Managing Stress

Wellness Makeover: Breakfast

We were lucky to find a convenient healthy breakfast when traveling last year

Over the past few years, the wellness habits I had established have for the most part disintegrated. Since my husband Neil and I have been working at home, we have struggled with keeping a good routine and not letting work take over our lives. And unfortunately, his back injury put us on more equal ground when it comes to dealing with chronic pain and maintaining wellness. When you want to improve your sleep, diet and exercise routine, you find yourself in a chicken or the egg situation. Where to begin to stop the crazy train? We’ve decided to pick a few things to focus on: getting up earlier, breakfast, and morning exercise.

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Finding a state of wellbeing

Photo: Rare evening walk in Falls Park

There have been a number of reasons why I haven’t blogged for almost two years – yes, TWO YEARS! In future posts, I’ll talk about some of what has been happening in my life. One of them is that I got way off the path in my quest for good self-care. I feel like the typical woman who has fallen prey to the old putting myself last strategy. I’m worn out and fed up with not feeling as good as I did a few years ago.

It’s one of those things where I kept waiting for the stress to subside, for things to get less busy, etc… but it is obvious that “less stress” is never going to find me, I’ve got to find it. Since the combination of my 2009 injury and the more hilly terrain in our new city has been a part of my self-care struggle, I’ve decided to get an electric-assisted bike to help me get out and exercising.

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Fitness Faith & Practice

Lately I have been feeling grateful for how effortless my exercise habits have become. They are purposefully modest ones. My focus has been on making exercise pleasurable and doable. Now it is usually a matter of when, rather than if, I’m going to exercise. I’m especially happy that when I get stressed out my reaction is to want to get outside and go for a walk. I still dream of consistently attending dance classes or doing one of my longer DVD’s, but most days I manage to do the AM workout from 7 Minutes of Magic in addition to my walk.

Although I’m usually looking forward to my walks, I still have days that I struggle with resistance. Yesterday was one of those days. I just did not want to go and an internal conversation ensued. “I don’t want to go.” “Walking is good for you.” “Missing one day is no big deal.” “You know you’ll feel better once you get out there.” “It’s cold.” “Dress warm, besides walking will warm you up.” “I don’t know.” “Just go!” In the end I went because over time, I had developed faith in my walking practice. That I would feel better after I got out there.

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Paths to Wellness

labyrinth walk

One of my favorite spiritual practices is walking a labyrinth. I was introduced to it years ago at a New Year’s Eve candlelight labyrinth walk. I’ve been hooked ever since and would do it more often if we had an accessible one nearby. On Sunday we put out our fabric one (similar to the picture) … Read more

New Eyes

My fascination with the Gratefulness.org site continues. Today I explored the Labyrinth and enjoyed the option to be guided through the meditation instead of at my own pace. What a wonderful place to visit and available where ever you have access to the Internet. However, I think the only way I will remember to visit … Read more