7 Small Things You Can Do To Support Your Health

It’s easy to feel a little “off” this time of year.

The rush of spring energy might be motivating—or it might be overwhelming. The days are longer, but you might still feel tired. You might be trying to eat better, get outside more, feel inspired… but something’s not clicking.

That’s normal. May is a month of transition. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, this is a time when liver energy (associated with movement, growth, and planning) is especially active. When it’s flowing well, we feel clear, motivated, and energized. When it’s stuck or overworked, we feel frustrated, unmotivated, or just… off.

Here are seven small, practical things you can do this month to gently reset and start feeling more like yourself again—no big commitments, no perfect routine required.

1. Drink warm lemon water first thing in the morning

It’s simple, but it works. A cup of warm water with lemon juice in the morning can help stimulate digestion, support the liver, and gently wake up your system.  It may also help with energy and focus.

This isn’t a detox hack or a miracle cure. It’s just a small way to give your body a little love before the coffee, emails, and noise of the day start pulling you in a hundred directions.

Not a fan of lemon water? Try fresh ginger instead. Slice a few pieces of raw ginger and steep them (covered) in warm water for 5 to 20 minutes (depending on how strong you like it). 

Like both? Combine them! Lemon and ginger make a great team—cleansing, warming, and supportive for the liver and the digestive system.

2. Step outside before 9 am

Getting outside early in the day—even just for five minutes—can do a lot for your nervous system. Morning light helps regulate your circadian rhythm, which means better sleep, more balanced hormones, and a more grounded mood.

This can be as simple as opening a window, sitting on the steps, or walking to the mailbox and back. The idea is to let your eyes adjust to the natural light before you dive into your day.

If it feels good, getting out for a longer walk can also be beneficial. Moving your body outdoors—especially in the quiet of the morning—can help settle your mind, boost circulation, and improve focus for the rest of the day.

This is especially important if you’ve been feeling disconnected, anxious, or stuck in your head.

3. Add bitter greens to at least one meal a day

Spring is the season of green—especially bitter greens. In both Traditional Chinese Medicine and nutrition, bitter flavours help improve overall digestion by stimulating the digestive system as a whole.

Arugula, dandelion, mustard greens, radicchio, parsley, and darker lettuces like romaine are all great options. They're easy to work into meals and offer gentle support for digestion and liver function.

You don’t need to do a full dietary overhaul to reap the benefits. Try adding a small handful to whatever you’re already eating. Toss them into a salad, sauté them with garlic, blend them into a smoothie, or stir them into soup. If you’re feeling curious, it can be fun to try a new green or different fresh herbs you haven’t cooked with before.

4. Try some acupressure

There’s a powerful acupressure point on the top of your foot called Liver 3 (Tai Chong). It’s located between the big toe and second toe—if you slide your finger up from the webbing between the toes, you’ll find a tender spot about an inch or so in on the top of the foot.

Gently press and massage this point for 30–60 seconds on each foot.

Liver 3 is commonly used to support the smooth flow of liver qi. It can help calm irritability, reduce stress, ease headaches, and support menstrual health. It’s a simple, effective tool you can use any time you’re feeling tense, agitated, or out of balance.

5. Do one thing slowly

The world might feel like it wants you to move fast right now — increased commitments, pressure and/or distractions. But your nervous system might be craving the opposite.

Pick one thing, making tea, brushing your teeth or walking the dog, and do it slowly. Let it take twice as long as usual, and notice what it feels like to not rush.

Creating small moments of slowness in your day can help to build nervous system resilience and peace. It’s a way of reminding your body: you’re safe, you’re okay, you don’t need to be in go-go-go mode all the time.

6. Get to bed by 10 pm

This one might be the hardest, especially with longer daylight hours. But your body doesn’t care what’s on your to-do list or what social media is serving you at 11pm—it wants rhythm and predictability.

According to Chinese Medicine, the hours between 11pm and 3am are when the liver and gallbladder do their most important work. If you’re still awake (or in a stressed-out light sleep), that internal housekeeping gets interrupted.

Getting to bed before 10pm helps your nervous system downshift and allows your body to do what it needs to do—heal, reset, and repair. You don’t have to fall asleep right away. Just let yourself start winding down. Dim the lights. Put the phone away. Let rest be the goal.  Reading, a breathing practice or meditation are great ways to rest.

If falling asleep by 10pm feels like a stretch, try starting your wind-down routine around 9 p.m. That gives your body and mind time to shift gears so sleep can come more naturally.

7. Try a calming breathing practice

Extending your exhale is a gentle, effective way to calm the nervous system. It signals to your body that it’s safe to relax—shifting you out of a stress state and into a more relaxed one.

Here’s how to do it:

• Start by inhaling for a comfortable count—3, 4, or 5—and exhaling for the same count.
  Do this for 4–5 breaths, or until it feels easy.

• Then, begin to extend the exhale by one count. For example: inhale for 3, exhale for 4.
  Repeat for 4–5 breaths, or until that feels easy too.

• Continue increasing the exhale gradually. Inhale for 3, exhale for 5. Then inhale for 3, exhale for 6.  Keep going until your exhale is about double the length of your inhale—if that feels comfortable.

Try not to force anything. The goal is a smooth, relaxed breathing that slows the body down.

Use this practice any time you feel scattered, frustrated, irritated, or anxious—or as a daily reset before bed, after work, or whenever you need to come back to center.

Bonus Tip: Start small and be kind to yourself.

Pick one or two of these practices that feel doable or interesting to you. You can always add more later, but there’s no need to take on all seven at once. Even a small shift can make a meaningful difference in how you feel this month.

Andrea