5 Ways to Detox Without Ditching Food


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The never-ending “detox” talk throughout the month of the January can be a bit much. I mean, I get it—everyone wants to lose the five pounds they gained during the month-long booze-cruise better known as The Holidays. I’m with you on that one. And I’m totally on board with a nutritional detox after weeks of consuming mostly vodka and sugar cookies. But shouldn’t we also be talking about cleansing a few other areas of our lives? I mean, who else has been living on a hearty diet of Netflix and On Demand for the past two weeks? I can’t be the only one.

There are enough juice-cleanses out there to last you until next century. So instead of adding to that very long list, we’ve thought of a few lifestyle cleanses to help you start the new year off right. Read up, choose one (or a few), and hop on the detox bandwagon without sacrificing your morning muffin. (Although, you probably should ditch the morning muffin because, really, it’s just cake.)

Turn off your TV

And Netflix, Hulu and YouTube. We all know that sitting is killing us, and it’s hard to do much else besides lounge around when you’re totally engrossed in a Law and Order: SVU marathon. Believe me, I’ve been there. So before you morph into a full-blown couch potato, turn off the TV. Start with a TV-free week and see what happens. Imagine all the things you’ll accomplish without E! True Hollywood Story: Beyonce calling your name!

De-clutter your home

When I was younger, I was the messiest human being alive. The “floor” of my room was like a seven-layer dip: empty water bottles hidden under dirty clothes topped off with old magazines … you get the point. One day, my cousin said to me, “No wonder you can never get any work done! How could you possibly focus with all of this stuff everywhere?” Cue: dramatic eye-roll from my obnoxious teenage self. But after he’d left, I did a serious cleaning and ever since that day I have been a total neat-freak. Because, he was right: A tidy space allows for a clear mind. So, get rid of all that junk mail you’ve been hoarding and donate all the clothes you haven’t worn since last New Year’s. Believe me, once you get started, you won’t be able to stop. And come spring, you’ll barely have anything left to clean!

Go chemical-free

Most of us don’t have a clue what’s in any of the cleaning or beauty products we use on a regular basis. And that’s kind of scary. So why not make a change? Try detoxing your home by swapping out super-chemical-heavy products for chemical-free options. If you’re feeling really ambitious, you could even try making your own beauty products or cleaners by going the DIY route.

Ditch social media

Social media can be great. I mean, who doesn’t want to look at Instagram food porn all day? But, therein lies the problem, my friends: Social media is a serious time-suck. Not to mention, studies show that staring at photos of your friends’ amazing vacations and delicious meals from the confines of your cubicle can be seriously depressing. So, if you don’t absolutely need to use social media (And, no. You don’t need to know what Kim Kardashian ate for lunch.), why not take a break? You might find yourself actually enjoying your next sandwich, rather than stressing about whether it looks more delicious in the Amaro or Toaster filter.

Swap out your car for your bike

Okay, okay, given the current weather forecast, trading in your heated morning commute for a windy bike ride might sound a bit nuts. But hear me out. You don’t have to ditch your car every single day, but consider making a conscious decision to opt for the healthier option when you can: Bike to the grocery store instead of driving, for example. Consider this a “cleanse-when-you-can” option. Once spring comes around, who knows? You might decide to ditch the car for good!