Rachael Adams On Maintaining A Positive Mindset

She’s part of the USA volleyball team and has won a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games to sit next to the gold medal from the 2014 World Championships; yet in between training and travelling Rachael Adams still finds the time to spread positive vibes. If you follow @JourneyStrength you’ll know what we’re talking about (if you don’t you should). She also takes her Sunday wind down routine very seriously, from journalling to face rolling…

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On Slowing Down…

I can’t emphasise enough how much I love Sundays. Even though Monday is right around the corner, there is something so magical, sacred, and relaxing about Sundays. As a professional Olympic athlete, Sundays are time for me to move slow and set my mind, body and soul up for the physically and mentally demanding week ahead.

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On Going Dairy-Free…

Back in 2014 when I was playing professional volleyball in Italy, I decided to take the plunge and go dairy-free. I was 24 years old at the time and suffering from acne and heavy inflammation, despite trying literally everything up until that point to ease it. After researching “natural ways of curing acne” I learned about the effect that diet has on our skin, so I eliminated dairy and boom, after a month my skin was 80% clear.

On The Self-Care Mindset…

This quote by Sarah Brassard really leads the way for my self-care mindset throughout a busy week and carries into my Sundays: ‘You owe yourself one hour a day of self-maintenance. It can include reading, writing, yoga, exercise, dancing, meditation, painting, or whatever, but you owe it to yourself. One hour, 1/24 of your day. That is less than 5%. It matters, it really does’. 

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On Air-Drying Curls…

With tight coily curls, washing my hair on Sunday afternoons rather than evenings gives me plenty of time to tackle all of the detangling and leave plenty of time for it to air dry. I use Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask to help melt away some of those tangles, which makes the process much easier.

On Easing Acne Marks…

My skin is now clear, but I do have a few scars that acne and popping pimples left behind. I always wear Dr Dennis Gross Dark Spot Sun Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen, so these marks don’t get darker. I also use Allies of Skin Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum in the evening to help tackle my scarring.

On Using Fancy Oils And Rollers…

I’m really into using oils in my skin care routine (I feel fancy when using oils) and right now my go to is the Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel, which is actually a gel that turns to oil. If you are still hesitant about using oil on your skin I say give it a try because you won’t regret it. I slather on Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum and follow up with Omorovicza Rejuvenating Night Cream. Not forgetting Herbivore’s Rose Quartz Facial Roller, which features heavily in my routine – my best tip is to let the roller sit in the fridge to get cold before using it.

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On Taking ‘Dragon Lady’ Hot Showers…

I’m a shower girl and my fiancé calls me the dragon queen because I keep all water and eat all food at an extremely hot temperature. Before my “dragon lady” hot showers I massage myself with warm Mauli Surrender Body Oil because I’m a big believer in Ayurveda (I’m Vata) and the practice of Ayurveda self massage “Abhyanga”. The benefits include increasing circulation, lubricating joins, calming the nerves, and aiding in detoxification. This is my time to really thank my body for all the hard work it does during the week.

On Screen-Free Bedtimes…

Even though phones, tables, and computers may get the best of me in the evening, I am strict about not having TV’s in the bedroom. It really kills the whole relaxation feeling that I worked for and doesn’t get me on the right track for a restful sleep. 

On Getting A Solid Eight Hours Of Sleep…

Hopping into clean sheets with a clean body and fresh skin is one of the best feelings. Cotton pillowcases tend to dry out my hair, so I take my Slip Silk Pillowcase everywhere I go and spritz  it with Votary Pillow Spray Lavender and Chamomile just before I climb into bed. The smell of lavender is my cue for bedtime so that’s another essential I take when I’m travelling. I am a diva sleeper so a weighted blanket, cold room, and an eye mask to block out any sign of light is essential for me and good sleep. I need between eight and nine hours of sleep each night in order to wake up the next day and be a solid human that can successfully function and interact in the world.

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On Setting Two Alarms…

I always set two alarms. The first one is to wake me up and the second one, which goes off 10 minutes later is to get me out of bed. What I do during those 10 minutes always changes, but it is 100% phone free. It can be anything from meditating and taking deep breaths to journalling and stretching, or even falling back to sleep.

On Checking-In With Yourself…

I like starting my by checking in with myself in the morning. Before I check my phone, before I get out of bed, and before my mind tries to start bogging me down with things I “should be doing” with my day, I check in with my body and ask it what it needs in that moment, what it needs for that day, and stay ready to honor that. Our bodies are always trying to tell us something, whether it’s hungry, achy, tired, stiff, restless, relaxed, jittery, tense etc. And sometimes we can rush past opportunities to pause, ask, really listen, and make time for what it needs.