Improve health through self-care!

Hello, Happy Monday!

So when my alarm woke me at 5:30 this morning I wanted so badly to turn it off.  Mondays are always the toughest mornings to exercise after a 2 days of sleeping in.  That being said, it is not a secret that exercise will improve health and therefore I got my self up and off to spin class.  How many other people got up this morning to walk or run or do some sort of exercise?  I am sure many of you.  It is part of everyday self-care for so many people.  The same can be said for diet.  We may want to have ice cream every single day or (in my case) eat an entire bag of salt and vinegar potato chips for lunch - but to consistently improve health it is probably better I skip it and reach for the fruit or veggies. 

We have become a much more aware society when it comes to self-care.  It is not just important to shower, take care of our skin and teeth and get dressed each day - we also know to exercise and eat right too.  To improve health is something many of us strive for each an every day.
Eating right and exercising are not only important for a healthy body, but also for a healthy mind.  Often we forget that self-care is about the entire self - including the mind and spirit.  My question for readers is what are you doing to improve health of the mind and spirit? 

How many of you think about things you can do to prevent feeling overwhelmed, anxious, depressed?  Do you consider your mental health the same way as your physical health?  Many people do not.  What is important to know is how connected our minds and our bodies are and the importance of holistic self-care to improve health.

Here are a few thinks to try:

• Take a positive perspective on the world around you.  Change your view of situations and identify what you can learn from each setback and take time to appreciate your wins! Be grateful for what you have.  Remind yourself daily of what you have to be grateful for.
• Be in the moment.  Stop multitasking and trying to do everything all at once.  Focus on what you are doing in the moment.  Be present.  This isn't just for highly important work related tasks.  This means everything you do.  If you are taking a walk, notice the trees, plants and flowers.  Listen for the sounds around you.  If you are playing a game with your children, focus on the game, your experience and theirs.  Don't pick up you cell or start thinking of the things you need to do.  Just focus on the game and be in the moment.  Do this throughout your day with everything you engage in.
• Meditate - just a few minutes a day of centering yourself and focusing on your breathing can go a long way toward improving health of the mind and spirit.
• Let go of perfectionism.  Stop comparing yourself to others.  Understand that perfect often gets in the way of progress.  Take steps toward your goals each and every day and understand you will have good days and not so good days.  That is ok, you bounce back faster when you accept that everything does not need to be perfect. 

If you are looking for more information you can check out maximize-wellness.com