supposed to provide a lot of weight loss and health benefits. However, making tea on the go can be difficult unless you look into the Libre Tea glasses. To allow for simple drinking of tea-drinking on-the-go, the Libre Tea glasses allow for simple steeping of tea anytime and any place! They are made from heath-conscious glass with a durable poly exterior, and they come in multiple sizes to fit anyone’s drinking preferences. They look so amazing and stylish, and they feature a stainless steel filter that keeps the tea leaves away from the mouth that’s also easy to remove for simple and effortless cleaning. You can go straight for the Libre Tea glasses or you can read my Libre Tea review.
If you’re watching what you eat, you might consider getting the gift of The Good Bean. A natural snacks company, The Good Bean makes all-natural roasted chickpeas snacks and No Nut Bars! All of the ingredients are non-GMO and are fair trade and are minimally processed. For anyone that’s watching the foods they eat, The Good Bean offers new foods that you can introduce your recipient to. The Good Bean Chickpea snacks are offered in Sea Salt, Smoky Chili & Lime, Cracked Pepper, and Sweet Cinnamon flavors while their No Nut bars are offered in Apricot Coconut, Fruit & Seeds Trail Mix, and Chocolate Berry. You can read my The Good Bean review or go straight to the The Good Bean website to purchase these healthy snacks.
HELP! I Want to Live More Consciously!
It can take a lot of time to live consciously and in-the-moment. But you also want to be able to reflect on your amazing experiences later down the road. That’s why a gift from Journals Unlimited can be so fantastic. Featuring a ton of different “Write it Down!” journals, your recipient can easily write down and memorialize lots of things in their life. Journals Unlimited includes journals such as My Road Trip Adventures, Bird Watching, the Birthday Journal, the Boating Journal, Books I’ve Read, The Campers Journal, The Christmas Journal, the Daily Devotions Journal, a Dream journal, a Movie Lovers Journal, the Gardeners Journal, the Geocaching Journal, and many, many more. You can read my Journals Unlimited My Health Medical Journal review or go straight to the Journals Unlimited website to pick up your gift.
If you’re trying to improve your mental health, did you know that keeping a regular journal can help you? It helps you sort out your thoughts as well as keep a running count of what’s going on in your life. With the Time Concept Rough Stationary Notebooks, you’ll have the gift of a unique diary notebook that is fully unique to go with their unique personality. Available in multiple varieties including a diary version, a music note version, a note version, and a novel note version. You can read my Rough Stationary Notebook review or go straight to the Time Concept website to learn more about the notebooks.
I know I’ve continually recommended it every year, and I’ll do it again this year – if someone is concerned about getting good sleep or being healthier, the SOUND + SLEEP Machine is absolutely perfect. A good night’s sleep is associated with weight loss, better mental health, better lifestyle choices, and more. It plays background noise that isn’t repetitive, and it helps people get to sleep at night. You can choose from a ton of options like “Rainfall”, “City”, “Train”, “White Noise”, or more. Plus, to save on their electricity, the SOUND + SLEEP features an auto shut-off timer. Plus, I recently had an issue with mine (I mean, it is over 2 years old and gets nightly use!), and after calling the help number, a replacement part that I need is already in the mail. You can read my SOUND + SLEEP review or just go straight to buying one on the SOUND + SLEEP website.
Available in a stunning pink or a muted green, the Bed of Nails is exactly what it sounds like – a bed of nails that are especially designed not to pierce the surface of the skin. Based upon the idea of acupuncture, the nails help release endorphins and oxytocin – both of which make the body feel good. Used regularly, the Bed of Nails can help alleviate stress, headaches, tiredness, insomnia, tension, back pain, and more. It can be used while doing everyday activities, or for full effects, it can be used during meditation as well. You can go straight to read my Bed of Nails review or purchase the Bed of Nails right off of the website. The Bed of Nails can also be purchased on Amazon and I’ve seen it at Bed, Bath, and Beyond as well.
Love the idea of the previously-mentioned SOUND+SLEEP machine but think that you travel too much to really use it that often? That’s where the SOUND+SLEEP nomad comes in. Much smaller in size, the nomad was designed to easily go wherever you need to go – while still providing the same great night’s sleep that the full-sized sleep therapy system provides. The nomad uses use more flexible power options (such as batteries) for easier traveling, and it includes an audio-in port so you can use the SOUND+SLEEP nomad as a speaker while traveling. You can read my SOUND+SLEEP nomad review or go straight to the SOUND+SLEEP site to purchase a nomad sleep system yourself.
Did you know that meditation can really help center a person? In fact, many people rely on meditation as their singular way to achieve relaxation and peace throughout our stressful society. Zen 180 has taken that one step further by providing meditation audio tracks that dramatically increases mental abilities, creativity, happiness, learning ability, focus, and concentration. Using a proprietary blend of holistic tones and binaural beats, Zen180 helps the listener experience 5 common brain wave patterns that, depending on the pattern, will specifically increase an aspect of the listener’s life: such as relaxation, creativity, focus, concentration, or kindness. If this is something you’d interested in, Zen180 offers a free 5-day, 5-minute trial. Zen180 is available in digital formats as well as physical collections. You can read my Zen180 review or go straight to the Zen180 website to order your own copy.