By Claudienne Peterson
How much time do you invest in yourself? By this I mean: Do you go to bed early enough to have a glorious eight hours sleep? Do you put only the best foods in your body for optimal results (yes, this requires organization, time and planning)? Do you put aside time in your day to meditate/reflect/relax (this is time for your mind; time to be away from the computer, the cell phone, etc.)? Do you take time to burn some energy in a positive way (put positive stress on your body, like take 30+ minutes to walk or jog or run or attend gym class or do the exercises of a workout DVD, etc.)?
Why do we and our friends spend so much time egging each other on to fit MORE into our lives? "You missed last night's party; don't miss tonight's!" "You're not going to lunch with us today?" "What about that boat trip?" Yes these are all great things, but not to do so much of them that it cuts into YOUR quality time with yourself! You can try to encourage others to invest more time into themselves, too; invite them to the gym or for a walk, or do a DVD workout session in your living room!
How much do YOU invest in YOU? Is it all work and no play? If you understand what I'm trying to say, I'm glad you do. For those of you who don't see it clear enough, let me go on here. We are slaves to our jobs and rightfully so, or else we can't pay our bills on time or live a quality life; right? Well, how can you do your work well, if you're not in good health, both in mind and in body?
It's time to invest in you, investing in yourself means investing in your job in the end, investing in your performance at work. Trade some nights out for nights in. That good night's sleep will not only have you waking up feeling refreshed and in a better mood, it may also shed some of that belly fat you've been trying to hide. Doing 30 minutes or more of some kind of exercise will help your body get rid of toxins, better your circulation, help you burn fat, work those muscles (so important if you sit at a desk all day) and also release endorphins – those happy chemicals we could all use a little extra bit of right?
Meditate, pray, take a power nap (I'm not saying these things are all exactly the same). Or just stop what you are doing and close your eyes for a few seconds and think about anything you can be thankful for, anything that makes you smile. Put on some relaxing music that puts you in a good, chill mood. It is essential, especially in this super-fast-paced world, that we give ourselves little breaks over the course of the day. This will help in our daily battles with grumpy people, grumpy moments, bad traffic, lines at the bank, arguments in a relationship, unexpected bills and more. Those things will always be there, but you can deal with them differently; it's up to YOU!
Take time at the grocery store, yes MAKE the time, make your list, get organized and gear yourself towards the optimal foods – whole foods that will keep you satisfied for longer, not cutting corners, just real food. Look up the healthy stuff; go for natural, get your leafy greens and the colourful veggies as well, load up on fruits. Try to stay as much away from processed foods if you can, for these will only slow you down, both mentally and physically. Keep it all as fresh as possible; and let the processed foods just be a tiny bit of your overall plate.
Last but not least, take the time to sit down (preferably with family and friends) and be thankful by savouring every healthy bite. Take time to put the right fuel in your body, do it slowly and thankfully. SO if it sounds like I'm telling you what to do, I didn't mean to, these are actually just suggestions, my own opinion. Do your research, find out for yourself what is best for you, but if you are tired or not feeling well, chances are you are not investing time in yourself.
I omitted getting massages or facials because those require a good bit more money. I hope you enjoy these little bits of advice for a healthy and happy new year!
