4 Common Creativity-Killers + How to Avoid Them

Vegan Avocado Bars

If you are craving brownies on a raw food diet, these creamy avocado-cacao bars are sure to help you get your fix. (via Brit + Co)

Raw Vegan Coconut Cheesecake Bites

These coconut cheesecake bites are decadent, so you can portion control with these little bites. (via Brit + Co)

Raw Vegan Blue Majik Nice Cream Bowls

For a raw take on ice cream, blend frozen bananas with Blue Majik powder (a nutrient dense powder derived from spirulina). Your taste buds will be in for a vibrant surprise. (via Brit + Co.)

Two-Ingredient Banana Nice Cream

For those days when you’re desperate for dessert but don’t have the patience to make something elaborate, whip up a helping of two-ingredient vegan banana ice cream. (via Brit + Co)

Raw Beet Ravioli With Vegan Cashew Cheese

These look like they belong out of a Michelin-starred restaurant, but the trick to homemade, raw beet ravioli is simpler than you think. (via Pickles & Honey)

Creamy Cucumber Gazpacho

Creamy soups aren’t out of the raw equation, as demonstrated by this recipe. Don’t toast the pine nuts in the topping to keep this recipe 100% raw. (via Full of Plants)

Raw, Vegan Caprese Salad

Learn how to make raw cashew-based mozzarella for a simple, diet-compliant Caprese salad. (via Green Evi)

Spicy Thai Salad

We’re used to salad, but this creamy avocado-herb dressing is a revelation. (via The Full Helping)

Raw Zucchini Roll-Ups

Though these green snacks can be consumed solo, they make one righteous party app. (via Green Evi)

Easy Recipe for Raw Vegan Carrot Cake

You’ll start making up reasons to celebrate after your first bit of raw vegan carrot cake. Top it with a layer of fluffy vegan cream cheese frosting. (via Minimalist Baker)

Spicy Strawberry Mango Salsa

You'll find a bit of culinary magic, where spicy meets sweet. (via The Edgy Veg)

Raw Vegan Banana Pecan Paletas

If you’re craving something cold and creamy, you can sate your sweet tooth with one of these three-ingredient banana pecan paletas. They’re refined-sugar-free and receive sweetness from the bananas themselves. (via Dora's Table)

Lasagna Raw Vegan Meal

On the savory side, raw vegan food doesn’t just mean salads. Lasagna made with ribbons of zucchini instead of noodles and filled with a variety of sauces is just as worthy of adoration as the traditional baked version. (via Green Evi)

Carrot and Zucchini Pasta with Avocado-Cucumber Sauce

The recipe name says it all. Make this when you need pasta, stat. (via Downshiftology)

Raw Key Lime Pie

This won’t taste much different from the original version. The creamy coconut-avocado filling is an utter delight. (via Hello Veggie)

Vegan Broccoli Salad

Don't sacrifice any flavor when eating raw vegan foods. This recipe makes sure to infuse tons of fun, savory tastes! (via Crowded Kitchen)

“Raw”maine Taco Boats

Taco Tuesdays won’t be a thing of the past. Eat the colors of the rainbow with these assembled beauties. (via Minimalist Baker)

Raw Vegan Fruit Cake

Think of this raw vegan fruit cake as the most loaded-with-goodness granola bar ever. A mix of dried fruits and nuts give it an irresistibly crunchy, chew texture, with a sweet flavor that’s like a celebration on your tongue. (via A Virtual Vegan)

Creamy Beet Detox Soup

Avocado is the secret ingredient to make this soup silky. (via Hello Glow)

Vegan "Crab" Melts

Hearts of palm take the place of crab in this raw vegan recipe that's perfect for lunch or brunch. (via This Wife Cooks)

Black Bottom Raw Cheesecake

When your need for chocolate becomes unbearable, try your hand at a silky raw, vegan cheesecake with a decadent chocolate crust. (via Connoisseurus Veg)

Fresh Summer Salad with Arugula, Corn, + Spicy Cashew Dressing

Happily crunch away on this delicious raw vegan salad recipe! Finishing it off with the spicy dressing is supreme. (via The First Mess)

Raw Vegan Pad Thai Recipe

This lovely dish can be meal-prepped in mason jars so you can keep up with your raw diet even on busy weekdays. (via Fit Living Eats)

Raw Pecan Sandies

Yep, you can even have cookies. It’s as easy as adding the ingredients to the food processor, rolling the mixture into balls, and topping with pecan halves. (via The Full Helping)

Raw Southwest Zoodle Bowl

Come for the colors, stay for the flavorful nutrients. (via Chef Bai)

Spiralized Raw Beet Salad with Blood Oranges

Beets and blood oranges combine for a salad that let’s you get your sweet fix healthfully. (via Salt & Lavender)

Raw Mexican Hot Chocolate Truffles

Decadent and rich Mexican hot chocolate truffles will ensure you don’t reach for sugar-laden bonbons instead. (via Hummusapien)

Raw Avocado Pesto Zucchini Noodles

Pesto zoodles make a quick meal when hanger strikes. Thank goodness for that. (via Simply Quinoa)

Go To Bed Earlier

It sounds obvious, but going to bed earlier can have serious implications on your energy levels in the morning. I used to go to bed around 10 p.m., but due to my insomnia, it would often be 12 or 1 a.m. before I actually fell asleep, all before waking up at 6. Do the math on how many hours of sleep that is per night! (Hint: Not enough.)

In addition to implementing some good nighttime routine practices (we'll get there in a moment), I decided that due to my long window between going to bed and falling asleep, I should really be hitting the hay around 9 p.m. Even if you don't suffer from insomnia, it may be that you need more sleep than the average person. Studies have found that some people simply need more sleep than others.

Sleep In Darkness and Silence

Another thing that really helps a lot of people is tweaking your sleeping environment so you can sleep in complete darkness and silence. Blackout curtains are a must if you live on a street that stays lit into the night, and it goes without saying that small lights from phone chargers or electronics should be moved into other rooms.

Getting total silence is another story. Many of us don't have the option, but if you have a finished basement in your home, it might be worth moving your bedroom downstairs so you can sleep in an area protected from noise pollution. If not, a white noise machine can help cover up loud or sudden noises so your sleep isn't disturbed at night.

In addition to curating the perfect environment for sleep, making your ideal bedding situation as cozy as possible will really help you relax. Get ready to crawl into your most comfortable nest, hot tea in hand.

Consider Your Lifestyle And Chronotype

Considering your lifestyle as well as your body's natural preferences can be crucial for setting a healthy sleep-wake schedule. If you work out after work, for example, you may want to set a later bedtime and later wake time, because exercise can trigger energy-boosting hormones that make it harder to fall asleep for about 90 minutes after activity. Do you work early in the morning? Adjust your bedtime accordingly.

One important factor in your ideal sleep-wake schedule is your chronotype. A chronotype is essentially an MBTI type for your sleep patterns; there are four basic chronotypes, and each has a different biological preference when it comes to sleep.

• Lion: These people are early birds, and they probably aren't reading this article because they're already morning people!
• Bear: Most people fall into this category. These individuals' sleep-wake preferences are generally aligned with the sun. They wake up relatively easily in the morning (provided they have good sleep hygiene) and start to tire around 8 p.m.
• Wolf: If you absolutely loathe mornings and find yourself energetic long into the night hours, you may be a wolf chronotype. These people are classic night owls.
• Dolphin: This is my personal chronotype. Dolphins are anxious sleepers, often remaining awake long after getting into bed, and sleeping lightly throughout the night.

Wake Up With What You Need

Now let's get to the fun part: Creating your actual routine. Half of becoming a morning person is, naturally, your morning routine. Give yourself a head start by waking up with whatever you need right next to you (or at least prepped nearby). Here are some examples:

• If your plan is to work out in the morning, have your gym clothes folded on your nightstand.
• Before going to bed at night, heat some water and pour it into a Hydro Flask, along with a few drops of lemon. Place it on your nightstand... it'll still be warm when you wake, making the healthy habit of drinking a morning lemon water incredibly easy.
• Get a coffee maker with a timer so your coffee is already brewed when you wake up.
• Wintertime chills got you cuddling in bed long after you should've gotten up? Keep your robe and slippers right next to your bed so they're ready to slip on as soon as you wake.

Create A Routine You Actually Like

This tip is super simple: Don't overcomplicate your mornings! People on social media tend to have aspirational morning routine ideas, but if journaling for 20 minutes isn't your idea of a good time, don't do it. Here are some easy and enjoyable activities you might want to add to your morning routine:

• Eat a delicious breakfast (and it doesn't have to be a complex one! Nostalgic breakfast cereals are totally OK).
• Read your favorite magazine or website.
• Pull a tarot card.
• Light a scented candleor some incense.
• Listen to music.
• Have fun playing with makeup and creating your look for the day.
• Cuddle with your pet (just don't do it in bed, or you might never want to get up!).

Try Light Therapy

Another way to help yourself wake up in the morning, especially if you're really struggling, is to try light therapy. The New York Times described just how big a role light plays in our circadian rhythms. If you're trying to reprogram your own sleep-wake cycle, using a light therapy machine when you wake up can help communicate to your body that it's time to be awake. If you live in a climate where it's appropriate, natural light works too:

Stay Consistent On Weekends

Finally, don't let all the hard work you do throughout the week go to waste when the weekend comes along. The Monday through Friday, 9-to-5 schedule, while still not totally ubiquitous, is a fairly recent invention and doesn't mirror the cycles our bodies were designed for. Your body doesn't recognize Saturday as any different from Monday!

So while it can be tempting to let yourself sleep in on the weekends, keep up your new routine every day. Over time, it will grow to be so natural that you simply wake up around the same time each day, without even having to try.

Unique Baby Names for Girls 

• Aria — All we can think about is, "Here comes Queen Aria," whenever we see this name. Similar to Arielle's name from The Little Mermaid, Aria is synonymous with something melodic.
  
• Iris — Just like the iris of your eye, this name means your daughter will more than likely have a bright and colorful personality!
• Maia — Instead of the traditional spelling of Mya, this name has Latin roots and means "great."
• Ayla — Your daughter will have sturdy characteristics thanks to her Hebrew name!
• Asha — Let your little girl's name remind you that there's much to be hopeful about.
• Naomi — Take a cue from famed model Naomi Campbell and let your daughter's name introduce her beauty to the world.

Gender-Neutral Unique Baby Names

• Campbell — This Scottish name means "beautiful field" so we're sure it means your son's being will be full of beautiful traits and perspectives .
• Reese — There's a reason why Reese Witherspoon has such a enthralling personality. Her name means "passion" and "enthusiasm."
• Greer — We can hear Beyoncé's song "Protector" playing when we say this name because it means "guardian."
• Lennon — There's a reason the world was so drawn to John Lennon's name. Lennon means "dear one" and we know that's how you'll feel about your newborn!
• Sterling — "Twinkle, Twinkle little star" has nothing on the name Sterling. On second thought, it could serve as your baby's unofficial theme song.

Unique Baby Names For Your Son

• Lennox — Trade the 'n' in Lennon for an X to get this Scottish name. It rolls off the tongue, making it easier for others to pronounce.
• Adler — Your little eagle is sure to soar high under your watchful eye.
• Rowan — Have a cute baby that was born with a head full of red hair? Name him Rowan which means "little Red one." While you're at it, check out these lucky Irish baby names for more ideas!
• Banks — If you feel drawn to water during your pregnancy, there's a good chance there's a reason why. Banks translates to "edge of the river."
• Rigg —Whether you choose this as your baby's first or middle name, it'll be easy for others to remember it!