So you may have postponed your next vacation and you stay home a little more now on weekends to cut costs. Maybe your not working quite as hard or as much as you did this time last year and have a bit more free time on your hands. Some believe we’re in a recession and some don’t; but I think we sometimes try to do too much, too quick, too often day after day and start to lose touch with ourselves.
This may be the perfect time for you to take a big deep breath, let it out…and get back in touch with yourself, remember the little things that made you happy, and make some positive lifestyle changes.
Here’s a checklist of 10 things you can do to re-center, re-focus, and rejuvenate during these tough times:
__Read a good book. Turn the mind numbing TV off and indulge in some literature. Fiction, Fact, History, Mystery, or Self-Help. They’re all good. Really set some time aside and throw yourself into a good book. I’m currently reading “The Presence Process” by Michael Brown. It’s a great book to relax and feel positive about life.
__Just Breath. Take 15 minutes each day and focus on your breath. Try not to think about the past or worry about the future. Breathe slowly and calmly. You just may have some insightful moments about “the meaning of your life” and it helps to reduce stress and clear your mind.
__Re-Connect with some Old Friends. We all know that sites like Friendster, MySpace, and those High School Graduation sites are great ways to find old friends and classmates. If you haven’t talked to someone in a couple years that your still “technically” friends with, call them up and say “just touching base to say hi”.
__Exercise. Try some resistance training to speed up your metabolism or some Yoga for some mind-body connection, or some cardio for that “runner’s high”. Walking and hiking are great too. Just doing at least 15 minutes of some basic exercises each day is sure to spark back up those endorphins and make you smile and feel young again.
__Dump the Fridge. Take a good look in the refrigerator and also the pantry and toss the processed foods and fatty foods. Stock up on lean meats, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Access to good food is the key. Your body will thank you later.
__Get rid of Clutter. Clean up your home and/or car and get rid of things that your holding on to that you don’t need. Re-organize your desk too and get everything in place. You’ll feel so much better and your mind will be clutter free too.
__Take a class. Go to your local community college and take a fun, interesting, or dynamic class. You’ll learn, meet new people, and have a fun challenge that will keep you feeling alive. The Extension Program at Los Angeles Valley College has some wonderful classes like “How to Bartend”, “How to Write and Publish a Book”, and “Mastering Ping Pong”. Classes are only about $50 for six weeks. There are numerous online classes you can take also.
__Re-Assess your Personal Goals. Did you do a 5-year plan about 10 years ago and never followed-up? Take a look back at the past few years, where you are now is the result of that. Chart out where you want to be in 5 years and write your goals down. Post them somewhere that you can see them everyday like on your computer monitor or by your bedside table.
__Review your Health Plan. Insurance rates keep going up, up, and up and coverage keeps getting less, less, and less. Take a good look at your policy and know exactly what’s covered, what your out of pockets and deductibles are, etc. You may want to sit down with an insurance expert and compare coverage and rates on HMO vs. PPO vs. Catastrophic Policies and Health Savings Accounts and discover what’s right for you at this point in your life.
__Break a Bad Habit. If you smoke, drink soda or too much coffee, don’t get enough sleep, play on your computer too much, don’t exercise, have bad food management etc., it’s time to take action and focus on breaking the habit. Make a copy of a 30-day calendar. Doesn’t matter what month. Starting TODAY, commit to doing some type of action everyday for 30 consecutive days to break your bad habit and get into a good habit. Each time you do it, place a check mark on the day in your calendar. It takes about 30 days to break a bad habit or start a new good habit. This will keep you focused on it. Reward yourself at the end of the 30 days for a job well done.
About the Author:
Jack Witt is a Lifestyle Fitness Coach based out of Los Angeles. He helps people, organizations, and businesses take charge of their health and well-being. His website is www.getfitwithWitt.com
