5 Ways to Find Balance

Happy Tuesday!

This is that time for year where many of us find ourselves short on time. Between shopping and preparing for the holidays, work and other obligations, we are frantically trying to manage our time and find balance (Read: sanity).

I am absolutely no exception to the rule.  I have picked up some seasonal work (and love it), but I am finding myself busier than ever while still finding time to blog and stay connected to the online world.

For example, you may have noticed the lack of postage yesterday. 

At first, I was stressed about it, after all I did commit to 5 posts a week.  When I gave it some thought, I realized that if I need to make some adjustments to my blogging schedule that it totally okay.  I pride myself in quality over quantity and I am don't want to throw up a post just to have something up that day.

So to find my own balance over the holiday season, I may be blogging less frequently (I am aiming for 3-5 times a week), but everything I do post will something that I am truly passionate about.

Looking for a little balance yourself?  Here are a few tips to help you out!

Source

Time Management
Something that many of us dread.  Figure out who much time you have this week to you have to accomplish your goals (i.e. workouts, chores, baking) and how long it will take you to do each one. 
 
Prioritize
After you manage your time, make a list of all of these to-dos for the week and figure out which ones are the most important and which ones can be placed on the back burner. Take note of the top 5 and slot them in your planner.

Be Flexible
Things don't always go according to plan, so be prepare to roll with the punches and do the schedule shuffle.  If you can't check everything off your list, don't stress.

Ask for Help
Don't be shy to enlist the help of family members and friends.  Maybe you need someone to pick the kids up from school or you need to ask your partner to take on laundry duty this week.  That's what friends are for. :)

Plan for "Me" Time
I have said it many times before, but it is worth repeating.  It is so important to take some time every week to focus on you.  Whether it is 5 or 50 minutes, your body, mind and spirit will thank you.

How do you find balance this time of year?
I am still working on this one, but I am getting there.  Giving myself permission to take a break really helps.

Stay Healthy,
Tracy

Today, I Will...

I hope you had a great long weekend!

I had a wonderful time at the cottage and my belly is still full of ham and pumpkin pie ;)

The weather was unseasonably fantastic this weekend and I found myself in complete awe of views like this:

My 3 Favourite Mind-Body Books

Thanks so much for your feedback about my last post about commenting and blogs, keep it coming (no pressure:)

I know that I worked-in last week, but I today I wanted to feature a few of my favourite mind-body reads.  These books have been on my shelf for many years and I find myself constantly using them as a resource, not only for my own practice, but to help me with my classes and clients.

4 Stress-Busting Tips

Yesterday sure didn’t feel like a work-in day. 

I was working frantically to prepare for the Lakeshore Mardi Gras this weekend.

Stop by if you are in the Toronto area and say 'hi'!

Work-In Wendesday: Plan, Bake, Sweat.

The last week has been crazy.

I have been doing some office work during the day, training in the morning and teaching at night.

Needless to say, I am not so used to these 12 hour days.

Enter Work-In Wednesday. 

I am actually off today and have a few errands to run (like getting ready for this event on the weekend:), but for the most part I am going to focus on taking care of me.

Between work, school, friends and family it is so important to squeeze in some "me time".  This could be as simple sitting outside with a nice cup to tea to booking a day at the spa.

So what am I going to do today?  I am so glad you asked.

Spending Time with Yourself

Happy Monday, friends!

I hope you had a fantastic weekend.  I was home alone and took full advantage of the time to relax.

Exhibit A:  Me in my PJ's at 9pm on a Saturday night.

Everyone needs down time.  After a hectic week of working, school, kids or whatever else keeps you busy, sometimes you just need to spend some quality time with yourself.

A Positive, Healthy Attitude

Source

We all have a pity party sometimes.

Maybe you are frustrated with your job.  Perhaps you are not reaching your goals or maybe you are just stuck in a rut.

Being Flexible with Your Exercise Routine

I am having a mind-body conflict.

My mind is telling me that I want to break in these babies:

The Great Artificial Sweetener Debate

Now, I am the first to admit that I had a love affair with...

That's right, I was an artificial sweetener junkie.

3 Ways to Soothe the Body and Mind

We have been blessed with some fantastic weather in Southern Ontario and I am planning on enjoying every minute of it.

Isn't amazing how the sun instantly lifts your mood?

Speaking of mood, I have been finding myself pretty tense lately, so I thought I would share a few of my favourite things that help me to relax and find some inner calm.

Listening to the Mind, Body and Spirit

How is everyone doing with your Work-in Week?

My body is talking to me today and I am listening, so it is yoga and perhaps a dip the pool later.

In my guest post for Lisa @ I'm An Okie last week, I talked about the importance of paying attention to what your body needs.  It may be listening to what it wants you to eat, which activities feel good and when it wants you to rest.

Work-in Week

The last few weeks have been busy, happy and exhausting.

Starting a business is very exciting, but it quite a task.  You don't quite realize how much there is to do between research, promotion and prepping until you are knee deep in it.

Don't get me wrong, I am beyond thrilled about this new opportunity, but I am finding myself a little stressed on this Monday morning.

My Chillout Playlist

My many thanks to everyone again for their well wishes.  I am slowly, but surely on the mend (fingers crossed).

Just as I am starting to feel better, I get side swiped with the news yesterday that our car won't start.  It seems that something is draining the battery.  Before I decided it was time to panic, I had to remind myself that this is beyond my control and if it doesn't get fixed right away, it is not the end of the world.

Then, I just spent the evening listening to some calming music and practiced some relaxation techniques.  It is amazing how soothing music can be in combination with breathing and focus.

In the fall, I shared my workout playlist with you.  Now, I thought is was a perfect time to share my chillout playlist.

As you can see, it is a pretty ecclectic mix.  I find this kind of music is great when played in the background of a small get together.  I also use it to set the tone when teaching my pilates classes.

What kind of music do you listen to when you want to chillout?

Stay Healthy, 

Tracy

Say Om

Source

Focused relaxation is vital to our well-being. It helps counteract the negative effects of stress on our mental and physical health. There are many different ways to relax – massage, visualization, meditation, and exercise. Here are some easy ways that you can incorporate relaxation into your busy everyday life.

Practice Yoga – It is a great way to develop a balance between the mind, body and spirit. The physical postures help to relax tense muscles and the breathing will help calm the spirit.

Visualize Yourself Calm – Visualizing a peaceful atmosphere, soothing sounds and colours can help slow your mind and create an overall sense of well-being.

Get Pampered– Never underestimate the power of touch! A gentle massage will help to ease tension and improve circulation. 

Just Breathe – When you are trying to relax, take long, slow deep breaths. Place your hand on your abdominals to feel it rise and fall as you expand your lungs and diaphragm.

The Sweet Scent of Serenity – Aromatherapy has been used for many years to stimulate the senses. Essential oils can be calming and soothing or invigorating and uplifting. Lavender, jasmine and vanilla are especially helpful in relaxation.

“Give your thoughts a chance to settle down. Then feel you mind clear like a still forest pool”

- The Buddha

Stay Healthy,
Tracy

Looking For Inspiration

Source

I have been thinking all day about what I wanted to post. I spend a lot of time looking at magazines, chatting on Twitter and scanning health forums to see what everyone is buzzing about in the world of health and wellness.

I am always looking for inspiration.


Today in my travels, I came across this quote that really seems quite fitting.

"Inspiration does not come like a blot, nor is it kinetic energy striving, but it comes to us slowly and quietly all the time."
- Brenda Ueland

In our fast-paced world, we are often looking for (and sometime getting) instant everything. This quote is a great reminder about all the inspiration that we can find in everyday life.

Sometimes we don't have to look for inspiration; it is all around us.

Stay Healthy,
Tracy

Just Dance

Source

I often listen to music when I am doing chores around the house.

Today as I was doing my laundry, a classic dance song from the 90's came on and without really thinking, I started to dance.

Not only did it make the task of sorting and folding go much faster, it was FUN! It reminded my how much I liked to dance as a child and that I should try to do it more often.

Why am I telling you about my dance-capades?

We often get so caught up in the stresses of everyday life that we forget about the little things that bring us joy.

You certainly don't have to dance around your living room, just do something, anything that makes you happy as it did when you were young.

Whether it is going for a swing at the local park or doing a cannon ball into your backyard pool, your inner child will thank you and you just might make your outer adult smile.

Stay Healthy,
Tracy

Worry Much?

Source

I am a worrywart through and through. I worry about everything from whether I got the best deal at the grocery store to to not being able to find the perfect pair of jeans.

Now, these things may seem pretty silly to you (even I realise how silly they sound as I an typing this) but I worry about them just the same.

For many of us, worrying is just a part of our daily routine.

The problem is that all this worrying is very time consuming and takes our minds away from some of the more important things in our lives like family and friends.

Here are a few tips I have learned to try and keep my worries in check:

Acceptance - Try and accept that there are some uncertainties in the world and you may not always be able to find solutions.

Schedule - Give yourself time everyday to consider some of the things you worry about and write them down.

Relax - If you are a chronic worrier there are many things you can do to help you relax your mind and body like yoga, meditation, deep breathing and massage.

Got any more tips? Post them here!

Stay Healthy,
Tracy

What is Your Passion?

Source

Sometimes it amazes me how all things are connected.

As many of you know, I am back at school studying communications but still am still active in health and fitness and continue to blog about it.

As a project for one of my classes I have to create and maintain a blog about may passion. Well, I have been doing that for 4 years! How great is it that that my worlds can come together.

This brings me to the question of the day: What are you passionate about and how can you link it to living a healthier life?

For example, if you are an and avid scrapbooker, you could create a book of "lightened up" desserts for a friend. Are you committed to improving the environment? Take your kids for a walk and pick up trash along the way. Do you love to read? Pick up a few books on the latest diet craze and educate yourself.

Try it. You will be surprised how everything can be connected to a healthier you!

Stay healthy,
Tracy

The "S" Word

Source

I know, I know, it has been a while since my last post but I have to tell you that June was a whirlwind of a month.

I am currently trying to get my act together so I can attend school in the fall (I will fill you in when everything is finalized) and there has been so much to do. Paperwork, traveling, interviews and all of it had to be done in a very short period of time. The entire process has been exhausting. Along with all my other responsibilities, I have been totally stressed out!

There it is. The "S" word.

We know it all to well. Everywhere you turn there is more of it. At work, at home, with our friends, with our families. So what can you do to stop stress from taking over your life? Here are a few things I have learned over the last few years that have really helped me deal with stress and I hope that they can help you too.

Take a Step Back - The next time you find yourself knee deep in projects ready to pull your hair out, take a break. Remove yourself from the area, take a few deep breaths and have a cup of tea. You will be surprised how a few minutes away can give you a fresh outlook. Make sure that you take time for yourself every week. Join a yoga class or spend an hour with a good book.

Talk It Out - If something is bothering you, your silence is only going to make it worse. Confide in a friend or family member. You may even find it helpful to speak with a health professional about your problems. This is not only therapeutic but it may help you to see your issues from a different perspective.

Be Positive - Having a positive attitude is a great asset in any situation. When we we are under a lot of pressure, it is so easy to say, "I give up" or "I can't do it." Focus on what you "can" do and ask for help if you need it. Have a sense of humour if things are not going your way. Laughter is the best medicine.

Keep It Real - Much of the stress that we feel comes from the pressure we put on ourselves. For example, you to do a presentation, run a PTA meeting, take your kids to soccer and make cookies for a bake sale all in one night. Does this sound like you? Be realistic when you are tackling projects and set clear goals. The best thing you can do is learn to say, "no".

Have a great week and Happy Canada Day!

Tracy

The Winds of Change

I am going to go a little off topic today and talk about the thing that no one really wants to talk about: the recession.

I know it has been tough times for many of us. These economic conditions have been the reality that is affecting our security, jobs and quality of life.

I too have been affected and I am looking at it as a new beginning, a time to re-focus and figure out which direction to take in my life and career.

There is hope. There is always hope. Be thankful for what you have and what new opportunities change may bring.

How about you? How are you dealing with changes? Do you have some words of inspiration for the rest of us?

Stay Healthy,
Tracy