Just in time for summer, this is your guide to detox fast from what summer brings. Summers are for travel, whether it be for vacation or work – and while jet setting can be exciting, coming back and dealing with a reset can be rough. Our summers are also filled with packed social calendars – backyard BBQs, sporting events, weddings, and pool parties. If you’ve overindulged in rich foods, enjoyed a few too many cocktails, or simply thrown your sleep schedule out of whack, it’s time for a detox. But who has time to detox when you have a crazy busy work and life schedule?

The key to bouncing back is to go HARD: Hydrate, Acclimate, Restore, and Detox. Don’t be fooled by the acronym. It’s easy, simple, and will have you feeling the pep back in your step in no time.

Hydrate

The foundation of any detox regimen is proper hydration. Drinking plenty of water helps flush out toxins, support digestion, and revitalize your skin. Aim for at least 8-10 glasses of water daily. Enhance your hydration with these tips:

• Infuse Your Water: Add slices of lemon, cucumber, or mint to your water for added flavor and detoxifying benefits.
• Keep a water body handy at your desk and refill it every time you get up for any reason (and if you drink enough, it will usually be to head to the loo as the Brits say)
• Coconut Water: Rich in electrolytes, coconut water is excellent for rehydration.
• Herbal Teas: Opt for teas like dandelion root, green tea, or ginger tea to aid in digestion and detoxification.
• Fruit, not fruit juice: While juicing is really popular, the reason I am not a fan of paying $$$$ for a juice cleanse is because juicing fruit just basically shoots the sugars into your bloodstream and wipes out all of the benefits you get from the enzymes and the fiber. Eat hydrating fruit instead, like pineapple, watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, apples and oranges. You can make a gorgeous and yummy fruit salad to snack on all day long!

Adjust

Adjusting to the time difference and getting back into your routine can be challenging. Here are some tricks for acclimating smoothly:

• Gradual Adjustment: If possible, start adjusting your sleep schedule a few days before your return. Shift your bedtime and wake-up time closer to your home time zone.
• Exposure to Natural Light: Spend time outdoors in natural light to help reset your internal clock.
• Self-Care: Incorporate calming activities such as yoga, meditation, or a warm bath with Epsom salts to ease stress and promote relaxation.

Restore

Replenishing your body and mind after a vacation is crucial. Consider these restorative practices. Schedule one of them on a Friday evening so you don’t have the stress of running around the next day:

• Massage: A professional massage can relieve muscle tension, improve circulation, and promote overall relaxation.
• Cupping: This ancient therapy involves placing cups on the skin to create suction, which can help with muscle recovery, reduce inflammation, and boost blood flow.
• Acupuncture: Like massage cupping, this can help you move toxins out of your lymph nodes and reset mentally.

If you haven’t already, check out my posts on massage, cupping and acupuncture.

Detox

Rid your body of vacation-induced toxins with a comprehensive detox strategy:

• Detox Smoothie: Blend the following ingredients for a nourishing and alkalizing detox smoothie:

• Sweat It Out: Try an intense workout for your mind and body, like spinning or hot yoga. Somewhere you can just close your eyes and lose yourself while the sweat helps with toxin elimination through the skin. And do not wipe the sweat, just let it drip! You can also achieve that effect without exercise – steam rooms and saunas can help, and ideally combine all of the above!
• Supplement: Consider incorporating a supplement like Dr. Tobias Colon Detox, which can support digestive health and detoxification.
• Sleep: Sleep is important for your body to do the work of actually restoring and repairing your wild-eyed ways. Get tucked in early and skip the early gym sesh for a week or so to give yourself some more time to sleep. It will be much better for your body that way!

Pro Tip for Travelers: Plan Your Return Wisely

For an even smoother transition, plan your trip so you come back at the beginning of the weekend. This allows you ample time to recover and get back into your routine before the workweek begins.

By following the HARD formula, you’ll be able to detox effectively and return to your everyday routine feeling refreshed and ready to rock!