Today I received this article from a colleague in a gchat. At first I was caught off guard as I was in deep thought in an email I was currently writing but I was also surprised by the title. "Stop Being a People-Pleaser." When I finally read the gchat message from the colleague, which said "this is SO you," I was immediately curious to read this article and figure out why this particular article made them think this was SO me.
After reading it, I realized, this is me. 100 and 10%. The advise in this article is exactly what I needed. I have been battling with myself on time management, quality of work, and always being accessible to others, regardless of what priorities are on my plate at the current time.
This part of the article, struck a chord with me the most. (I am guilty of this, more than I even realized, so thank you Elizabeth Saunders for giving me this wake up call)
"The "Yes!" Man or Woman Scenario:
If you're an energetic, service-oriented person, your tendency is to
always respond to any request by saying, "Sure, I can do that." Or when
you're sitting in a meeting and someone asks for volunteers to help, you
always raise your hand. Or even when no one asks for help — but you
know they need it — you offer to assist. In and of itself, a strong
desire to take action isn't bad. But if this attitude means that you're
completely overloaded with work and unfocused on your top priorities,
you are failing to keep the commitments that truly should fall under
your ownership. In many instances, there are other people who can step up. If you
can't resist the urge to jump in, disconnect yourself when you're off
hours so that you're not even aware of every crisis. Even if it seems like a can't-miss opportunity, remember that there
will always be other chances. There will always be more events, more
conferences, more articles, even more crises to solve — more of
everything. If you don't make time for what's an enduring priority for
you, such as sleep, rest, or time with important people, you'll miss out
on what truly matters."
Yup. That is me. To the T. Now all I need to do is take Elizabeth's advise to heart and to use. ASAP.
My role at work requires individuals to be contacting me via email, gchat or by the phone throughout the day, everyday. Sometimes I have 15 gchat conversations going on at work with folks who need answers from me or have a question, while emails pile up in my inbox and my phone may have a few voicemails. At meetings when people ask for volunteers or help, I always offer to participate. When someone refers to me as being someone that would "know" or be good to help (I almost always say yes, without fully considering my band with first)
May be this is how a people-pleaser thinks. Try to answer everyone and anyone's immediate needs as fast and graciously as you can and trying to fulfill every request thrown my way. Even with my emails, I answer emails for people I know need my answers/responses the fastest, but I also don't like writing terse emails, because the last thing I want to do is come off wrong or that I am "too busy"to care. However, spending too much time on an email is not proper use of time so can you see how this can be a little overwhelming for a "people-pleaser?"
According to this article, I need to start slotting time on my calendar where I am "not" available so I can do top priority work undisturbed. I need to learn when to say "I am sorry I cannot help at this time" and how to protect my time and energy. This sounds like a much better plan than me doing work after normal work hours for high priority tasks. These tasks should be done during normal work hours. Right?
I don't know about you, but my weekends and evenings typically consist of me working for some amount of time with my laptop on my lap, some nights more than others, because let's face it, it is my quiet time and undisturbed focus time. Weekends are usually my time to catch up on work and unanswered emails. I should be able to find this sort of time during regular work hours, but for the past few months, that has been almost impossible. Now I know why. I've been a Yes Woman for way too many requests lately and it's finally caught up and bite me in the butt.
I also recently read this article by Fast Company called "What Successful Night Owls Get Done Before Bed" and this article made me realize that may be I am just wired to be a late night worker. My mind is focused at night and I get a second wind usually around 8/9pm and it lasts until 11:00pm/Midnight (hence why this blog post was posted so late in the evening). Is this normal? (sure). Is it healthy? (may be, may be not). Does this schedule have a negative impact on the people in my life and my job? (a little). So what do I do about it? I can't be an "all-the-time" worker because that is definitely not healthy, but I need to make some changes so I can be a great manager and worker.
All in all, I want to have as much of a balanced workload and life as I possibly can. I do not want email overload or work anxiety. I want to leave work at the end of each day feeling like I accomplished what I wanted to accomplish instead of feeling like I am chasing after a car that is rolling down a hill with no hope of me ever catching up to it.
Hopefully these two articles can help me find my balance and new best practices so I can achieve my goals and surpass them. If I can make even a few small changes, then I know I will be on the right path to continue taking myself and my career forward.
Have you ever struggled finding ways to balance your workload all the while be a people-pleaser at work?
Can you relate to either one of these articles? If so how?
A blog about living a full and balanced life one day at a time...
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
For the Love of the Game & Charitable Organizations
Sports have been a big part of my life ever since I was little. Throughout my life I have played a number of sports and on a number of sports teams. Sports include: soccer, gymnastics, diving, swimming, golf, tennis, basketball, softball, indoor volleyball, and beach volleyball. Even now in my adulthood, my passion for sports still exists and I continue to play in a sports league each summer. Chicago is an amazing city for so many reasons and I especially love how active this city is with club sports and sports leagues.
When you are an athlete, whether you played in grade school, high school, or a collegiate sport, your love for sports stays with you and nestles inside your heart. I know this to be true, and I have always had the love for sports whether I am playing or watching sports, but my love for playing sports was taken to a whole new level after I met Mark Biery, co-founder of LTS (Live to Support) Chicago.
After learning about LTS, I reached out to Mark about getting some teams formed and playing in a summer softball league. It didn't take long for me to form a team and decide on a charity that we would represent.
Since July 10th, my team: Team Knockdown, has been venturing out to Stanton Park to play against fellow Groupon employees and other 600 West Chicago companies in a 16 inch softball league on Tuesday night's through Live to Support Chicago. Companies that participated include: ConAgra Foods, Wrigley, InnerWorkings, and of course, Groupon.
My team played for the Chicago Lights Urban Farm, an urban farm I have grown to hold near and dear to my heart and have become an advocate for the great work they do in the Chicagoland community. Chicago Lights has taught me how to farm, the importance of composting, and that farming is an education tool in the sense that it is a way to teach life skills to low-income children and families.
One thing I love about LTS's program is that before the start of each game, competing teams circle around home plate to give a brief speech on what charity they are playing for and a little background about their work. This also allows you to be educated about different charitable organizations that are doing great work in your community. We all know sports are competitive and sometimes it is easy to get caught up in the emotions and competitive edge sports can bring out in you. LTS gives athletes a reason to direct their energy of the game to play for selfless reasons, a charity. When you play for a charitable organization, your love for the game changes. You aren't playing for you anymore, you are playing for the mission-driven work that the charity does each and every day. Losing a game even feels different, because you know that the team you lost to is playing for a charity that is making a difference and could really use the funding. However losing makes you more determined to win the next game, so you can be one step closer to being in the championship round.
Before the start of each season, LTS automatically awards each participating team $100 to give to the charity they are representing. I love this because even if your specific team doesn't win the championship, you still played to raise awareness about the charity you are representing and the organization gets $100, and a $100 can make an impact for any charitable organization.
So you may be wondering, how did my team, Team Knockdown finish their season? In short, last night, my team played in the championship and won. We came back in the 6th inning when we were down 5 runs, to tie up the game. We could not believe it. The 7th inning was the final inning and with the score tied, we managed to hold the competing team at 8 runs and we managed to bring in a 9th run to win the game! It was a remarkable moment. Seeing my team of fellow colleagues, not only make such an amazing come back but to see the excitement on each of their faces because they knew our victory meant that the Chicago Lights Urban Farm would be receiving a check for $1,000.
It was a priceless moment and a moment I will treasure forever. My love of the game has been completely changed because of my experience playing with Live to Support and I cannot wait to play for a charity again.
A big congratulations to Groupon's very own Team Knockdown for beating InnerWorking's: Here Comes the Runs team in Live to Support's Softball Championship.
Be sure to check out photos from the season and a highlight video of the league. You can see the schedule, team rankings, and what charity each team played for here.
What do you play for? What charity would you want to represent in a sports league & why?
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Cooking Made Easy- Just Wok It!
One of the best cooking items I have ever bought myself was a Wok. It is easy, fun, and fast. I was on the hunt for a really good Wok and saw Crate & Barrel had Calphalon Wok's (which is a really great brand for pots & pans FYI). The price was outrageous and instead of paying $249 for the Calphalon Wok, I decided to go to my most favorite home appliances store, Home Goods to see if they had it. Sure enough I not only found the exact same one I saw at Crate & Barrel, but the Wok was priced $49.99! Talk about being a max-a-nista! On a side note, if you have a Home Goods or a TJ Max in your city, I highly recommend you check out this store. I find the best deals on amazing brand name cookware and entertaining pieces there!
To go with my Wok, I decided to purchase some reusable chop sticks. What fun is eating stir-fry if you don't have chopsticks? Plus I am trying to be more "green" these days and throwing away chopsticks is a waste, especially when I can buy plastic reusable chopsticks for $4 per pack of 6 at World Market.
A Wok was a great gift to myself, but a Wok is a great bridal shower gift, holiday gift and a housewarming gift! Calphalon makes beautiful cookware and this is the exact Wok that I have. It is fabulous and is super easy to clean! (Note- Calphalon cookware is not dishwasher friendly, you must hand wash them.)
There are a lot of great Wok brands and they can come in some really fun colors! Le Creuset has Wok's without handles and in a bunch of fun colors like red, orange, green and blue! Bodum Chambord has fun colors too! Target has a great selection too!
If you are like me and have little time during the week to dedicate to cooking, getting a Wok is an excellent solution. The meals I make are are incredibly healthy and take little time to make!
A Wok isn't good just for making Stir-Fry, it is also great for making other dishes like stew, rice dishes, and cooking meats for lettuce wraps. My boyfriend and I cannot get enough of our Wok. We use it probably 2-3 times a week. For some inspiration, the Food Network has some fantastic Wok recipes.
Some meals we have made our chicken, scrambled eggs and vegetables with teriyaki sauce, shrimp stir-fry with soy sauce over whole wheat noodles, and pork chops with mixed vegetables over rice. A Wok is a perfect way to use all the remaining foods you have in your refrigerator. There really isn't a food that you cannot make in a Wok.
Being a woman in my mid-twenties, learning how to cook is an important skill to have especially if you want to be an entertainer as well. Cooking is a trial and error and so far, I have yet to make a bad meal with my Wok! Also my boyfriend LOVES cooking with it too and trying new food combinations.
To go with my Wok, I decided to purchase some reusable chop sticks. What fun is eating stir-fry if you don't have chopsticks? Plus I am trying to be more "green" these days and throwing away chopsticks is a waste, especially when I can buy plastic reusable chopsticks for $4 per pack of 6 at World Market.
A Wok was a great gift to myself, but a Wok is a great bridal shower gift, holiday gift and a housewarming gift! Calphalon makes beautiful cookware and this is the exact Wok that I have. It is fabulous and is super easy to clean! (Note- Calphalon cookware is not dishwasher friendly, you must hand wash them.)
There are a lot of great Wok brands and they can come in some really fun colors! Le Creuset has Wok's without handles and in a bunch of fun colors like red, orange, green and blue! Bodum Chambord has fun colors too! Target has a great selection too!
If you are like me and have little time during the week to dedicate to cooking, getting a Wok is an excellent solution. The meals I make are are incredibly healthy and take little time to make!
A Wok isn't good just for making Stir-Fry, it is also great for making other dishes like stew, rice dishes, and cooking meats for lettuce wraps. My boyfriend and I cannot get enough of our Wok. We use it probably 2-3 times a week. For some inspiration, the Food Network has some fantastic Wok recipes.
Some meals we have made our chicken, scrambled eggs and vegetables with teriyaki sauce, shrimp stir-fry with soy sauce over whole wheat noodles, and pork chops with mixed vegetables over rice. A Wok is a perfect way to use all the remaining foods you have in your refrigerator. There really isn't a food that you cannot make in a Wok.
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| Shrimp Stir-Fry (Photo by Ready Set Eat) |
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| Chinese Chicken Stir-Fry |
Being a woman in my mid-twenties, learning how to cook is an important skill to have especially if you want to be an entertainer as well. Cooking is a trial and error and so far, I have yet to make a bad meal with my Wok! Also my boyfriend LOVES cooking with it too and trying new food combinations.
Have I made you hungry yet?? I promise you, cooking can be made easy if you just Wok it. I challenge you to go out and buy a Wok and try it out. I think you will find yourself enjoying cooking a lot more!
Do you have a Wok? If so, I would love any recipe ideas!!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Food Weaknesses
Dear Food Weaknesses (you know who you are),
Why do you have to be so delicious? You make me and my stomach happy, but I feel guilty when I splurge on you. And yet I crave each of you all the time. I can eat you any time, day or night (even in the middle of the night!) Aside from being "bad" for me, you happen to be extremely easy to eat on-the-go. Almost TOO easy. Why can't you just play hard to get? You must really know my weak spots. I wish I could control my cravings and learn when to say NO to YOU. But you make it EXTREMELY difficult to say NO to your face. If you weren't around then this would not be as much of a problem. So here it is. I need a break....... I need to expand my eating horizon and not rely on you to give me instant satisfaction and energy I need. It is time for me to grow up.
My metabolism is not what is use to be and being an adult I am no where near as active as I use to be. I am an adult now. The eat anything I want, whenever I want mentality- those days are LONG GONE. I need to make sure that I am eating something from each tier in the food pyramid- everyday. No more excuses. I promise I am not leaving you entirely, I just need to teach myself to not depend on you. The are other foods out there that my body should be receiving. Carbs, you are a staple and my favorite food. Sweets, you I hope you understand. The only thing that will be different is the amount of time we spend together. My portions need to be cut a little so I have room for the other foods. I hope you can find it inside your ingredients to forgive me and accept my request. My overall demeanor will benefit from this and I promise that this is not a goodbye. It is solely something I need to do for me.
With love,
Jessica
Why do the things I love the most have to be "bad" for you? Why are they the easiest to "stock" up on AND the fastest things to make??
If carbohydrates and sweets were more than okay to eat, then I would be on cloud 9. Instead, they are the reason why I get tired, feel rundown, and can sometimes make the ibs. fluctuate. With my job, having a regular workout schedule can be challenging. No matter how much I try to fit in a workout, my workouts are no where near as extreme or at as high of an impact as they use to be. I try to workout 3-4 times a week if I am lucky, whereas in High School I was active almost 6 days a week. This is a BIG change both for my health and my metabolism. I need to figure out how to keep my body healthy in sync with my lifestyle changes. I know it will benefit me in the long run but it is going to be challenging to be better about portion control with carbs and sweets.
What foods do you tend to eat more than others? Do you go for foods similar to me? How do you help ensure that you are eating more balanced meals each day? I would love to hear your thoughts.....
Why do you have to be so delicious? You make me and my stomach happy, but I feel guilty when I splurge on you. And yet I crave each of you all the time. I can eat you any time, day or night (even in the middle of the night!) Aside from being "bad" for me, you happen to be extremely easy to eat on-the-go. Almost TOO easy. Why can't you just play hard to get? You must really know my weak spots. I wish I could control my cravings and learn when to say NO to YOU. But you make it EXTREMELY difficult to say NO to your face. If you weren't around then this would not be as much of a problem. So here it is. I need a break....... I need to expand my eating horizon and not rely on you to give me instant satisfaction and energy I need. It is time for me to grow up.
My metabolism is not what is use to be and being an adult I am no where near as active as I use to be. I am an adult now. The eat anything I want, whenever I want mentality- those days are LONG GONE. I need to make sure that I am eating something from each tier in the food pyramid- everyday. No more excuses. I promise I am not leaving you entirely, I just need to teach myself to not depend on you. The are other foods out there that my body should be receiving. Carbs, you are a staple and my favorite food. Sweets, you I hope you understand. The only thing that will be different is the amount of time we spend together. My portions need to be cut a little so I have room for the other foods. I hope you can find it inside your ingredients to forgive me and accept my request. My overall demeanor will benefit from this and I promise that this is not a goodbye. It is solely something I need to do for me.
With love,
Jessica
Why do the things I love the most have to be "bad" for you? Why are they the easiest to "stock" up on AND the fastest things to make??
If carbohydrates and sweets were more than okay to eat, then I would be on cloud 9. Instead, they are the reason why I get tired, feel rundown, and can sometimes make the ibs. fluctuate. With my job, having a regular workout schedule can be challenging. No matter how much I try to fit in a workout, my workouts are no where near as extreme or at as high of an impact as they use to be. I try to workout 3-4 times a week if I am lucky, whereas in High School I was active almost 6 days a week. This is a BIG change both for my health and my metabolism. I need to figure out how to keep my body healthy in sync with my lifestyle changes. I know it will benefit me in the long run but it is going to be challenging to be better about portion control with carbs and sweets.
What foods do you tend to eat more than others? Do you go for foods similar to me? How do you help ensure that you are eating more balanced meals each day? I would love to hear your thoughts.....
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Urban Oasis
Tucked away below one of the busiest streets in Chicago lies a hidden gem. A place where you go to escape from the world above full of noise, chaos, stress, and to-do’s. When you are down in this oasis, life seems to pause and your body immediately begins to relax.
On President's Day, I spent an hour away from the hustle and bustle from my everyday life and did something for me, which I rarely get to do these days. As a gift from Mama Niehaus for planning her baby shower, she wanted to treat me to something special. Mama Niehaus signed me up for a full body deep tissue massage at Urban Oasis Spa- It was spectacular and I had a lovely masseuse named Rose. She could tell my body is not only tense and tight but stressed. She worked out the knots, warmed my muscles with heating pads so they would relax and she taught me how to breathe. Take in real deep breaths and allow myself to really give my mind a rest, by control my breathing.
Massages are wonderful. They can stimulate or calm the nervous system and help reduce fatigue. Sometimes I forget that I need to do something for myself; take time to unwind and relax after the end of each day. Even if it is for only ten minutes- I need to do it. Following the deep tissue massage I took a spa shower, aka a steam shower. I am not one to go into a sauna room and spa showers aren't really my thing.
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| Spa Shower |
Needless to say while I was in there it reminded me of last winter when I was taking bikram yoga classes. The heat, the big breaths, the stretching and elongating your body, spending an hour thinking of only your next pose and nothing more. In there I made a promise to myself that I need to start going to the classes and MAKE time for myself to go. I have been getting so caught up in the busyness of my life that I need to re-center and start doing things to help me stay balanced and energized again. I want to try to come back to my new paradise and get my ten
What do you do to relax? How do you "treat" yourself? Do you have any recommendations on things I should try? What is your favorite thing to do for yourself? I would love to hear from you....
The time to relax is when you don't have time for it. ~Attributed to both Jim Goodwin and Sydney J. Harris
Saturday, January 22, 2011
It's All About the Ride
For a couple years now I have been really into spinning. My interest was triggered when I took my 1st spinning class thanks to the influence of my friend Carly, at a gym in my hometown. The dark room, the fast paced music and the humming sound of wheels spinning on the front of the stationary bikes. My instructor was intense! She was the tiniest woman and was a real spitfire. She would yell at people who were resting when we were "out of our horse" and I was terrified but at the same time motivated. The real kicker was when I looked over after forty minutes into my first class and saw a pregnant woman (who was easily six months pregnant) absolutely kicking my butt. She didn't even take a single break the entire class! Right then and there I was hooked. I wanted to be able to make it through an entire class without having to rest just like her.
So here I am four years later and still hooked. For those of you who are not familiar with spinning, spinning is one of the BEST workouts you can do. Spinning can be a great way to get in a vigorous workout -- burning calories and keeping your muscles in shape. Going into my 1st spinning class I was convinced it would be a breeze, because what is so exhausting and hard about riding a bike right? A spinning bike is designed to work your body all over. Calves, thighs, hamstrings, abs, arms, butt. It is a total body workout.
Living in a city without a car makes it extremely hard for me to get to and from places, especially a gym. Between walking, to and from public transportation, waiting for the train, on average it can take me up to two hours for me to get to and from a gym and do a workout.
My work schedule is always unpredictable and I am finding it to be more difficult for me to find time to workout. Working out is my "me" time and one of my favorite past times. My whole life I grew up being active and I just love the way I feel after a workout. Powerful, energized, and good. I sometimes stress myself out because I want to make sure I can get a workout in a few days a week, and would worry how I can fit it into my day during the weekdays.
So I purchased myself a ProForm 290 SPX bike last weekend and I could not be happier. Knowing I have a way to workout in case I get held up at work, want to get a quick workout in, or know I don't have enough time to go to the gym, I can just go downstairs and spin away. Just knowing I have the bike as a back-up option is already going to help me not be so worried and stressed out.
It is an investment for my health and for myself. Sometimes we need to treat ourselves and find ways to make life better. Spinning is something I truly enjoy and now I can do it whenever I want. It is a great workout for anyone and everyone. I really recommend you try a class. To see how to spin, check out these videos. The second video is a video done by Self Magazine, which is my favorite health magazine. :)
Have you ever taken a spinning class? Have you rewarded yourself recently? If so what did you do?
So here I am four years later and still hooked. For those of you who are not familiar with spinning, spinning is one of the BEST workouts you can do. Spinning can be a great way to get in a vigorous workout -- burning calories and keeping your muscles in shape. Going into my 1st spinning class I was convinced it would be a breeze, because what is so exhausting and hard about riding a bike right? A spinning bike is designed to work your body all over. Calves, thighs, hamstrings, abs, arms, butt. It is a total body workout.
Living in a city without a car makes it extremely hard for me to get to and from places, especially a gym. Between walking, to and from public transportation, waiting for the train, on average it can take me up to two hours for me to get to and from a gym and do a workout.
My work schedule is always unpredictable and I am finding it to be more difficult for me to find time to workout. Working out is my "me" time and one of my favorite past times. My whole life I grew up being active and I just love the way I feel after a workout. Powerful, energized, and good. I sometimes stress myself out because I want to make sure I can get a workout in a few days a week, and would worry how I can fit it into my day during the weekdays.
So I purchased myself a ProForm 290 SPX bike last weekend and I could not be happier. Knowing I have a way to workout in case I get held up at work, want to get a quick workout in, or know I don't have enough time to go to the gym, I can just go downstairs and spin away. Just knowing I have the bike as a back-up option is already going to help me not be so worried and stressed out.
It is an investment for my health and for myself. Sometimes we need to treat ourselves and find ways to make life better. Spinning is something I truly enjoy and now I can do it whenever I want. It is a great workout for anyone and everyone. I really recommend you try a class. To see how to spin, check out these videos. The second video is a video done by Self Magazine, which is my favorite health magazine. :)
Have you ever taken a spinning class? Have you rewarded yourself recently? If so what did you do?
“Riding for me it was always a simple passion.” ~ Lance Armstrong
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Under the Weather
Achy body, feeling of exhaustion, scratchy throat, all signs of becoming sick. My long three day weekend was originally jam packed with plans. Plans to see an old friend, visiting with my mom, aunt and cousin, see a museum, attend to some chores and go to a board meeting. Instead I spent majority of my weekend sleeping and resting.
When I am feeling sick, I tend to be stubborn and think I am not as sick as I really am. Taking it "easy" is not something I am really good at nor willing to do most of the time. I try to still do things that I was planning on doing rather than focusing solely on resting and getting better. So now, my fourth day into my sick symptoms, I am feeling worse than I did on Friday.
So what helps me to get better and back to my normal self? I rarely ever get sick but when I do, I try to kick the sickness away as fast as I can. Here are some things I do when I am sick.
3. Eat soup with some butter toast. My favorite brand of soup is Progresso. I love their chicken noodle, creamy tomato basil and chicken and herb dumplings.
4. Take long hot showers. The steam from a shower can really help clear your nose and chest.
5. Take medicine. Taking DayQuil, NightQuil and vitamins really help you feel better faster.
5. Watch movies. There is nothing better than sitting curled up on a sofa watching a movie with a warm blanket over you while sipping on hot tea. Some of my favorite movies to watch when I am sick are, Finding Nemo; A Walk in the Clouds; The Princess Bride; My Best Friends Wedding; and of course Ferris Bueller's Day Of.
6. Last but not least- Sleep. Sleep as frequently and for as long as you can. Sometime I make myself crawl back into bed because I don't realize I am tired when I am on a sofa. Sleep without setting an alarm is key as well so that your body wakes itself up.
What do you do when you are feeling under the weather? What are your drinks to getting better? What is your favorite thing to do when you are sick?
"How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then to rest afterward." ~Spanish Proverb
When I am feeling sick, I tend to be stubborn and think I am not as sick as I really am. Taking it "easy" is not something I am really good at nor willing to do most of the time. I try to still do things that I was planning on doing rather than focusing solely on resting and getting better. So now, my fourth day into my sick symptoms, I am feeling worse than I did on Friday.
So what helps me to get better and back to my normal self? I rarely ever get sick but when I do, I try to kick the sickness away as fast as I can. Here are some things I do when I am sick.1. Eat a lot of clementines. They are full of Vitamin C and delicious.
2. Drink fluids. Drink cold water and hot tea. My favorite brand of tea is Celestial Seasonings and they have over 90 different flavors. My favorite flavors especially when I am sick are Chamomile, Sleepytime, and Echinacea.
3. Eat soup with some butter toast. My favorite brand of soup is Progresso. I love their chicken noodle, creamy tomato basil and chicken and herb dumplings.
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| Progresso- Light Chicken Noodle Soup |
4. Take long hot showers. The steam from a shower can really help clear your nose and chest.
5. Take medicine. Taking DayQuil, NightQuil and vitamins really help you feel better faster.
5. Watch movies. There is nothing better than sitting curled up on a sofa watching a movie with a warm blanket over you while sipping on hot tea. Some of my favorite movies to watch when I am sick are, Finding Nemo; A Walk in the Clouds; The Princess Bride; My Best Friends Wedding; and of course Ferris Bueller's Day Of.
6. Last but not least- Sleep. Sleep as frequently and for as long as you can. Sometime I make myself crawl back into bed because I don't realize I am tired when I am on a sofa. Sleep without setting an alarm is key as well so that your body wakes itself up.
What do you do when you are feeling under the weather? What are your drinks to getting better? What is your favorite thing to do when you are sick?
"How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then to rest afterward." ~Spanish Proverb
Thursday, January 13, 2011
For the Love of the Game
Sore, tightness, cramping joints, hands swelling. Oh how I miss this feeling. The post-workout feeling after playing a couple hours of volleyball. Last night I played in a co-ed pick up scrimmage at Windy City Fieldhouse with my friend Jenn and some former collegiate volleyball players and I had an absolute blast! Aside from me having gone a year without playing I was so glad I didn't pass up the opportunity.
We played a total of six games on a men's height net since both teams had men playing. I forgot how "short" I am, especially when I am up against a 7 foot, 11 5/8 inches net. Luckily my position does not rely heavily on height and being small and short has actually worked to my advantage.
Throughout high school and college I was the setter for my teams. The setter is much like the quarterback in football or the point guard in basketball, and in my opinion, is the greatest position in volleyball. The setter is in charge of the offense. They decide who should get the ball and when. It doesn't matter how good a team's hitters are if it doesn't have a setter that can consistently deliver a good ball to hit, then a team is at a disadvantage. Sometimes it was mentally draining being a setter because if you get down the team gets down, you are responsible for keeping the team together.
Playing last night has really made me realize how much I miss and LOVE the sport. I miss the excitement of setting up a perfect "kill." The shortness of breath after a long rally. The way the ball feels when I am dribbling before I serve. The challenge of finding the "holes" on the court to catch the other team off guard. I miss it all.
What is there not to love about volleyball? Going out and playing was of course hard on my body and I am paying the price today, but the two hours scrimmaging has made my volleyball itch reappear. Volleyball makes me feel alive inside and is a part of who I am. I want to play and join a league again. I want to put on my spandex, tall volleyball socks, knee pads, the ankle guards and play. Not just for me but for the LOVE OF THE GAME.
"I don't really keep track of numbers. We don't even think about that stuff. That's not why we play. We play because we love it." ~ Misty May Beach Volleyball champion
We played a total of six games on a men's height net since both teams had men playing. I forgot how "short" I am, especially when I am up against a 7 foot, 11 5/8 inches net. Luckily my position does not rely heavily on height and being small and short has actually worked to my advantage.
Throughout high school and college I was the setter for my teams. The setter is much like the quarterback in football or the point guard in basketball, and in my opinion, is the greatest position in volleyball. The setter is in charge of the offense. They decide who should get the ball and when. It doesn't matter how good a team's hitters are if it doesn't have a setter that can consistently deliver a good ball to hit, then a team is at a disadvantage. Sometimes it was mentally draining being a setter because if you get down the team gets down, you are responsible for keeping the team together.
 |
| Watching my set |
 |
| Me Blocking (Far Right) |
Playing last night has really made me realize how much I miss and LOVE the sport. I miss the excitement of setting up a perfect "kill." The shortness of breath after a long rally. The way the ball feels when I am dribbling before I serve. The challenge of finding the "holes" on the court to catch the other team off guard. I miss it all.
What is there not to love about volleyball? Going out and playing was of course hard on my body and I am paying the price today, but the two hours scrimmaging has made my volleyball itch reappear. Volleyball makes me feel alive inside and is a part of who I am. I want to play and join a league again. I want to put on my spandex, tall volleyball socks, knee pads, the ankle guards and play. Not just for me but for the LOVE OF THE GAME.
 |
| Misty May-Treanor (Left) and Kerri Walsh (Right) |
"I don't really keep track of numbers. We don't even think about that stuff. That's not why we play. We play because we love it." ~ Misty May Beach Volleyball champion
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Precious Advice
The other night I received an email from my good friend Alex. The subject line of the email said "Precious Advice" which caught my attention. After reading the email I immediately felt the impact of the words I had read. Every line has a message and meaning and I knew it was too good for me to keep to myself. Everyone can relate to some parts of this message and I hope it moves you like it did for me. I have already told myself to re-read this post from time to time so that I will never forget this precious advice that was passed on to me. I hope you share this with others so that they can be moved and inspired to listen to the advice.
1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say NO to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns . If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety . If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray..
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good 'Thank you Jehovah.'
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.
Intense isn't it? Did it make you think? How many lines in this list made you say to yourself, "I need to be better about that." Or "that is SO TRUE." Or more importantly "I am going to start doing that." What line/s struck you the hardest?
For me every line has meaning to me and has made me realize more than ever how much I need to really start doing some of these bullet points. For example- find time to be alone everyday. Give yourself enough time so you aren't rushing everywhere- aka don't overbook myself. Learning how to say NO to projects that won't fit into your schedule.
My list could keep going on because really I need to work on all of the things that are listed and I hope this post inspires you to do the same. I hope you take in this precious advice and live a more balanced and healthy life.
'Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.'
1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say NO to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns . If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety . If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray..
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good 'Thank you Jehovah.'
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.
Intense isn't it? Did it make you think? How many lines in this list made you say to yourself, "I need to be better about that." Or "that is SO TRUE." Or more importantly "I am going to start doing that." What line/s struck you the hardest?
For me every line has meaning to me and has made me realize more than ever how much I need to really start doing some of these bullet points. For example- find time to be alone everyday. Give yourself enough time so you aren't rushing everywhere- aka don't overbook myself. Learning how to say NO to projects that won't fit into your schedule.
My list could keep going on because really I need to work on all of the things that are listed and I hope this post inspires you to do the same. I hope you take in this precious advice and live a more balanced and healthy life.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Tighten Up- Why Women Should Lift Weights
Today, more and more women are beginning to exercise with weights. Typically when I think of weight lifting, I tend to picture steroid-raged men who drink muscle milk in between sets. These men tend to "dominate" the weight machines at my gym which makes me incredibly intimidated and discouraged from stepping in line to use the machines. Who cares if I can only lift 30 to 50 ibs. and may only want to do 2 or 3 sets.
I am tired of sweating (great article on how to help minimize sweating) all over every piece of cardio equipment at the gym and still getting zero love from the scale! I need to tone and firm up! When I played sports in High School, my volleyball coach and diving coach made us lift weights three times a week in addition to cardio at practices. I knew it helped make my muscles stronger but I did not realize how much it helped reduce your overall body fat. Instead of going to the gym to do my usual elliptical machine, treadmill, and bike, I try to incorporate lifting into my workout regimen (when I have time to go of course). Sometimes I will do a few machines but nothing major. I want to prevent and stop cellulite, I want to keep everything toned but I am going to have to work for it.
I found this awesome article on everything you need to know about weight lifting and I am going to start weight lifting the RIGHT way starting this weekend. Everything You Need to Know About Weight Training article by Shape Magazine. Now for the inspiration and motivation. The holiday season is here and that means carbs and sweets. My two WORST enemies but it is a love hate relationship. They are always plentiful during the holiday season so I need to be mindful of portions and be willing to kick my butt extra hard (or lift it off). Tomorrow I am going to make my "Lift" playlist that will help me stay motivated while working out.
Lift Playlist:
1. Hilary Duff -- Come Clean
2. Eminem- Lose Yourself
3. Black Eyed Peas- Pump It
4. Feel Good Inc. - Gorillaz
5. What Goes Around Comes Around – Justin Timberlake
6. Like a Boy- Ciara
7. Maneater – Nelly Furtado
8. Give It To Me – Timbaland
9. Fighter- Christina Aguilera
10. Yeah- by Usher ft. Ludacris & Lil' Jon
11. Toxic- Britney Spears
12. Call on Me- Eric Pyrdz
I am already excited to work on my "troubled" areas- ex. legs, butt, abs, back and I can't wait to see results. I know that I am going to have to start off light and slow but eventually I will build stamina.
So here I come muscle men, step aside because this chick is about to get TONED! Do you lift? What is your lifting routine? How to keep yourself motivated to not do just cardio?
I am tired of sweating (great article on how to help minimize sweating) all over every piece of cardio equipment at the gym and still getting zero love from the scale! I need to tone and firm up! When I played sports in High School, my volleyball coach and diving coach made us lift weights three times a week in addition to cardio at practices. I knew it helped make my muscles stronger but I did not realize how much it helped reduce your overall body fat. Instead of going to the gym to do my usual elliptical machine, treadmill, and bike, I try to incorporate lifting into my workout regimen (when I have time to go of course). Sometimes I will do a few machines but nothing major. I want to prevent and stop cellulite, I want to keep everything toned but I am going to have to work for it.
I found this awesome article on everything you need to know about weight lifting and I am going to start weight lifting the RIGHT way starting this weekend. Everything You Need to Know About Weight Training article by Shape Magazine. Now for the inspiration and motivation. The holiday season is here and that means carbs and sweets. My two WORST enemies but it is a love hate relationship. They are always plentiful during the holiday season so I need to be mindful of portions and be willing to kick my butt extra hard (or lift it off). Tomorrow I am going to make my "Lift" playlist that will help me stay motivated while working out.
1. Hilary Duff -- Come Clean
2. Eminem- Lose Yourself
3. Black Eyed Peas- Pump It
4. Feel Good Inc. - Gorillaz
5. What Goes Around Comes Around – Justin Timberlake
6. Like a Boy- Ciara
7. Maneater – Nelly Furtado
8. Give It To Me – Timbaland
9. Fighter- Christina Aguilera
10. Yeah- by Usher ft. Ludacris & Lil' Jon
11. Toxic- Britney Spears
12. Call on Me- Eric Pyrdz
I am already excited to work on my "troubled" areas- ex. legs, butt, abs, back and I can't wait to see results. I know that I am going to have to start off light and slow but eventually I will build stamina.
So here I come muscle men, step aside because this chick is about to get TONED! Do you lift? What is your lifting routine? How to keep yourself motivated to not do just cardio?
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Running on Empty
The stuffy nose, tightening in the chest, the feeling of exhaustion- all signs that I have pushed myself too far and am running on empty. My body is telling me it needs a break and I am being forced to listen and learn a lesson. I always try to take care of myself so that I am rarely ever sick but this time I have lost the battle. Sure a headache here or a little sniffle there, but never enough to make me have to take a sick day at work or make me not do the things I want to do.
Living a healthy lifestyle is extremely important to me and when I am sick, I take this opportunity to reflect. Being sick forces me to completely slow down, which I have to be honest, I hate. No working out, no eating dairy products (because they make your mucus membrane thicker), constantly drinking water and tea, and most importantly REST. This may not sound too bad, but for me this is torture.
Instead of filling my weekend with activities and errands, I spent almost the entire weekend on couch rest. I was in quarantine and I was just going to have to make the most of it. At one point I asked myself, what do you do when you are sick? The things I wanted to do were "off-limits," so all I could do was rest. Sunday was spent in grubby clothes on the couch with a cup of water or tea in my hand and attending to a few chores here and there.
As a distraction from being stuck indoors, I watched multiple hours of my new favorite show Glee with a dear friend. (If you have not seen Glee, I HIGHLY recommend it). I was hoping to knock my cold within 48 hours but now four days in I still am on recovery mode and waiting for my chest cold to be gone. I must admit though that being sick is really making me see how much I over do it sometimes. My Love Your Body Plan did not come soon enough because I am worn down.
I had no clue on what to do when I got home last night at 6:00p.m.- couldn't go to the gym, can't be out and about being social, and I wasn't tired so I cleaned my apartment and made soup. Exciting I know. Tonight will be another uneventful evening, but it is what I need. The sooner I rest up and take care of myself, the sooner I will be back doing the things I love. Sometimes we need to be forced to slow down so that we can really reflect and evaluate ourselves. I now know why I am run down. Staying up late, cramming my days and not catching up on rest is the perfect lineup for someone to get sick. As much as I am yearning even more for my regular routine I am taking full advantage of this R&R time. Learning when to not over do it and push myself is the lesson I need to be learning right now. Once I am back in full force, I will be monitoring my tank more and more so that I won't hit empty anytime soon.
What do you do to keep yourself from running on empty? How do you prevent yourself from getting sick?
"None of us is built to run nonstop. That's why, when you don't give yourself the time and care you need, your body rebels in the form of sickness and exhaustion. Taking care of yourself so you can better care for others is an idea many women I talk to still can't embrace. But think of it in terms of the oxygen-mask theory: If you don't put on your mask first, you won't be able to save anyone else."
— Oprah
Living a healthy lifestyle is extremely important to me and when I am sick, I take this opportunity to reflect. Being sick forces me to completely slow down, which I have to be honest, I hate. No working out, no eating dairy products (because they make your mucus membrane thicker), constantly drinking water and tea, and most importantly REST. This may not sound too bad, but for me this is torture.
Instead of filling my weekend with activities and errands, I spent almost the entire weekend on couch rest. I was in quarantine and I was just going to have to make the most of it. At one point I asked myself, what do you do when you are sick? The things I wanted to do were "off-limits," so all I could do was rest. Sunday was spent in grubby clothes on the couch with a cup of water or tea in my hand and attending to a few chores here and there.
As a distraction from being stuck indoors, I watched multiple hours of my new favorite show Glee with a dear friend. (If you have not seen Glee, I HIGHLY recommend it). I was hoping to knock my cold within 48 hours but now four days in I still am on recovery mode and waiting for my chest cold to be gone. I must admit though that being sick is really making me see how much I over do it sometimes. My Love Your Body Plan did not come soon enough because I am worn down.
I had no clue on what to do when I got home last night at 6:00p.m.- couldn't go to the gym, can't be out and about being social, and I wasn't tired so I cleaned my apartment and made soup. Exciting I know. Tonight will be another uneventful evening, but it is what I need. The sooner I rest up and take care of myself, the sooner I will be back doing the things I love. Sometimes we need to be forced to slow down so that we can really reflect and evaluate ourselves. I now know why I am run down. Staying up late, cramming my days and not catching up on rest is the perfect lineup for someone to get sick. As much as I am yearning even more for my regular routine I am taking full advantage of this R&R time. Learning when to not over do it and push myself is the lesson I need to be learning right now. Once I am back in full force, I will be monitoring my tank more and more so that I won't hit empty anytime soon.
What do you do to keep yourself from running on empty? How do you prevent yourself from getting sick?
"None of us is built to run nonstop. That's why, when you don't give yourself the time and care you need, your body rebels in the form of sickness and exhaustion. Taking care of yourself so you can better care for others is an idea many women I talk to still can't embrace. But think of it in terms of the oxygen-mask theory: If you don't put on your mask first, you won't be able to save anyone else."
— Oprah
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Love Your Body
We all strive to be healthy. Whether it is trying a new diet or workout, changing our bad habits, or altering our routines, the main goal is to do something good for you. I am always looking for ways I can improve my health and do my body some good. But what does it really mean to love your body?
Being a woman is tough especially in this day and age. We are constantly being hit with images of how the “ideal” woman is suppose to look, dress and act, and believe these “icons” when they say it is easy to look like them, when in reality it is not. Even though they are not the "norm" it is really hard to ignore and not compare yourself to the women we see in the multimedia and learning how to turn your comparisons into motivators really helps. Instead of focusing on looking like these images, focus on what positive things people are doing for themselves and let that inspire you. We need to love the body God gave us and embrace it every single day.
When you truly love your body and accept it the way it is, it is amazing how much more confident and happy you are. It is never too late for you to make changes and if there are things you want to start or stop doing then why not go for it? The healthy habits we form now will only benefit us that much more when we are older, and that in itself motivates me every day. Right now where I am in my life, I am working on ways to show my body more love. Aside from me growing more confidence in myself, I have some bad habits that I am hoping to break. I do not know how well or how long these lifestyle changes will do but I am determined to give them a chance. Of course I know that sometimes circumstances can get in the way of plans, but my main goal is to focus and work on each thing one day at a time.
Jessica’s- Love My Body Plan:
• Drink more water every day- soda, lattes, ice tea and wine are not substitutes.
• Take a daily vitamin (even if it is princess Gummie vitamins those still count.)
• Add more fiber into my diet.
• Grocery Shop at least once a week (fresh produce must be purchased, not just non-perishable foods).
• Listen to my body when I know I am in need of relaxation and/or sleep (Goal- learn how to take naps)
• Bring lunch to work at least 1 day a week (leftover food from meetings does not count).
• Go for a walk outside once a week with no music or cell phone (no cheating).
• Designate more time for me to spend with my faith.
• Go to bed early- Midnight is not considered early.
Some of you may think my list is silly or odd, but for me these are currently my bad habits that I am trying to break. As I try my plan, I may find some things are just too hard to break or that I need to add or alter some items on my list and that is okay. All I want is for me to grow more confidence in myself and truly love the person I am inside and out.
What do you love about yourself? Do you have things that you want to start doing for you? What new habits have you started doing lately?
Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart. ~Kahlil Gibran
Being a woman is tough especially in this day and age. We are constantly being hit with images of how the “ideal” woman is suppose to look, dress and act, and believe these “icons” when they say it is easy to look like them, when in reality it is not. Even though they are not the "norm" it is really hard to ignore and not compare yourself to the women we see in the multimedia and learning how to turn your comparisons into motivators really helps. Instead of focusing on looking like these images, focus on what positive things people are doing for themselves and let that inspire you. We need to love the body God gave us and embrace it every single day.
 |
| Dove: Campaign for Real Beauty |
Jessica’s- Love My Body Plan:
• Drink more water every day- soda, lattes, ice tea and wine are not substitutes.
• Take a daily vitamin (even if it is princess Gummie vitamins those still count.)
• Add more fiber into my diet.
• Grocery Shop at least once a week (fresh produce must be purchased, not just non-perishable foods).
• Listen to my body when I know I am in need of relaxation and/or sleep (Goal- learn how to take naps)
• Bring lunch to work at least 1 day a week (leftover food from meetings does not count).
• Go for a walk outside once a week with no music or cell phone (no cheating).
• Designate more time for me to spend with my faith.
• Go to bed early- Midnight is not considered early.
Some of you may think my list is silly or odd, but for me these are currently my bad habits that I am trying to break. As I try my plan, I may find some things are just too hard to break or that I need to add or alter some items on my list and that is okay. All I want is for me to grow more confidence in myself and truly love the person I am inside and out.
What do you love about yourself? Do you have things that you want to start doing for you? What new habits have you started doing lately?
Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart. ~Kahlil Gibran
Monday, September 27, 2010
Work-it Out
Appointments! Laundry! E-mails! Text messages! Hold on a second, my cell phone's ringing! No wonder we stumble around all day, dazed and confused and have the look of exhaustion at the end of each day. All of this “noise” can make life stressful and trying to find time everyday to tune it out is key, even if it is for only 30 minutes.
When I am stressed and overwhelmed, I turn to my activities that help me get that feeling good and satisfaction feeling inside. In this crazy busy life we live, it is extremely important to find ways to reduce stress and do things that make us feel good. You know the feeling, where you are upbeat, smiling inside, and have that extra kick in your step- that feeling good feeling. I absolutely love that feeling and try to get it every day. For me, my favorite outlets are working out, reading, blogging and listening to my favorite songs while cleaning. Whatever your stress reducers may be, it is so important for you to really enjoy them and find time daily if possible for one at least one of them. You deserve it and owe it to yourself.
Working out is my number one stress reducer. For those who know me, they know how much I am a cardio junky. There is nothing more satisfying after I finish a workout than hear my heart beating hard against my chest and sweat pouring out of me. I am not ashamed or embarrassed to be a sweaty mess at a gym or outdoors, I actually take pride in it. When I really am stressed and need to unwind, I try to give myself a workout challenge. It is so easy to get into a rut and a routine so I try to spice up my workouts so I don’t hit a plateau. When my endorphins are high and my mind is focused on my workout, all the built up stress seems to disappear or pour out of me.
Before the start of this month, I set myself a new goal: attend a workout class. I knew that if I didn’t push myself to make this goal then I would never step up to the plate and actually go through with it. But I did my goal and tried two classes.
My first workout class that I decided to take was completely spontaneous. Over a dozen women were standing outside of the main workout studio to enter into a class; some were my age and some even older, I didn’t have anywhere to be so I thought why not? The class was a cardio sculpt class and the class description didn’t sound too intense. Within five minutes I was taking back my words. My instructor literally kicked my butt, thighs, arms, and hearts butt all the while rocking out to music. She made us do jumping jacks, lunges, lift weights, burpies and so much more. I even contemplated walking out of the class halfway through. Trying a new class does not count if you leave before it is over and I was proud of myself that I stayed. Seeing other people in my class lifting more weight than me and taking less breaks instantly motivated me to want to be at their level and start coming regularly. After the class finished, I was exhausted but feeling that internal “high.” I had forgotten how amazing I felt after doing a workout class and I was PUMPED!
The next class I tried was Zumba. As a former jazz, tap and ballet dancer (from age 4 to 10), I thought this class would be a great opportunity for me to get back into my dance groove. The class was absolutely packed. The first song played was an African infused tribal song. I had never danced to this sort of music before and I was immediately hooked into the class. For an entire hour we danced to African, Latin, Rap, and Techno music. During the hour long class, I was unfortunately in the back of the room trying to mimic the moves of the attendees in front of me since I couldn’t see my instructor. Needless-to-say I looked like I had never danced a day in my life for the majority of the class. I was turning, twisting, jumping and stepping opposite or “off-beat” compared to everyone else and basically making a fool of myself. Instead of getting all embarrassed and uncomfortable, I owned it and danced with confidence. This was MY challenge after all and I was proud of myself for trying something new. These classes are my new way of what I call “working-it-out.” I workout my stress, feelings, and thoughts and boy does it make me feel good every time.
But isn’t it sad sometimes how easily we are distracted and preoccupied, even when we are doing activities we enjoy and love? No matter what time of the day, our minds are busy digesting and analyzing the day’s events with no set timer on when to slow down. That is why having stress reducing outlets are so necessary- it forces us to make time to slow down. We need outlets in our daily lives so that we can be balanced and not explode. Taming my stress helps me stay stable and without my outlets I don’t know how I would survive. Sometimes we need to decompress and sort through our thoughts and emotions so that we don’t feel overwhelmed and finding ways that help you “work-it-out” will help you be strong and ready for tomorrow.
How do you reduce your stress? What gives you that internal “high?” Is it curling up on the couch with a good book? Is it listening to your new playlist while running outside? Whatever your outlet may be, make it yours and be in the moment.
"Being in control of your life and having realistic expectations about your day-to-day challenges are the keys to stress management, which is perhaps the most important ingredient to living a happy, healthy and rewarding life." -Marilu Henner
When I am stressed and overwhelmed, I turn to my activities that help me get that feeling good and satisfaction feeling inside. In this crazy busy life we live, it is extremely important to find ways to reduce stress and do things that make us feel good. You know the feeling, where you are upbeat, smiling inside, and have that extra kick in your step- that feeling good feeling. I absolutely love that feeling and try to get it every day. For me, my favorite outlets are working out, reading, blogging and listening to my favorite songs while cleaning. Whatever your stress reducers may be, it is so important for you to really enjoy them and find time daily if possible for one at least one of them. You deserve it and owe it to yourself.
Working out is my number one stress reducer. For those who know me, they know how much I am a cardio junky. There is nothing more satisfying after I finish a workout than hear my heart beating hard against my chest and sweat pouring out of me. I am not ashamed or embarrassed to be a sweaty mess at a gym or outdoors, I actually take pride in it. When I really am stressed and need to unwind, I try to give myself a workout challenge. It is so easy to get into a rut and a routine so I try to spice up my workouts so I don’t hit a plateau. When my endorphins are high and my mind is focused on my workout, all the built up stress seems to disappear or pour out of me.
Before the start of this month, I set myself a new goal: attend a workout class. I knew that if I didn’t push myself to make this goal then I would never step up to the plate and actually go through with it. But I did my goal and tried two classes.
My first workout class that I decided to take was completely spontaneous. Over a dozen women were standing outside of the main workout studio to enter into a class; some were my age and some even older, I didn’t have anywhere to be so I thought why not? The class was a cardio sculpt class and the class description didn’t sound too intense. Within five minutes I was taking back my words. My instructor literally kicked my butt, thighs, arms, and hearts butt all the while rocking out to music. She made us do jumping jacks, lunges, lift weights, burpies and so much more. I even contemplated walking out of the class halfway through. Trying a new class does not count if you leave before it is over and I was proud of myself that I stayed. Seeing other people in my class lifting more weight than me and taking less breaks instantly motivated me to want to be at their level and start coming regularly. After the class finished, I was exhausted but feeling that internal “high.” I had forgotten how amazing I felt after doing a workout class and I was PUMPED!
The next class I tried was Zumba. As a former jazz, tap and ballet dancer (from age 4 to 10), I thought this class would be a great opportunity for me to get back into my dance groove. The class was absolutely packed. The first song played was an African infused tribal song. I had never danced to this sort of music before and I was immediately hooked into the class. For an entire hour we danced to African, Latin, Rap, and Techno music. During the hour long class, I was unfortunately in the back of the room trying to mimic the moves of the attendees in front of me since I couldn’t see my instructor. Needless-to-say I looked like I had never danced a day in my life for the majority of the class. I was turning, twisting, jumping and stepping opposite or “off-beat” compared to everyone else and basically making a fool of myself. Instead of getting all embarrassed and uncomfortable, I owned it and danced with confidence. This was MY challenge after all and I was proud of myself for trying something new. These classes are my new way of what I call “working-it-out.” I workout my stress, feelings, and thoughts and boy does it make me feel good every time.
How do you reduce your stress? What gives you that internal “high?” Is it curling up on the couch with a good book? Is it listening to your new playlist while running outside? Whatever your outlet may be, make it yours and be in the moment.
"Being in control of your life and having realistic expectations about your day-to-day challenges are the keys to stress management, which is perhaps the most important ingredient to living a happy, healthy and rewarding life." -Marilu Henner
Thursday, February 4, 2010
"The Great Escape"
Recently my good friend Katie introduced me to Bikram Yoga. Yoga has never really been a workout I typically do, but I thought I would give it a try after she showed me some of the poses; little did I know what I was about to get myself into.
I have never liked steam rooms. Sitting wearing nothing but a towel in a small-claustrophobic-type room with air so thick that it is hard to catch your breath has always scared me, and usually I only last for a few minutes, so I knew this was going to be interesting....
As I walked up the stairs to the second floor of this studio building, I signed in, grabbed a yoga mat and two towels, quickly changed and filled my “SIGG eco-friendly” water bottle (since that is the “yoga” thing to do) with ice cold filtered tap-water and walked towards the foggy double-glass doors. The second I opened the door and stepped inside, I was instantly engulfed by a heat bubble- the exact same kind of heat wave a steam room has.
As I laid down on my mat waiting for class to start, I could feel the heat already sinking in- I was starting to perspire and felt my heart starting to beat faster. Lights came on and class began. For the next 90 minutes, I was sweating profusely, twisting and turning my body in all different directions like a pretzel you get at a sporting event. The 105 degree heat felt like 115 at times, and the instructor insisted on not stepping out of the room until the very end. In a room filled of 30+ people, I do the 26 different yoga posses two times through.
After my last pose of breathing out the stale air in my lungs and the instructor turns the lights down again for dead body pose, I realized I never had a single thought flow through my mind the entire time. Instead, all I did was listen to my instructor talk as I went through the motions. I had finally found an escape- a way I can relax, unwind, and do something for me, without any distractions.
Like yoga- you need to have your body and mind in sync, your life will be off balance if you don’t. If you’re off thinking elsewhere, you miss out on the true benefits of yoga. Nowadays it is hard to find a way to escape from our noisy streets and the noise that clouds our minds. Yet in Bikram class I have found silence. With this new workout, I believe I have found my equilibrium. With it I find balance and the motivation that makes me want to get better every time I do it. This new workout may be the equilibrium of my scale, and something that motivates me to want to get better at every time.
“For me, yoga is not just a workout - it's about working on yourself. ~Mary Glover”
I have never liked steam rooms. Sitting wearing nothing but a towel in a small-claustrophobic-type room with air so thick that it is hard to catch your breath has always scared me, and usually I only last for a few minutes, so I knew this was going to be interesting....
 |
| Dandayamana-Dhanurasana- Standing Bow Pulling Pose |
As I walked up the stairs to the second floor of this studio building, I signed in, grabbed a yoga mat and two towels, quickly changed and filled my “SIGG eco-friendly” water bottle (since that is the “yoga” thing to do) with ice cold filtered tap-water and walked towards the foggy double-glass doors. The second I opened the door and stepped inside, I was instantly engulfed by a heat bubble- the exact same kind of heat wave a steam room has.
As I laid down on my mat waiting for class to start, I could feel the heat already sinking in- I was starting to perspire and felt my heart starting to beat faster. Lights came on and class began. For the next 90 minutes, I was sweating profusely, twisting and turning my body in all different directions like a pretzel you get at a sporting event. The 105 degree heat felt like 115 at times, and the instructor insisted on not stepping out of the room until the very end. In a room filled of 30+ people, I do the 26 different yoga posses two times through.
 |
| Rest |
 |
| Ustrasana- Camel Pose |
Like yoga- you need to have your body and mind in sync, your life will be off balance if you don’t. If you’re off thinking elsewhere, you miss out on the true benefits of yoga. Nowadays it is hard to find a way to escape from our noisy streets and the noise that clouds our minds. Yet in Bikram class I have found silence. With this new workout, I believe I have found my equilibrium. With it I find balance and the motivation that makes me want to get better every time I do it. This new workout may be the equilibrium of my scale, and something that motivates me to want to get better at every time.
“For me, yoga is not just a workout - it's about working on yourself. ~Mary Glover”
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