Back To Routine
(WITH BETTER GUT HEALTH!)
September signals the winding down of long, hot days adventuring in the outdoors, cheerful morning commutes along Highway 99, and evenings spent lounging by the lake - soaking in every last ray of sunshine each day has to offer! As the kids return to school and the temperatures start to cool, our team at Spark Kombucha are starting to feel that tingling shift of seasons.
The summer months offered more grace when it came to our usual habits to squeeze in lake days, weekend farmer’s markets, and extra kombucha production days. This had our team thinking about the ways we can incorporate our summer habits into yearly routines as we move towards the new season. We're all for keeping the good times and bubbles with benefits flowing and our Fall/Winter hermit alter egos at bay, for as long as possible!
Here are some of the things we'll be incorporating into our routines moving into a new school year and new season:
Morning Routines
1. Waking up at the crack of dawn - definitely easiler done when it's a bluebird at 6am… But getting more done with our mornings feels great, whether it's a brisk walk around the block to wake up our tired muscles, or a quick gym session because that's the quietest time of the day to visit! Getting our bodies moving in the mornings doesn't just have to be a summer thing, it's a great habit we'll be continuing with into fall!
2. Less is more - when it comes to coffee of course! Spark team member Kate, is down to 1 coffee a day, rather than her usual 2-3. She's added a bottle of Mint & Lime Kombucha to keep her midday concentration levels on a functional high, without the jitters or caffeine headaches!
3. Connecting with yourself first - No emails, no social scrolling, no morning news, just some quiet time set your intention for the day ahead! Spark team member Amy starts her day with gentle music (check out our Kombucha & Chill playlist on Spotify) and either a short meditation or tapping session. It doesn’t have to take long, but this reflective time first thing in the morning helps her ease into the day with peace and purpose.
Fueling Our Bodies
1. Fresh fruit and veggies - farmer's market hauls are one of our favourite things about summer! Keeping these fresh, local and seasonal foods part of our diet is a high priority moving into fall and winter. Local Grocery Stores like Nesters, Kitchen Quickies and of course the Farmers Markets offer the Sea to Sky locally farmed produce well into the fall and winter seasons.
2. Getting our zzzzz’s - equally as important as your morning routine is your bedtime routine. Sleep is another way we fuel our bodies and often times we’re just not getting enough rest - Amy is definitely guilty of this! But with the sun setting a little earlier each day she is finding it easier to go to bed and get 7.5 hours of sleep (her sleep sweet spot!). Turns out, this makes her morning routine that much easier too ;)
3. Daily smoothie - a smoothie a day keeps the hangry away! Whether it’s a simple breakfast or a quick snack, smoothies are our favourite summer habit to keep sipping on throughout the year. We’ve been adding seasonal flavours from the Farmer’s Markets to our smoothies this summer - check out our Tiktok for the recipes! Mixing up flavours and removing the dairy, gives every blitzed blend a fresh AND functional taste! Happy taste buds + happy guts = happy mind!
INTENTIONS & GOALS
1. 2023, we’re coming in hot. It's been a busy summer of events, sports and celebrations (after 2 years of COVID shutdowns) in the Sea to Sky. Whether watching your favourite athlete compete at Crankworx has inspired you to get back to the dirt jumps, or enjoying your favourite band perform at Constellation Festival has energized your passion for performing live, we're feeling extra-inspired to set some personal goals to work on, ready for summer 2023!
2. Less time scrolling - more time communicating. Kate was able to reconnect with friends and family around the globe this summer, reminding her of the importance of keeping in touch with life outside of the Sea to Sky. After 3 years apart (mainly due to COVID travel restrictions) restoring old friendships brought back pre-pandemic connections that felt long forgotten, and was a reminder of the importance of keeping people close, even though they're far away!
3. Stay hydrated - there’s nothing like a summer heat wave to let you know you need to drink more fluids! Amy makes sure to have her favourite water bottle handy and tracks each time she finishes it. But sometimes plain old water is boring and you can’t seem to drink any more. Amy’s trick - add some bubbles! Whether that means making some soda water at home or sipping a Spark Kombucha with lunch, bubbles always make it better!
To keep the summer-time feelings high we've extended our appearance at the Squamish Farmer’s Markets until the end of September, allowing you the chance to enjoy our local, fresh and delicious kombucha on-tap every weekend until September 24th!
We also have a very exciting line up of *new flavours* hitting the shelves in the next few weeks. These new Moringa Tea flavours embrace the healing properties of the Moringa Tree (also known as the Miracle Plant), and have been brewed with new fruity flavours, all bursting with functional properties themselves. Watch this space and Sign Up to our Newsletter for first insights on their release and where you'll be able to find them on the shelves!
As we start to wave (reluctantly) goodbye to summer, we're here to help support and encourage the healthy habits you've picked up along the way. REMINDER: There's no need to wait until next summer to get back into the groove of healthy habits or restart where you left off!