The theme of the day seems to be that everyone is feeling low energy, discouraged and unmotivated. Sound familiar? Maybe it’s coming off the long weekend, maybe it’s that we’re all out of tricks to keep us positive about quarantine? No matter what it is that’s causing the feeling, try taking one tiny step toward feeling better. Here are some suggestions. Move a little - one flight of stairs, one lap around the house, a quick trip to the mailbox. Anything. Have a moment of quiet and take a few deep breaths. Drink a glass of water. Make yourself a cup of tea. Get a little sunlight and fresh air. I’d love to hear what you tried and if it helped! #healthcoach #onesmallstep #bekindtoyourself #takeaminute #resilience #mindfulmoment #keepitsimple
Try One Thing: Stillness
Many of us are suddenly now teachers, day care providers, short order cooks, psychologists, fitness instructors, entertainment directors, etc…in addition to all the other jobs we had before the lock down. Some days it’s impossible not to feel overwhelmed by it all. Bringing everyone under your roof together for just a minute of stillness can be a quick way to settle everyone, regroup, reconnect and breath. You don’t even need to be obvious about it; just call for a group hug, stand still for a minute and see if that helps you feel a little more grounded. #stillness #grounded #stayconnected #togetherwe’restrong #lifespacehealth #whattookyousolong #smallsteps #advancementcommunity #fundraising #strength #courage #healthcoach
Focus on NOW
Right now, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Our routines have been completely changed and there’s so much uncertainty about the future. A simple trick to help combat this feeling of overwhelm and keep you focused is to notice what you have RIGHT NOW that brings you joy. Just for a little while, try to forget about what you hope to have back next month, what you're saving up for to purchase eventually, or that trip you're planning for, ah… whenever we can travel again – and try to notice what you have in this moment that brings you joy. It can be big or small; the only thing it has to do is bring you joy. Celebrate your small joys daily (a journal is a great way to make this practice ongoing) and put the spotlight on the things that make you happy in the here and now.
Can you name one small joy in your life? I have several! Being able to get out for a daily walk, talking on the phone with friends, or trying a new recipe are all things that bring me joy. And… of course… my morning coffee!
Try One Thing: KIndness
Utilizing existing resources seems more relevant now than it did when I first started thinking about this idea back in January. Our lives have been completely disrupted and we must embrace the “reduce, reuse, recycle” mantra whether we want to or not. So, I’m curious: How does this apply to our emotional resources? Now that we can no longer distract ourselves with the usual habits that keep us distanced from the things that push our buttons, how we do we maintain emotional stability?
I think simplicity here is best. Don’t pressure yourself to adopt a new complicated habit to help you reach new levels of emotional Zen. Utilize a resource you’ve been cultivating since you learned how to walk: kindness. When anger and frustration start to rise, take a short walk, even if it’s just to another room, to quiet and center yourself. Take a deep breath. Turn kindness inward first. Shower yourself with it. Then turn your kindness out toward whomever needs it – your loved ones, your work colleagues, your neighbors, your world.
Try One Thing: Breakfast
I love a good homemade muffin so I make a batch over the weekend and freeze them. In the morning, I pop one into the toaster oven to reheat while the coffee brews and I have the perfect, quick breakfast. There are a ton of great recipes out there for every taste and diet and most of them only take minutes to make. No need for breakfast to be any more complicated than that!
Try One Thing: Pause
Just one moment may be all you need to quiet your over-active mind. Try not to over-think it and don’t make it any more complicated than a few deep breaths. Grab a buddy (or not) and find a place to rest for just a minute. Try it now. How do you feel?
Try One Thing: Movement
What’s stopping you from introducing more movement into your day? Something as simple as standing up from your seat can have a surprising impact on how your body feels and your mental alertness.
So, why not do it now? Just stand up. Try to remember to do that every 30 minutes or so and see how you feel at the end of the day.
Try One Thing: Keep It Simple
We all seem determined to make things complicated. We get caught up in elaborate plans to exercise, make a fancy meal or clean out an entire closet. How often do we quit before we’ve even started? Just the idea can be overwhelming. This week we’re all about simple. Today, I moved an old sweater to the donate pile. Just one. It took 10 seconds. Tomorrow, I might pull out another one. But I’ll make that decision when the time comes. I just freed up so much space in my brain by removing all those plans I never get to.
Start Exploring!
During these unusual times of confinement and isolation, we are all going to struggle with monotony, boredom and even anger at being so cut off from aspects of our lives that we enjoy and rely on to make us feel good. Our schedule is now on repeat, and we will quickly begin to see our days and weeks slip right through our fingers, even when the days feel endless. How can we make the best of this situation and keep from going crazy? How can we keep our kids occupied and help them feel renewed and revitalized even when every day brings more of the same?
One way to combat this mind-numbing situation is to bring curiosity and a fresh pair of eyes to ordinary, everyday situations in our lives. Just today, try looking at your house and neighborhood as if you were a stranger, a first time visitor. What would you notice that you have never noticed before? What might surprise you about something you normally take for granted? Many of us live in an area that is bursting with Spring flowers, sights and smells. Have you taken time to stop and enjoy these very fleeting events?
Adventures are waiting for us in our everyday lives, if only we take time to notice and let them unfold.
Eight Plants and Essential Oils that Clean the Air
We make it WAY too complicated...
These days we need simple, right? We often make food way more complicated than it needs to be. Counting calories, low-fat, low-carb, eating six meals a day, drinking protein shakes, intermittent fasting -- you've been bombarded with thousands of conflicting and overwhelming ideas telling you how you should feed yourself. Unfortunately, there's no magic equation — no set of rules you can find on Pinterest to make your health dreams come true. There is good news though; it's so much more straightforward than you think.
This month, give yourself a break! We could all use a break as we struggle to make sense of this “new normal.” Instead of focusing on all of the restrictions, rules and cheat sheets -- concentrate on one thing only - Eating whole foods as much as possible, and getting rid of most of the processed foods you currently consume. That's it. You'll see results quickly, and you'll find it much easier than diets with complicated recipes and strict rules. Isn’t that great news?
