Now has never been a better time to take a deep breath and focus on your health and wellness. We asked OWA members how they are balancing and rebalancing their health and well-being. From spending more time outdoors, to just taking a deep breath, to meditation, yoga, and refocusing on healthy eating, below are some tips on how they reset.
In the month of June, I'm planning to focus on health and wellness by spending more time here in the Colorado outdoors cycling, horseback riding, and standup paddle boarding. I hope you can get outdoors, too — several studies have shown that exercise outdoors benefited mental well-being more than the same type of exercise inside.
I walk my dogs a few times a day. I choose the route that involves a steep hill, as to work some cardio into my day. Try to drink more water, which reduces stress and helps keep the weight off. I do ballet-type-plie's while brushing my teeth each night (every little bit helps). I sit outside in the yard and eat my lunch to take in the "fresh air" (not that the air quality is fantastic in southern CA . . . but anything helps) and get away from screens for 30 minutes or so. I found that my Pilates studio holds outdoor classes now, so I just started doing that again. The endorphins and that great feeling when you are stretching helps to maintain a positive attitude. I try to support local restaurants that may be struggling, so I order take out a few times a week and opt to pick it up because delivery services charge a lot to the restaurants. It makes me feel better to support local businesses.
Getting back in the gym, once they open to full capacity. Boy, do I miss Pilates; if you haven't tried it, I highly recommend it! Also, paying much closer attention to diet to shed the COVID effect. Tracking is work, but it definitely ups your awareness of how you are fueling your body.
As we all know, wellness begins from the inside out. Over the past year, we have been faced with unimaginable challenges personally and professionally. As someone who has always "participated" in a healthy lifestyle with diet and exercise, in June, I am going to focus on incorporating health for the mind and soul as well. My plan to do this is journaling, yoga, and less digital screen time.
On colder or rainy days, I do a lunchtime workout, when my schedule allows, in our makeshift home gym while watching HGTV shows to clear my mind. As the weather has gotten nicer, I make an effort to take short walks between meetings when able, and to take time outside to walk or ride my bike after work to unwind. I also strive to eat healthy by limiting the number of unhealthy options in our home (because I will eat the Cheetos before the apple if given the choice). Of course, I splurge on the chocolate cake from time to time because we need to indulge once in a while. As a newly expectant mom, I sometimes find it difficult to deny myself extra treats when a cocktail or glass of wine is not an option. I try and focus on the bigger picture of wanting to be healthy and provide my little one with nutrition, which helps me stay committed.
I'm re-focusing on wellness in June by taking a walk with my husband and dog every day. And getting back out on the trails with a new bike. To get moving and stay productive I'm scheduling walking or standing meetings that are screens off.
I'm focusing on my health and wellness in the month of June by prioritizing spending at least 30 minutes outside every day. Could be spent on a walk, reading a book, or enjoying a beer — as long as it's outside, it counts!
In addition to my full-time marketing work, I'm also a registered yoga teacher. During my workday, I try to incorporate different breath techniques. Some breath work is intended to calm the nervous system, and some can rev up the nervous system (i.e. boosting energy before a big presentation versus grabbing another cup of coffee). Here's an easy calming breath that can be done virtually anywhere — and incognito.
This three-part breath (also called Dirga) can calm the mind, bring oxygen to the furthest reaches of the lungs, massage abdominal organs and aid digestion, and release tension in the chest and abdomen.
Directions: Sit with a tall spine and relax the abdomen. Using a diaphragmatic breath, inhale filling the belly first, then the ribs, and finally the upper chest and clavicles in three distinct parts. To exhale, allow the breath to leave the clavicles first, then the ribs and lastly empty the belly. You can use your hands to feel the movement of the breath as you get used to the technique. Notice the rise and fall of your belly, as well as the expansion of your rib cage. Try 3-5 rounds of breath and see how you feel.
We hope that you are inspired by the ideas from these OWA members for your own health and well-being rebalancing!
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