Congratulations. You survived Christmas weekend and all the craziness that goes along with it. Now I am sure you are starting to think about the new year to come. It is approaching fast. Well, technically it is here.
What would I like to achieve this year? Where would I like to go? How should my life be different this year? So many thoughts and ideas on what I want to achieve in 2016. Time to set a resolution. You might think that it is weird that I encourage people to make a new year’s resolution. Especially since most people fall off the horse within a couple of weeks. However, I choose to promote realistic resolutions. No starvation diet plans or unrealistic leanness goals, please. Making a new commitment is important and healthy as long as you think about it. Think about how to add this new behavior into your “real life”. Your real life can be crazy and hectic at times. Perhaps you have a kid or two to feed, clothe, and interact with, a job to manage during the day, a household to care for and maintain and maybe even some animals, too. Real life is busy and active and just about the time you want to go for a walk another life situation stops you dead in your tracks. Therefore, this new year make a resolution that fits your “real life.” Really take a moment to think about what you want to achieve or how you want to live. It does not have to be an all-or-nothing approach. Truthfully, I discourage those types of resolutions because usually you end up with nothing, not all you desired in the first place. Maybe that fitness goal needs to be a bit more flexible with where it happens or striving for one healthier meal a day instead of an entire week of healthy meals. In order to fit this resolution into your real human life you must be prepared for hurdles. It may not be easy, but if you make a realistic goal, set a plan, and continue to move forward while being flexible great things will happen in 2016. I can feel it. Happy New Year!
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This week has been a challenging one. I am not sure if it is because of the added holiday things to do on top of normal day to day activities, but my schedule seemed tighter with less time for myself. Sounds a bit like life. In one particular instance I slowed down and read a facebook post that one of my old clients wrote. Here is the post:
“A few people have asked me lately what I want for Christmas and on a walk tonight with a friend I decided what it really is that I want and need. I want and need time with the people I care about. Whether it is a walk, celebrating the Christmas season at a church service, being together at Christmas, or just meeting for coffee somewhere to chat. Just TIME... that is all. Making time to just be.... That is all I really want or need for Christmas! Sounds sappy but it is true!” This made me so incredibly happy and also sad that I have not seen this person since I moved to Libby. I do my best to stay in contact and chat with her and other friends/clients as often as I can. Even though I can not be there in person, I want to give her and others the gift of time. To let them know that I still care about her even though I moved away. I care about her life, health, and happiness. That is why I took the time. During the holidays, I tend to get caught up in things that may seem really important at the time. Are they really important? I am starting to ask myself this question now more than ever before. I want to spend the last few weeks of the holiday season by giving. Not money or gifts, but the gift of my time. Volunteering at the schools, helping an organization with a fundraiser, assisting those that need a little help no matter how big or small, and spending time with family or friends (even if it is on the phone or videochating). These small acts of caring and kindness make me feel good and I hope it makes those people feel good, too. My message to you all this week is short and sweet. I encourage you all to really think about what you want or need this holiday season and share that thought with the ones you love. Remember that even a small act of being present and caring about someone else can go a long way. Well it is official. The holiday season is here and it begins with Thanksgiving and Black Friday and moves into Cyber Monday, sending holiday cards, buying gifts, and the list goes on and on. As we move into December you may have more holiday parties and family get-togethers to attend as well. All of these extra events and tasks can add a lot of stress to your day and cause sleepless nights. How can we continue to move forward with everything we have to do and feel our best when it seems like a never-ending pile of stuff. I am not going to sugar-coat it. Life can be tough and hard to juggle at times. Let’s accept that and move forward with a plan of action. Here are some things that help me stay on task and motivated when I am feeling overwhelmed.
Sleep. It is one huge factor in how well my day is going to go. If I get my 7-8 hours I am a happy camper and my day seems to go by without any major hiccups. Even if their might be struggles, my ability to manage the stress and chaos of the day does not seem to overwhelm. I deal with it and move on. On days that I had 6 hours or less, watch out I may explode. OK maybe not the dramatic, but little things seem to really get to me. Even though I know they are not a big deal and life will be fine. Getting plenty of sleep at night is an important time for your body to recover from the day’s activities and reset your mind for the next day. Get those ZZZZs and you might start feeling better. Activity. When my schedule becomes crammed with things to do sometimes I forget about my workout. I get all caught up in everything else that I end up coming dead last. This is terrible. Because without me, none of these things would be completed. I prioritize my list of things to do and physical activity happens to be number one or two. I schedule it earlier in my day to complete it and get it out of the way or maybe I sign up for a class or plan a workout date with a friend. I feel so much better knowing that it is done and I can move forward and not have a lingering thought in the back of my mind. Write it down. Keeping a journal is something that I enjoy doing for many reasons, but I like to visually be able to see what needs to be done. It flows out of my head and onto paper therefore it does not float around in my head all day disrupting me. On the list I like to give each task a deadline of when it absolutely must be completed and I stick to it. I feels good to check it off once complete, too! Learning to say “no”. This is a very hard thing for me. I want to help out, contribute, and attend functions that I am invited to in order to support my friends, colleagues, or the community. I find that I am always saying “yes, I will do this” or “yes, I will attend that”, and then I feel like I am being pulled in too many directions. Sometimes you need to say no and saying no does not mean that you do not care. Saying no means that you have another higher priority task that needs your attention. I have learned that saying no is ok and at times makes me feel better even though it is hard to do. You are not always going to be able to be there for everything or do everything and accepting that is important. Above all commit to placing yourself higher on your priority list. Take the time to care for yourself first and then take care of those closest to you. As my mom says, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” |
This is me, Liz. I am an, instructor, personal trainer, exercise physiologist, dog-mom, loving wife, little sister, coolest-aunt ever, and now blogger living in Libby, Montana.
Welcome to my blog! This blog follows my life and my interests in fitness, adventure, food, and healthy living. The Girls, Katy & Madi, and I. We have spent a lot of time together the past few years. I appreciate them for their quirks and how they love me unconditionally. They help me appreciate the small, simple things in life. Archives
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DiclaimerThis is a personal blog created and maintained by Liz Whalen. My blog posts document my life and sometimes highlight the food I eat and workouts I perform. I do not have professional medical training, nor am I a registered dietician. I am an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist, while the content you see on my blog aims to bring you along on my health & wellness journey. The published information may not be right for you and should not be viewed as guidelines in any way. Seek counsel from a medical doctor when looking to incorporate or change your physical activity and/or dietary habits.
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