Meditation
Meditation is a beautiful way to center yourself. When life is stressful (and today in our face-paced society, when is it not?..), or your mind is racing, you can always turn to meditation to refocus your thoughts and energy. It’s also accessible (and free) to everyone because you can do it anywhere. All you need to do is find a quiet, cozy space, close your eyes, and simply breathe.
If you don’t know where to start, or you just prefer guided meditation, there are many websites and apps out there to get you going. The website Mindful is a place to start for all things mindfulness and meditation. Two apps that I enjoy are called Insight Timer and Calm. When you dedicate yourself to easing your mind every day, you will realize the benefits of meditation as your own wellness advocate.
Gratitude
Giving thanks on a regular basis is an important step to loving your body and life just the way it is. A gratitude journal is an amazing way to boost your self-love.
Keep a journal by your bed, and when you wake up every morning and each night before you sleep, write down three things you love and appreciate about yourself every day. What does your body allow you to DO, and what have you accomplished. Thinking of things your body allows you to do can really put things into perspective. Don’t think in terms of aesthetics or material possessions, but focus on the good things in your life.
So what are you waiting for? Grab a pen and paper and get started! This is a beautiful way to honor yourself and your life. Appreciate your body. It’s your vessel, and you only get one.
Take time to Smell the Roses
We live in such a fast-paced environment. Give yourself permission to slow down, enjoy the special moments, and take care of yourself. There are so many little things we can do to take time out, here are two of my top picks to truly slow down in your daily life.
Eat slowly
One of the unfortunate consequences of our hectic lives is we don’t take time to eat slow and enjoy our meals. This is soooo important to our overall health and well-being, so if you only have to pick one, please make this a priority. Make sure you chew slowly and actually taste what you are eating. Better yet, enjoy your meal with your family or close friends – no cell phones, TV, or other distractions at the table – just you, your family, and good food to nourish yourselves. This simple but important practice is a game changer in how you feel in your body every day.
Unplug
Powering-down provides an opportunity to reset and refocus appreciation and gratitude for the lives we have been given.
I truly understand how unplugging (and even multi-tasking because there are so many different things that require our attention every day, all day long) can be very tough at first. This is a skill that must be developed with continued practice and discipline. Once you make time to unplug and silence the world around you, even if just for a little while, you can start to look forward to the benefits of better sleep, less stress and an improved mood.
So where (or how) can you start you ask?.. I challenge you to pick one of the following behaviors:
- Commit to zero technology for the first hour you’re awake. Focus on meditation and your upcoming day
- Choose an unplug one hour during your day. Maybe it is in the morning as suggested above, or maybe you want the break at lunch or before bed. Try to refrain from bringing the phone/ipad to your lunch break with your coworkers, or make a point to have no technology in the bedrooms at all.
- Focus on your workout, not your phone. Leave the technology in the house when you go for that walk with the dog. Go outside and enjoy nature without having to take pics and share it. It’s OK – no one will miss those photos, I promise.
- Eat meals without phones, TV’s or other distractions – being a foody, if you have to pick one of these behaviors, my vote is for this. Focus on the people you are with, not the ones you’re not with.
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