Confession: This time of year I feel like out of sorts and lethargic. All the holiday socializing and eating rich foods throws off my self-care routines. As we start a new year I have a few tips to help you get back on track and begin your year with confidence.
- Throw out all the leftover holiday goodies or bring them to an office where others can enjoy them.
- Make a To-Do list of 5-7 items that you will accomplish, either for each day or for the week. It is important that you don’t list more than 7 items in order to set yourself up for success. BE SURE to put MELT and/or exercise on your list, AND write this list before you go to bed each night or at the start of each week.
- Take back your mornings. As our morning goes, so goes the rest of the day. Instead of hitting the ground running, plan for a few minutes, while you sip a hot beverage, to reflect on what is important to you and who you want to BE in the world.
- Focus on nutritious movement (a term coined by bio-mechanist Katy Bowman and my favorite new approach to fitness). This means you walk, bend, squat, reach, lift a bag or a child. It is not about structured exercise, just simple movements the way the body is designed to move in all directions, but moving throughout the day.
Lastly, if you are inclined to set goals at this time of year, I want to offer you a new perspective on the “new years resolution.” Try writing a “desire statement.” This is a statement of what you REALLY want. You desire this outcome so much that you are willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish it. Hint: it is often not the external things we truly desire, it is the feeling that those external things represent that we truly desire.
For example, I was willing to do whatever it took to get out of chronic pain because I truly desired to feel joyful about life and resilient in my body, not weak and going through the motions of life. Once you have your statement of desire write it on an index card or piece of paper and post it where you will see it every day, several times a day, to remind you of your desire. According to Dr.David Kohl, professor emeritus at Virginia Tech University, “Individuals who write down their goals will have nine times the success of those who don’t put their goals on paper.” So get in touch with that feeling you desire and write it down!!!
The picture of me above is from my new website. I am SUPER excited with how the website turned out. If you have a minute, check it out. I think all the class info is much easier to find.