This weekend, give yourself the gift of focusing on your wellness. Make the conscious decision to take a few actions that just might impact your health in a positive fashion.
ENJOY LIFE
Do something that brings you joy:
Spend some time with people whose company you enjoy: in person or via phone, zoom, etc.
Read a book that you’ve been meaning to pick up, or read a book to your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews.
Get in the kitchen: cook a favorite meal or find a new favorite. Got kids? Let them help you out.
Turn on the tunes and have a dance party.
Listen to a podcast.
Meditate.
Relax: Take time to do nothing.
GET MOVING
Go for a walk. Don’t have a lot of time? No problem! 10 minutes at a time adds up.
Take a hike.
Go for a run.
Hop on your bike.
Do some yoga, tai chi, or qigong.
Here’s another opportunity for a dance party!
Swap an hour of online time for an hour of walking time.
Bad weather? No problem! Walk around a grocery store or a mall or visit a gym and hop on a treadmill. Take an online class.
Set a timer throughout the day so that you’re not sitting for more than 45 minutes without getting up to move around,
Water. Water. Water.
Here are some ways to add water to your day:
Drink a glass of water before each meal.
If you’re feeling hungry between meals, have a glass of water before reaching for a snack. It could be that you’re dehydrated, and your body is craving water.
Feeling sluggish? You guessed it! Have a glass of water.
Fill a water bottle in the morning and sip on it throughout the day.
Going out to a party or dinner where you’ll be drinking alcohol? Limit yourself to one alcoholic beverage and drink water throughout the remainder of the party / dinner.
Do you avoid drinking water because you find it boring? No problem! Boost the flavor of that water by adding:
Lemon slices
Mint sprigs
Strawberry slices
Cucumber slices
Orange slices
CROWD OUT
Crowd out food that’s not serving you well with a healthy, nutritious snack. Instead of that bag of chips or handful of cookies, enjoy:
A piece of fruit: satisfy that sweet tooth with an apple, orange, or banana.
Baby carrots and low-fat hummus: proof that low-fat can taste great and satisfy those hunger pangs! Baby carrots not your thing? No worries – cucumbers, bell peppers, radishes, and more. Experiment to find what tastes best to you!
Curry popcorn: curry adds a pop of flavor to popcorn. Give it a try!
Take note of how weekend wellness impacts you.
Do you feel more relaxed? Less stressed? More energized? Less fatigued? More likely to explore how small steps and small changes can affect your health? Will you continue those activities / actions that suit you? Will you implement a daily self-care practice?
You’re in control. Own your health.
Healthy living starts now.
Am I spending time with people whose company I enjoy?