I am sorry it has been so long since we have posted! Managing facebook and twitter along with regular work tasks takes a ton of time! But Happy New Year everyone!
I was wracking my brain trying to think of an interesting topic for this blog entry and nothing was coming to mind. I wanted to do something a little different and the only topic that kept popping up was related to New Year's resolutions. To be honest, that is the last thing I wanted to write about.
You would think that as a holistic nutritionist I want people to make a bunch of health related goals on January 1st. Of course when people do this my office is packed, and it isn't that I don't want people to care about their health, I do, but I want them to care about it for the right reason. January 1st shouldn't be the only day people self-reflect. They should make this a weekly if not daily habit. Health is so much more than what you put into your mouth or how much you exercise each week; it is about feeding your spirit and finding inspiration in daily actions. If we spend 364 days of the year moving through life like robots and 1 day out of the year evaluating our actions, we may have missed out on 364 opportunities to create positive change. What is health truly? It is about the relationships you cultivate, the passion you create in your daily life, the inspiration you receive on a daily basis and the ways in which you nurture your body and your spirit.If you eat perfectly and exercise daily but you hate your job, your homelife is a mess and you are bored with life your body will reflect those emotions and the food and exercise won't be enough.For this reason I have compiled a list of resolutions that go beyond the typical. This list can improve your health and they are resolutions that you can keep!
1-Experiment with a New Hobby
I don't know about you but every 6 months or so I get restless and want to do something new or change up my daily routine. So I have recently adopted a plan to try a new activity every 6 months. It brings me back to the days of college when classes would change each semester and I would have a whole new topic to focus on. I loved this! So recently I took cooking, then Italian, and now I am taking a break and I am going to volunteer with horses. What could you explore? Is there something you wish you could develop more? An activity? A talent? I find that this keeps things fresh and interesting and it exposes you to a new group of people and forces your brain to work in a new way. There are many studies that show that stimulating the brain leads to longer longevity and less incidence of dementia.
2-Create a Vision with Gratitude
Typically this is the time of the year where we ask yourselves what we want for next year and then after about a month or less we forget to focus on these goals. It is very important to make a list of the goals you would like to manifest this year. But even more importantly I have found that you need to monitor your progress with gratitude. I find that if I keep a daily gratitude journal or even if I make it a practice to acknowledge the good things that have happened each day, then I can see daily progress. When you do this I have found that you will actually create more things to be grateful for! Keeping your mind in a state of gratitude keeps you in a positive energy state-an amazing place to be for your health!
3-Evaluate the "Balance" in Your Life
How much of your week is "have to" and how much of it is "want to?" Ok so we all know that work is usually more "have to" than "want to." But where can you incorporate a little more time for you in each day? Can you take a walk at lunch? Can you finish the day with a good book or a bubble bath? Can you make 1 day per week a night to be with friends? I know for me I would come to the office and never leave during the day. I love my office environment so this didn't seem so bad but then I started feeling like I was missing all daylight and I was becoming a hermit! Even if you just get out for 30 minutes, those minutes can make a HUGE difference in your day! I just left today for 30 minutes and I honestly feel so much better!
4-Exercise for HEALTH Not for Weight Loss
How many of you exercise so aggressively that you lose motivation a few days later? For example you run when you hate running but you know it burns calories or on the other end you go to yoga because you know it is good for you but the breathing and the Om's drive you crazy? Have you ever stopped to think about exercising in a way that not only feels good for your body but it also allows you to stick with it? Find an activity that you enjoy!
Try a dance class or pilates or walk or run if you enjoy it!
Find an activity that is a mental release for you. In truth a lot of weight gain is from stress and just having an outlet that you can stick with may be just what your body needs to see lasting results!
4-Reasses Your Relationships
Have you ever gotten off of the phone exhausted from a friend who completely drains you? Have you ever realized that you are in a one sided romantic relationship or friendship? I have been there and I can tell you freeing yourself from the relationships that suck you dry is liberating! Ask yourself what type of partner, family member or friend you want to be for the people around you? Now ask yourself if you are getting the same in return. The people who take will never stop taking unless you ask for more for yourself. Trust me getting rid of the dead weight will only make space for the people who deserve to be your friend. Studies have shown people with close friends live longer lives.
5.How Do You Eat Your Meals?
You notice I didn't see what are you eating but how are you eating? Are you eating in a rush? Do you chew your food or do you inhale it? Are you eating in front of the tv? Are you eating the same boring food presented in the same way each day? Are you eating out of take out containers? In some cultures the way the food is presented is an art form and this is for a reason. Food that is pleasing to the eye is actually more satisfying to the stomach. Try eating your food in plates that are different colors or garnish your plate with fresh herbs. You can even try to eat listening to music that relaxes you rather than eating unconsciously while watching tv. When you are more aware of the food you are eating and the food looks more appetizing you will actually eat less.
These are just a few tips that I hope were helpful to get you on the right track in 2012. If you are interested in working one on one I do offer sessions that are specifically devoted to identifying and erasing the emotional blocks in your life. I find that the clients who do this in conjunction with nutrition and detoxification see more lasting results. Call us to schedule 212-245-3129. Happy New Year, may it be your year to transform!
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