As we walk through the holiday season we need to keep in mind the importance of the “balance” in all areas to maintain physical, mental and emotional health.
As regular exercise gives one a more positive outlook on life, helps to relieve stress, anxiety and depression, it becomes a must during the holiday season that always brings more stress into our lives.
Since the holidays are usually the time it’s harder to fit exercise in and thus often squeezes out what little we might be getting – we need to address it with intention. Not only will it help as a way to deal with the extra stress we are feeling, it will also help us from gaining extra weight. So let’s make this the perfect time to add exercise, breathing and moving into our life. This can be the first step to “love me” – give yourself a present this year and take a little better care of yourself.
I have difficulty “keeping” my “intention” to do this, not only for my sanity but for the sake of all those around me! Therefore, I am now “booking” it into my schedule so that I hold myself to it.
Place it on your appointment calendar with “what & when” you will be loving your body enough to take care of it:
– take a walk and enjoy the beauty of nature, spend time with a friend or just to clear your head,
– do an exercise, yoga, tai chi, etc. DVD,
– schedule time at the gym,
– play a game of basketball or plan an activity with someone
Plan ahead how much time you will set aside and be stubborn to honor “your” time for yourself to accomplish this.
You will be amazed at how “valuable” this time will become and the positive effects it will have in your life on all levels – not just physically but mentally and emotionally.
Our tips for eating healthier this week are:
– Take “a break” when eating and inhale a nice, slow, deep breath, letting it take some stress out as you exhale (slowly). It will help you feel calmer and allow you to be more aware of how much you are eating.
– When you eat slower, you often do not have the time to get more helpings before everyone else is done (so you will finish at the same time).
– You can also begin to recognize that you’re getting full when you are not “inhaling” your food (like someone’s going to take it away from you if you don’t get it eaten in a short period of time).
– Then practice listening to your body to see if you’re full versus continuing to eat just because “the food is there”.
– Recognize if you’re eating to fulfill the needs of your physical body or if you’re trying to “feed” your emotional needs. (This can be a real “ouch” when you get honest with your intentions – I’ve lived this one! And then we have to move into “why” we are feeling insecure, which we will address later.)
We must also “feed” our attitude, focusing in a positive direction for our mental and emotional well-being.
Affirmations to speak to yourself and adapt for your personal needs:
– I can and will choose healthier options for food I eat, throughout the holiday season (and beyond)
– I will maintain balance by including some physical exercise for both health reasons and stress reduction.
– I will enjoy this holiday season and make it fun
Blessings as you “shift” your focus to address taking great care of your body, soul and spirit / physical, mental and emotional well being as we move into a place of being able to say “I love me, I love my body, I love my life”!
I Can Do This Lifestyle 