New Habit #11 brings us to the first week in June; there’s no better time than to work on strengthening your weaknesses. One big weakness of mine is the regimen of doing a workout every day.  As I’ve mentioned in past posts I’m not a fan of the scheduled workout or even going to a gym, while I’m not 100% sure why, I accept my preferences and try to workout in different, more interesting ways.

One physical activity I thoroughly enjoy doing is yoga and my Kempo forms and practices but I still need to get into a habit of setting time aside at least 5 days a week and do it. In order to accomplish this is to finally just pick a time of day and make it part of my work day because after all, I am my first best client and proof that a healthy lifestyle is important not only physically on the outside but on the inside too. My second step is to determine how much time each day I will workout – my initial plan is at least half an hour – usually it ends up to be more.

I know myself well and so I know it won’t be easy for me to do but I will work toward it every day so that it will become a daily desire that brings emotional and physical balance into each day.

What is your daily physical activity? How do you motivate yourself to doing it?

If you don’t workout daily, what type of workout do you imagine yourself doing and what type of help would you want?

My best friend Beth shared this with me several years ago and it pops into my mind often, “If you always think they way you always thought, then you’ll always get what you always got.”

This is true. So many people want things to change yet they continue to do things as they always have expecting different results. We need to be willing to make changes in order to experience the possibility that our life will be improved. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is the right thing and it’s often scary to think about how we will do it. We tend to get into our comfort zone and cannot imagine life any different but often wish for a different life. Many of us deal better with change when change is out of our control and just happens, but we eventually find that it’s not the change we were dreaming about and we continue fantasizing about the life we imagine as perfect. By doing this we often get caught up feeling that our fantasy life is in some ways real and we don’t push forward to make a reality of the changes we wish for but we still find ourselves unhappy.

Today, begin to practice making small changes in your life that will bring you to your desired destination and to your biggest dreams.  Be brave, be strong!

Enjoy the satisfaction of making changes reality and continue to follow your dreams to make them come true.

 

I began practicing yoga a few years ago and while I don’t take a lesson as often as I’d like, I have enough yoga to be able to practice at home daily. After a yoga lesson I always feel calm, renewed and free from negativity.

New Habit # 8 is to practice yoga daily.

Yoga can be practiced at so many levels including body, mind, internal organ workouts like breathing and glandular health…

I will practice yoga daily somewhere between 10 minutes and 60 minutes. I will change it up according to time I hvae made available or how I feel physically, mentally and emotionally.

Yoga- a state of permanent peace in order to experience one’s true self; physical postures of yoga are used to alleviate health problems, reduce stress and make the spine supple in contemporary times. Yoga is also used as a complete exercise program and physical therapy routine.

I’m still working on #6, reviewing and doing 1-5 as well as an added habit #7, one plate per meal. I am a huge fan of going back for seconds especially if the food tastes good and fresh. I justify my actions by saying it’s healthy, it’s all veggies or lean or whole grains or that I’ve been ‘good’ lately, whatever that means. The truth is, I don’t actually need more food, I just want it. I have realized that I don’t want the moment of gathering to end, even if it’s just a gathering of two of us. Too often, we as a culture are herded in and swept out quickly not allowing ourselves to taste and enjoy the food and mealtime we are given. On average I believe we spend 15-20 minutes eating and often not even sitting at a table.

My habit # 7  is to fill my one smaller plate, eat slowly, enjoy mealtime & conversation and not go back for seconds.

Reviewing things you’ve learned or created is a healthy habit to practice. Often times we set out to do a particular thing but find ourselves halfway committed or falling in and out of practice with it.

My intention for this year is to adopt 26 new and good habits and since I’m a little behind in posting and committing to adding new ones, I thought it necessary to review what I have added and to be sure I’m practicing them. Upon looking back, I realize I’m only half ‘in’ so I will mindful(ly) practice each new habit, # 1-5.

1- Drink more water, add lemon – Assessment: [doing well with this habit]

2- Use a smaller plate or bowl for meals – Assessment: [75% of the time]

3- Meditate daily – Assessment: [20% of the time-will diligently increase to 5 minutes each day]

4-cycling 3-6 days/week – [0-1 day/week will work on getting at least 10 minutes 3 days/week]

5- Get moving – [100% of the time, always up finding things to do – need to make sure I’m getting work done as well]

This is how I see my intentions being met. I realize that my focus is more on my clients’ successes and I love that, but I must also show how it can be done.

Until next time, pick one new habit and work diligently on having it become second nature 😉

 

 

I used to stand up at work all day when I was cutting hair and I loved it; now that my work involves a lot of sitting at the desk I need to get up and move around. Sitting isn’t one of my favorite things to do so I make it a point to get up every hour on those days when I’m stuck behind the desk and release energy.

Some of the things I might do is dance to the radio, climb my stairs a few times, ride my stationary bike for 3-5 minutes and because the weather is getting nicer I play with my two pups outside; it benefits them as well as me.

Getting your body to move is important in keeping fit and eliminating stiffness and physical or mental stress as it helps release negativity.

#5 – Get Moving!

I decided that I need to get moving! Winter is sort of long and messy where I live so walking, cycling, hiking etc. outdoors is a challenge. I decided to invest in an inexpensive stationary bike that both of us (significant other) can use. We did a little research and chose the Schwinn A 10 Upright.

My new habit will be riding this baby at least 6 out of 7 days without an end in sight! I plan to ride for a lifetime, indoors and outdoors!

Here’s a link to the exact model I bought: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D4LEG4S/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

What type of physical exercise do you enjoy? What exercise do you get daily? If none, What would be your favorite choice?

Ok, my apologies, I missed posting #2 which was using a smaller bowl or plate for meals.

For my 3rd new habit I will :

• continue drinking water
• continue using a small plate or bowl

# 3 – I NEED to take time to be quiet with my thoughts-meditate. My mind has been in a fog for a short while now and it’s driving me nuts! It’s time to practice what I teach. I will take 10 minutes for myself every day, no distractions, no excuses.

Haven’t meditated yet? Here’s a good way to start:

• decide on the spot you will do it every day, make sure it’s quiet, comfortable and un-interrupted
• set the time each day if you can – if you can’t, don’t worry, just do it when you get the chance
• set a timer for 5 or 10 minutes so that you don’t have to clock watch – cell phones work well because they don’t make the ticking sound
• sit or lay comfortably, close your eyes, concentrate on your breathing in and out paced slowly and let thoughts come in and let them leave
• Relax

My first new habit of the year 2014 actually sounds quite simple but it isn’t always as easy as it seems. My habit will be to drink more water! Yup, that simple. While I typically drink plenty of water, I find myself drinking less when it’s cold outside. I opt for hot things like coffee & tea more often only drinking small sips of water here and there throughout the day.

If you’d like to join me, here are a few tips:

• Drink at least 6 ounces of water first thing in the morning, before coffee, tea or food. Keep a glass by the sink to remind you.
• Keep a water bottle or glass close at all times all day, when you see it you will grab it because it’s convenient and a reminder.
• Flavor your water with lemon juice-this helps alkalize your body too.
• Drink warm water as if for tea, except plain or with lemon only.
• Drink at least 6-8 ounces of water right before bed.

Cheers! Bottoms up!