I realize that this winter I have lost a lot of my normal routine that kept me feeling good. Somehow the stress in my life, along with the cold and dampness of the weather have slowly overtaken my life and mindset. I am having more pain in my body along with feeling overall more tired and discouraged than where I normally have been able to maintain.
It’s not a comfortable place to be and as I am getting older, if I am going to be able to maintain the level of work and things I want to be able to do – then I have to pay attention to what my body is telling me and take some steps to get back to feeling better. It all seems a little overwhelming and difficult as I am more tired than I have been in a long time. So I had to make a plan and begin to put it in place so I can enjoy my summer and these later years of my life. The best plans to be successful and give the ability to maintain them need to be simple and do-able by the individual instigating and carrying them out.
I decided that the first week of my “turn around” would be to get more rest and let my body heal and rebuild from the stress and lack of sleep that became a part of the past few months.
The second week I realized my water intake, which was normally really good, had become something to be desired so I became aware of how much and what I was drinking. I then began to once again get my water intake back to where it should be as it’s one of the most important things your body needs since it makes up 70% of your body. The “formula” is half your body weight in ounces of water per day to stay hydrated and at the best level for all of your organs and overall body health.
Then the third week I began putting my stretching back in as my body has become stiff
and definitely not moving as well or feeling as good. It doesn’t have to be a big block of time to gain wonderful benefits from stretching. I began with a few stretches in the evening before going to bed to help my body relax. Then added a few more stretches in the morning to help it get moving for the day. During the day as I became “mindful” of how my body was feeling and where I am emotionally, I added some breathing and chi gong which always helps me feel better as it re-balances ones overall mental and physical well being.
Now this coming week I am ready to “work in“ some time for exercise, as at the moment I don’t feel like I could run down the driveway or pick up items and do the physical level of outdoor work that I am used to doing. This winter I have become much less active physically and it is definitely showing in how I am feeling energetically. I will choose the days, times and what I enjoy the most to incorporate into my regular routine. You won’t stay with any “exercise” regimen if it’s not something you enjoy doing and it is a part of your scheduled activities for the week – it has to be intentional and something you “like” that makes you feel better when your are done, or you will never keep it up.
Doing just a “little more” each week builds momentum mentally, physically and emotionally and becomes a habit that is easier to maintain as it is set in motion.
So begin with a plan, schedule it in to help make it happen and enjoy the benefits of success that your body and mental state will appreciate as it becomes a new habit. Your success will feed more success.
Blessings as you choose a “plan” to begin making small changes in your life and routine.
I Can Do This Lifestyle 