Yoga, fitness, working out, activity, routines, balance, money, mental health, physical health
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I gotta be honest, I have a really hard time slowing down and resting. I have a tendency to go go go, ALL OF THE TIME. The act of doing nothing doesn’t quite exist in my brain, yet (work in progress…). To me, there is always something to be doing. Anyone else feel like this? I know I can’t be the only one, so if that’s you, keep reading 🙂
The start of the new year is a time of new beginnings and a time to just really reset. And although the world seems a bit monotonous these days, it’s still so important to keep on keeping on. This year I really wanted to make it a priority to slow down in order to really get ahead and leave room for all of the things that truly bring me joy. Often times when we are “so busy,” it’s due to lack of efficiency. Finding ways to create balance in my life has been a GAME CHANGER. Of course like anything, some days are better than others. But for the most part, I can tell I have made progress to cultivate a better balanced life by sticking to the ways below:
I would love to hear from you if you have any tips and tricks to creating balance! Feel free to share in the comments below ❤
How many times do you catch yourself saying yes to things you should’ve actually said no to? Or how often do you find you say ‘maybe’ when you know full well that maybe is a NO? There are many reasons as to why we find it hard to say no. Whatever that reason may be, we can circle it back to a failure in setting boundaries. Setting boundaries is one of the biggest acts of self-care, yet so many of us find it difficult to actually stick to these.
Setting boundaries with those you care about can be scary, and also super difficult! But let me tell you, it is so worth it in the end, because you essentially are showing the people in your life how you want to be treated. We are responsible for showing others what we will tolerate and what we won’t – without boundaries set in place, you’re allowing people to treat you how they want. It’s a funny concept as we were always told “treat others how you want to be treated.” In retrospect, doesn’t it make more sense to treat others how they want to be treated? We all are so different and we’ve all gone through a variety of events that shape us into the person we are today, so learning how another person truly works is the biggest form of love, in my opinion.
The inability to say no also stems from one of my most favorite of concepts, good ol’ EXPECTATIONS. If you didn’t catch the sarcasm there, let me clarify. Expectations are far from my favorite of anything. Expectations = disappointment, failure, sadness, etc…however, I do love to talk about throwing expectations away in order to move forward. So let’s talk about it. Do you ever notice what feelings come up when you are faced with expectations? Whether it’s from family, friends, your significant other, or just society in general. I can guarantee they are feelings in your gut that more often than not lead to you becoming anxious. If I’m wrong, then you’re a super hero, and please comment your secret below 🙂
Moral of the story here is this:
Value YOUR time, define YOUR priorities, ditch expectations and don’t apologize for setting boundaries. I’m all about putting you and your mental health first. If saying no is already a part of your self-care practice, I would love to hear your tips and tricks!
Happy Monday friends!
Between working from home, gym closures, and social distancing rules, I’m sure quarantine has discouraged a lot of our workout routines. In the beginning I know it definitely through me for a curve ball. I went from going to the yoga studio 1-2 times a day, to having to completely restructure my routine. It can be hard to keep yourself motivated and stay consistent during these times – yet now more than ever it is so important to incorporate some form of exercise into your day. Here are a few ways that have helped me stay on track:
SET SHORT TERM GOALS
There’s nothing better than seeing your hard work pay off – this is why I like to make attainable goals to help keep myself motivated. These goals don’t need to be huge, for example, if I was only able to work out for 30 minutes one day, maybe the next day my goal is to make it 45 minutes. Or upping my weight for certain exercises if the day before I only did bodyweight exercises. Whatever your goal may be, I guarantee if you write it down and see that progress, you will feel that much better.
SCHEDULE YOUR WORKOUTS
Sticking to a schedule during these crazy times is so so so important, I can’t stress that enough. Not only does it help you achieve the goals you’ve set for yourself, but it keeps you accountable to yourself. I plan my workouts for the week (M-F), and I leave the weekend open because that is what is attainable for me. Since I never really know what my weekend will consist of, taking away the pressure of having to workout on these days has helped me stick to my weekday goals.
CHANGE IT UP
Repeating anything day in and day out is a recipe for boredom. It’s no different when it comes to your workouts, that is why it is crucial to keep your routine fun and interesting. For example, if I did a youtube workout one day, the next day I’ll do a workout from The Sculpt Society (TSS) App. The good thing about TSS is that I know each week when the new workouts will come out, so those are the days that I will schedule these. The rest of the days I schedule my IG or Youtube workout accounts I follow.
REST
If I’m being completely honest, this one is the hardest for me. As much as I know rest days are just as important as exercising, it’s tough for me to do “nothing.” What has helped me become more okay with rest days is literally telling myself that these are the days my muscles get to recover in order to come back stronger and prevent fatigue. Sounds silly, but hey it’s what works for me! Rest days look different for everyone, so do whatever your body is telling you.
How do you stay motivated? I would love to hear your tips!
If there has been one good thing about quarantine it is that everything you need to stay in shape is online now. From IG and youtube accounts with easy-to-follow workouts, to more intense workout programs through apps with new, live content daily. If you’re anything like me, you like to keep your workouts fun and have a variety to choose from depending on the day. I’m a firm believer on listening to what your body is telling you and moving accordingly. Some days I just stick to my (self taught) yoga practice and other days when I have more energy, I incorporate one of the workouts listed here. Keep reading to learn more about my go to at-home workouts I’ve been into:
THE BEST FREE HIIT WORKOUT ON YOUTUBE:
Heather is a certified personal trainer with free workout videos you can do right from your home. She offers a variety of full length HIIT videos with dumbbells or other workout routines that require only body weight. Her youtube channel is updated with new videos weekly which keeps things fun and fresh. If you are looking to target certain muscle groups, she has specific shorter length workouts just for that as well.
THE BEST PAID FOR WORKOUT APP:
Megan Group – The Sculpt Society
Megan’s approach to fitness is unlike any workout routine you’ve probably done. She is all about making fitness fun, through a variety of easy-to-follow dance based cardio, light weight resistance, and sculpting sequences. Her workouts range from 10-50 minute routines (yes, I did say only 10 minutes!) so you can fit in a workout no matter what your day may entail. She is also just great energy, and always has the best music to push you through the workout. This has hands down been my go to quarantine workout.
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THE BEST IG WORKOUT:
Lauren is a fitness blogger who writes her workouts based on targeting certain muscle groups through supersets and counting reps. Her workouts are posted on her IG feed and stories for free, and also on her blog where you can purchase her full weight training plans. All you need are dumbbells and resistance bands for majority of the workouts and about 30 minutes to spare. She is also just a super positive, down to earth mom of two who shares real life with all of her community.
I hope this has helped give you different options to either start a new workout routine or just add to your current fitness regime. I’d love to know what at-home workouts have been getting you through quarantine so feel free to comment below!
Living Intuitively 