Do you feel "off" during the winter months? You're not the only one—according to a survey by Balance Bar, 98 percent of us want our work, family, health, and social lives to all have regular TLC, but only 14 percent of us actually feel like they all are.
Gabby Reece teamed with Balance Bar for The Balance Project—an initiative to help discover how we can all feel a bit more balanced (heh) in our lives—and she shared these tips for feeling as good as she can until spring hits.
Cover the basics."Eating well, exercising regularly, and getting enough rest. Balance is about the mind, body, and spirit, so make sure to take care of all three. Make as many meals as you can at home so you can control your nutrition.Take snacks (like fruit, nuts, or a Balance Bare Bar) wherever you go to prevent mindless eating. Schedule your exercise and turn off the gadgets and get to bed earlier—easy and basic ways to live a healthier lifestyle every day. "
Schedule your days to fit your training in."On Sunday evening, take a look at your week (and any pending snowstorms!) and pick your windows to get your exercise in. Treat it like every other appointment you have and don't cancel."
Sign up a friend. "We tend to be more successful at accomplishing some type of exercise if we have someone to be accountable to. Solicit a friend for a new hot yoga class or cardio dance workout. It'll feel good to burn a sweat after shivering most of the day."
Lunchtime workouts. "If you have a busy day and won't have time to go to the gym after work, find time for a little movement during lunch. Since it might be too cold for a walk, go up and down the stairs in your building five to 10 times. Every little bit counts and you'll feel better overall after a break from your desk."
Use summer for motivation to shape up. "It's time to get past the mind-set that you'll be stuck in sweaters, flannel, and thermals forever. Look ahead to longer, warmer days and get fired up to eat well and exercise consistently. If you wait until summer actually starts, you'll feel rushed and end up crash dieting or doing a crazy workout schedule."
Drink more water."This may be one of the easiest tips to follow. The benefits we gain from drinking more water are immeasurable. Once you start drinking more water on a daily basis, you sleep better, your skin looks better, you'll notice your appetite decreases because you're properly hydrated, you have greater organ function, and you gain more flexibility."
Cook extra. "With a little planning, you can cook at home for dinner and make extra for the next day's lunch. If you know your week is going to be especially busy then get out the old Crock-Pot. Throw healthy ingredients in and a nutritious but still hearty meal will be ready for you after a long, cold day."
Schedule one thing you look forward to each day."Coffee with a friend or indulging in a harmless guilty pleasure; something that breaks up your day and is just about you being you. This can not only create a fun gap in our day but also help us get more connected to ourselves, which is especially important if the winter has us feeling a little gloomy."
Find your quiet time. "Meditation, deep breathing, alone time, prayer, or however you prefer to take a moment. Let us not forget: Balance is about calibrating the mind, the body, and the spirit. Being still and internally reflective is a critical aspect of feeling balanced."
Which of Gabby's tips resonate with you most?
