Feels Like Groundhog Day

That week between Christmas and New Years...it feels like the same day over and over again.  Some people are at work or working from home or still entertaining or still trying to keep the kids who are home from school occupied or looking forward to more seasonal joy or trying to get past a little too many seasonal joys.  It's not yet time to turn the page, but it is getting closer.

To me, it feels like nothing too serious can happen right now because we are "in between."  It is precisely at this time, when we can look back on what we've learned and look forward to what might benefit us in the future.  Sometimes those life lessons came our way painfully.  Other times, those life lessons were happy reminders of what we already know.  This is an ideal time to take stock.  Why not spend some moments thinking about this past year and what you experienced?   Why not spend some time writing down the life lessons (good, bad, indifferent) and give yourself a chance to notice what came of those events?  How did they change you?  What do you know now?  Why not think about some new experiences you'd like to have in 2016.

Good health is not a resolution or a yearly goal.  Good health is a lifelong pursuit that comes in many ways.  It can change from day to day.  At the least, it is something that we intentionally cultivate throughout our long, fulfilling lives.  For example, good health can mean getting quality sleep, drinking more water, managing sugar and saturated fats like never before, taking time for personal fulfillment, engaging in fitness for its own sake, learning a new hobby or just walking the dog.  Good health can mean balance, and hopefully balance brings a sense of calm control over what you can manage and a sense of calm acceptance over things that are not yours to manage.  

Self improvement can come from unlikely sources.  Give yourself a chance to see what you might benefit from in 2016.  Thoughtfully consider your options and let the sky be the limit.  Now is the time.

Tis the Season...

Here we are in last weeks of December--heading straight into the New Year.  It's the time of year when treats, gifts, socializing, entertaining and stress come to the forefront.  It's supposed to be a fun time, but with all that has to get done, we often lose sight of the ho ho ho.

Now is the time to be realistic.  What can you do with gifts, wrapping, entertaining, cooking?  What will you do?  Is there anything that you can cut back on and take an assist from the store?  Let them do the work.  That's why they are there.  Gift cards may seem like a let-down gift, but if you can't find the right gift, the card is an excellent choice, and you can always put it in a bigger box and disguise it for fun.

Let's get real about the eating too.  What is likely to happen this time of year?  Where are the big meals, appetizers, desserts and drinks coming from?  When will they be showing up?  What is a "must have" and what is an "ok" thing to pass up?  Decide ahead of time if possible, and then carry out your plan. Otherwise, when you get to the gathering, assess the entire situation and make smart choices then and there.  Drinking lots of water, not going places hungry, standing far from the food, getting busy chatting and catching up are all ways to make the eating less stressful and the good times more enjoyable.

This is not the time to give up on some quiet, peace and calm and even fitness.  A little bit of away time, normalcy, can keep the healthy routines alive and keep you on better track.  You will feel better when you rest, take breaks, get exercise, and enjoy your special hobbies.  Again, this fulfillment piece has the capacity to refuel your tank so that the food doesn't have to jump up and eat you like a gingerbread man.

No one is going to be perfect over the holidays. We are human, and we all have the capacity to make choices we might regret.  However, we can always do better when we know better.  We can always make a smarter choice the next time.  We can always keep moving.  Your health does not take a vacation.  Your piece of mind does not take a vacation.  Your desire to be a fulfilled person does not take a vacation.

I asked my yoga students this week if they had one gift, that cannot be bought, that cannot be wrapped, to give to themselves--what would that gift be?  I ask you too.

Merry Christmas and Seasons Greetings.

Time for a Fresh Start in Three Ways

On the path to self improvement, there are many twists and turns.  When we know more about how to be healthy, fit and fulfilled, we do more to achieve all three.  Interestingly enough, they all go together to create health, wellness and positivity. 

Healthy eating is critical to healthy weight loss and healthy living.  Food is fuel for the body. Pleasure too.  We can't forget that, but too many high fat, high sugar foods will make us feel sluggish, tired and zapped of energy to say nothing of potential weight gain.  Eighty percent of weight loss comes from eating healthfully.  

Fitness is also a major piece of the healthy living puzzle.  Finding ways to turn downtime into up time by moving more is a great way to go.  Taking longer walks to the restroom, parking further from the door, checking out the fitbreak app on weightwatchers.com can give you great ideas for anytime and anywhere.  Making time for fitness is so important to counteract the sedentary lifestyle that technology creates.  Exercise is the best source for stress reduction.  Meditation is the second best source.  We can do both.  In fact, I teach both in my yoga classes.

Finally, fulfillment...ah yes...what have you done for yourself lately?  What do you do on a regular basis that makes you feel good about who you are?  Hobbies, fitness, social time, crafts, projects, bubble baths, recess at work, massage, napping, listening to music...these are all ways to recharge the battery and feel better about life.  If you give all your attention and energy away to others, the battery runs down, and the resentment builds.  At times like that, it seems so easy to turn to food to cope. It doesn't help though.  It actually adds more frustration and stress.  

The better we feel, the better we do.  This means shining a spotlight on all three things: health, fitness and fulfillment.  Like I said, what have you done for yourself lately?  You can always start now.  You might even consider it the best holiday gift of all--the gift of time, that you give yourself, to take good care of you.  After all, you are worth it. 

  

Adult Recess, Dr. Karen Says: "Take Two a Day"

We all need a brain break and a physical break.  When we were kids in school, our teachers made us take recess to release tension, burn off excess energy and recover focus.  As adults, we are no different.  We still need to take mini breaks throughout the day to promote our health and wellbeing. By doing so, we recharge the battery, feel more in control of our life and actually become more productive.  Despite how counterintuitive that may seem, the research is clear.  This works.

One great way to take a brain break and a recess break is to take a short walk away from your work and without a phone, with the express purpose of doing what you like for ten minutes or so.  This doesn't include quick errands to avoid them later.  This might be a walk with a friend, maybe going outside to get some brisk sunshine.  Other non-active breaks work too, as long as you are doing something you really like just because you like it and as long as it is away from work.

Another point to consider is that the most beneficial time to take this ME BREAK is actually mid-morning.  Most of us might not think we need a break that soon, but the research shows that is the break that seems to set the day on a positive trajectory and the break that seems to diminish the likelihood of a mid-afternoon slump.  Counterintuitive again.

Keeping this in mind, especially during the busy, stressful and unpredictable month of December, we need to consider the facts and give ourselves the much needed breaks we deserve.  We might find ourselves happier, healthier, more mindful, more intentional and even more productive.  A win for all.

I recommend trying this for a week.  Make yourself do it.  See what you notice.  See how you feel. See how things go in the afternoon.  This is your one life, and you deserve a great one, taking it one break at a time.