Life is busy. Many times, we are heads down plowing through our “to do” lists and missing out on all of the things that bring us joy and fulfillment.
Are you longing for a way to get everything done AND have more meaningful, joyful moments in your day? Consider these tips to get you started! 1. Silence
Start your day with 15 minutes of silence. This precious gift will help ground you, and set your energy and mood for the day. You can use this time to recall what you are most grateful for.
2. Intention
Take a few minutes to create a mental roadmap of how you’d like your day to go. Focus on your top three priorities or projects, which relationships you would like to nurture, and which healthy foods and exercise you can incorporate to look and feel your best. When you take the time to consider how you would like your day to go, you have a higher likelihood of achieving balance. You will naturally be more focused on the things that serve you well which will help you make decisions along the way that meet your needs and goals. If you had someplace to be, would you ever board a plane not knowing its destination? Hmmmm…an interesting thought.
3. Food Mood What we drink and the foods we eat have a direct impact on our mood and sense of being in or out of balance. Often we feel stress and anxiety because our bodies are reacting to the intensity of sugar, caffeine and processed foods, which create a fight or flight response every time we have them. When this occurs, it’s “all hands on deck” to deal with this emergency which affects your central nervous system, digestion and “feel good” hormones. Incorporating more water, fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds as well as lean proteins can nourish your body and mind making it easier to concentrate, have more energy and lose weight in the process!
4. Water
Every system in your body requires water to function optimally yet many people only drink coffee or tea, soda, juice and alcohol. While some of these contain water, it’s not enough to supply the body with what it needs. It’s recommended that you drink half your body weight in ounces of water per day. So, if you weigh 140 pounds, you would drink 70 ounces of water. Water also washes away impurities and toxins, improves your skin clarity, tone and texture as well as assists with weight loss.
5. Movement & Exercise It’s hard for many of us to get to the gym for financial, logistical and emotional reasons. Instead of beating yourself up, take the time each day to incorporate “functional” exercise. Park further away from your destination and walk, take the stairs, do stretches in your office or at home and incorporate a few yoga strength moves into your day. You won’t believe the difference in your mood!
6. Self Care
Many of us take care of everything and everyone else before we’ll even consider what we need or want for ourselves. We have a hard time justifying making ourselves a priority with so much to do. Even when we do, it seems selfish. Your body, mind and soul are very tolerant and forgiving, but at some point, each runs out of fuel. Self-care is the fuel you need to live a happy and healthy life. Take the time each day to do something that you love, even if it’s only to dream about a vacation, read an article or take a longer shower. Amazing things happen when you are taken care of! You often have more greatness to give.
7. Celebrate
Many of us feel out of balance because we are always “doing and moving on.” We don’t take the time to reflect and appreciate our accomplishments ~ personal or professional. We are left feeling unappreciated which often leads to feeling out of balance. Take the time at the end of each day to appreciate what you have created in your day whether it’s a project or a relationship you have nurtured.
This article was originally published in my newsletter, where I share more tips and inspiration for health, happiness and success. Subscribe now and receive a copy of my 5 Step Morning Routine for Thriving so you can create your day for success!