Building habits that are healthy, fun, and doable: That’s been my mission since the new year began. I tried to set some goals at the start of the year that wouldn’t set me up for failure like so many times in the past. I chose broader goals this time around and I can’t believe how much easier it’s been to create a productive routine with healthier habits. The most important goals have been to stress less, to not beat myself up about perceived failures, and to actually celebrate all of life’s mini-successes. I thought I should share with you some of the routines I’ve implemented this year that have been really crucial in reaching my goals.
1 Exercise
I wanted to focus on feeling healthier both physically and emotionally. I had a rough year in 2015, and I knew that I need to make some changes. So every day, no matter what, I’ve set aside a block of time for yoga and meditation. I alternate between four routines: yoga for strength, yoga for balance, yoga for flexibility, and yoga for relaxation. If you’re attending a class at a gym or a yoga studio, you can usually schedule classes that have a different focus, otherwise, you can take advantage of using one of the many apps that are available. My favorite is Yoga Studio by Gaiam.
2 Diet
I’ve managed to change my diet considerably. Planning healthy meals has always been a challenge for me. I’ve been a vegetarian for 25 years and still haven’t gotten the hang of planning around my nutritional needs. I tend to over think things and then revert back to unhealthy habits. Recently I shared some infographics that have changed the way I plan meals. I particularly love ‘the Chipotle Method.’ It’s made grocery shopping way easier, and my meals have been way healthier (I’ve never eaten so much salad in my life and it’s fantastic!). The best part is that it doesn’t require nearly as much ‘planning’ as other methods.
3 Unplug…Kinda
I promised myself I’d read more and spend less time on the internet and in front of the TV, but I was only fooling myself. I mean, I’m just not strong enough to resist Season 4 of History Channel’s Vikings… or Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge… or Survivor… or the Amazing Race. Sigh. I really do watch a lot of TV. Anyway, I know I’m a little late to the party, but I’ve been getting deeper into podcasts recently. I really like the fact that I can listen without having to watch. I feel like I am unplugged because I’m not in that TV trance I tend to fall in to. I guess I’m cheating a bit, but I’ve learned a lot from some of these podcasts. If you’re at all interested you should go to itunes and download the Podbean App (or for android) and search through the categories. There are podcasts that focus on almost every topic you can think of.
So yeah. I’ve made some pretty positive changes so far this year. I seriously can not believe it’s already March, and that Spring is rapidly approaching. I’m so appreciative of the support you all have given me over the past two months. You know I always love to hear from you. I can’t wait to hear how this year has been treating you so far! Remember, it’s all about the process. As long as you’re enjoying the process, how can you fail?!
