About Tracey Edmonds

Tracey Edmonds is a mother of two, television/film producer, and health/wellness advocate who seeks to empower others with a combination of pertinent, enlightening, and inspirational information. She practices yoga, daily meditation and believes in self-cultivating wellness at every level: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Tracey is the editor of Alrightnow.com and can be contacted at [email protected]

8 Healthy Alternatives to Morning Coffee

For many people morning coffee is a godsend.  It boosts us for everyday business, lifts us when we’re sluggish, and jumpstarts our day. Some of us drink cup after cup after years of relying on it. Not only are we consuming all that cream and sugar, but we’ve also become both dependent on and desensitized to caffeine. This is a vicious cycle! And it’s one that I hope to help you break. Caffeine is habit-forming, which means that we train ourselves to want it more than we need it. In excess, it can also increase stress and blood pressure, cause headaches and restlessness, and even lead to sleep issues. Many of these alternatives still contain caffeine, since we need to stay busy working or taking care of the kids and we still need that boost. However, these 8 healthy alternatives to morning coffee come with other benefits. Some may even help you kick caffeine altogether.   1.   Matcha Tea             I’m going to start with a few types of tea as the easiest replacements for morning coffee since you can brew a cup of tea about as easily and still get your caffeine fix. Matcha green tea differs from other green teas since you use the whole leaf to make it, meaning you get even more antioxidants. Like other green teas, matcha can help you lower your blood pressure and lose weight too. Buy matcha powder or whole leaves to brew it. Just remember that the caffeine content is higher than normal green tea, so it shouldn’t take much to get your day started.   2.   Yerba Mate             Yerba Mate comes from a type of South American holly which is then harvested and dried into this herbal tea. It contains natural caffeine, so you don’t have to give up your energy boost if you don’t want to. But unlike coffee, yerba mate is packed with antioxidants, as well as minerals like thiamine, phosphorus, riboflavin, and Vitamin C.   3.   Chai Tea             Chai tea is a spicy black tea with a strong herbal taste. It contains less caffeine than coffee but also contains other properties that help you stay alert. Like many teas, it also contains antioxidants. Common ingredients in chai tea include peppercorns, cardamom seeds, ginger, and cinnamon.   4.   Turmeric Milk             Getting beyond teas, turmeric milk (also called “golden milk”) packs an anti-inflammatory punch that makes it a great substitute for morning coffee. This is due to a natural chemical in turmeric called curcumin. Add black pepper to your drink to increase absorption. For an added boost of flavorful benefits, also consider using ginger, cinnamon, and honey. Just remember that the drink is only as good as the quality of your turmeric. Buy organic powder that prominently displays a full dose of curcumin.   5.   Morning Smoothie         [...]

2022-12-09T13:04:58-08:00By |

7 Tips on How to Be A Successful and Happy Single Parent

Let’s face it. Single parenting is no easy task. You are faced with a constant need to balance your work life, personal life, and budget even with the tremendous job of parenting. You are also entirely responsible for tending to the emotional, physical and developmental needs of your kids. Being a single parent to two sons, I have been asked, over the years, how I have managed to remain happy and energetic while juggling my career, kids and other responsibilities. The truth is that I have always felt empowered by being a single mom and have gained strength in my singleness and the freedom that comes with it. Although single parenting may seem demanding, exhausting and challenging, it can be very fulfilling and rewarding. My sons are older now, but here are some tools that I learned along the way to help keep you happy and fulfilled as you navigate single parenthood.   Don’t feel guilty             First of all, learn to “give yourself a break.” It’s easy to feel guilty about working too much (or too little), not having enough money, or even your child’s success. However, dwelling on this guilt will not help improve the situation. It will only paralyze you and suck the energy right out of you. So, stop putting yourself under pressure to get everything right. Don’t beat yourself up for making mistakes or blame yourself for everything that goes wrong with your kid. All you can do is your best.   Create a schedule or routine             Create routines and stick to them. Start by scheduling things set for a specific time so your kid(s) know what to expect. Create consistency with scheduling wake-up time, bedtime, mealtime, sports practice and games, appointment, and special family time. Not only do routines create stability, but they also ensure less falls through the cracks.   Make time for self-care             Never overlook your self-care; it isn’t selfish. Creating “me time” for yourself is as equally important as having time for your child. I understand you want to sacrifice your needs and immerse yourself in your kids, but it can get overwhelming. When you feel overwhelmed, take a step back, take care of yourself, and when you feel all relaxed and rejuvenated to continue, pick up from where you left off. Some self-care practices you can engage in include: -watching a favorite movie -taking time to exercise -keeping in touch with friends -getting enough rest -getting that mani/pedi in so you can keep yourself looking good These things help you remind yourself that you and your needs are important too and make you a better parent.   Set goals and prioritize             What would you like to do? Learn to paint, get fit, go back to school or start a new relationship?  Take out time to write your goals. This exercise gave me [...]

2021-05-04T19:24:52-07:00By |