The holiday hustle is upon us.
It’s such a fun time of year, but it can be overwhelming with longer to-do lists, more get-togethers to attend, all while keeping things moving in business and the homefront.
I’ve had several conversations with clients and connections recently, and it’s been quite a year for some. People want to end the year feeling good and enjoy life more.
And from what we know about how energy works, that is the pathway to whatever you want in life.
So let’s double down, shall we?
I thought I’d do a fun little series – 12 Days of Living Authentically, where I share 12 ideas to incorporate into your life to help give you a richer, more meaningful life experience.
Of course, there are many more options for living authentically, not limited to 12, but I wanted to tie it to the season and give you a manageable number of ideas to try.
Then, we’ll have the perfect runway to kick off 2024 with heavier content related to business and energy and blend the two.
So here goes the first four days of living authentically.
I refer to the following group of ideas as “The Big 4” – do these consistently, and you’re well on your way to feeling good and attracting more.
1. Exercise/Movement
If you’re anything like me and the executives I coach, formal workouts aside, your lifestyle is rather sedentary. We don’t have jobs with significant physical demands that keep us up and moving. Many execs are in meetings, calls, or doing work on the computer most of the day.
Our bodies start to change as we hit our 40s, 50s and beyond, and what once worked for us may no longer serve us. You may not be able to lift heavy or run for miles and miles like you once did, and you may find that you’re more injury-prone. And metabolisms aren’t what they used to be, so we have to find ways to burn more calories, lest the pounds add up over the years.
It’s important to commit to some type of movement daily and update it depending on what’s going on in your life.
Injured? Choose exercises that focus on different areas of your body. Bored with your routine? Switch it up and try new activities. Need accountability? Pair up with a workout buddy.
I’ll share with you two things I’ve been doing consistently for several months now that benefit me in so many ways – walking and yoga. Both have significant health and wellness benefits. Try incorporating both and feel the difference.
How are you doing in the exercise department? Are you feeling inspired to try anything new?
2. Hydration
It’s probably not news to you that staying hydrated is important, but putting it into practice is a whole different ball game. “Drink water” sounds simple, but when you’re in back-to-back meetings all day, you can quickly fall behind in the hydration department.
Symptoms such as fatigue and headache can often be taken care of by hydrating properly.
Get a jump-start on your hydration first thing in the morning, and track your intake throughout the day.
What would make drinking water more enticing? A new water bottle? Adding your favorite herbs/spices – like fresh mint, crushed berries, and or ginger?
3. Nutrition
Ahhhh nutrition. I could go on and on about this. Little known fact about me – Before I founded my business, I was contemplating becoming a nutritionist. I so believe in the power of eating nutritious food, but I decided there’s a way I could incorporate my passion for healthy eating into a broader initiative. And here we are.
Food heals. Your body knows what to do. You just have to give it the right building blocks.
Every time you eat, you’re either fueling disease or fighting it. Disease can’t live in an alkaline environment. It’s biologically not possible. You can keep your body alkaline by choosing the right foods.
Food isn’t just a means to satisfy hunger; it’s fuel that gives us the energy and medicine we need. The majority of pharmaceuticals are derived from plants, so why not “treat” illnesses before they even materialize by getting in front of them and avoiding the diagnosis altogether?
Your body replaces its cells using the food you eat as the building blocks. What you eat, you become.
Nobody can escape the consequences of poor choices forever. Sooner or later, you’re gonna need to pay the piper. Either invest now in organic groceries, going to the gym, spending time nourishing your body, or pay later for chronic health problems and health crises.
I’m always looking to raise the bar in the eating department and try new things, and I want to share what I’ve been doing recently.
Lately I’ve been in love with salads. I’ve always aimed to eat one salad per day, but recently, the vast majority of my meals have been salads, and I’m having so much fun getting creative in the kitchen and coming up with fun-themed salads. And no, I’m not starving – even my teenage boys love them.
So here’s the skinny – the majority of your food intake should come from veggies and some fruits, and for the rest, toss in some healthy fats, proteins, and grains.
And lastly, know that healthy eating can be fun. You can do it in a way where you feel fully satisfied, and over time, you’ll start to crave healthy foods because they make you feel energized.
Are you eating clean, nutritious foods, and if not, have you identified what’s getting in the way?
4. Rest/Relaxation
You can’t be firing on all cylinders without eventually becoming exhausted and burnt out.
Carving out time for rest and relaxation is the secret to having more energy now and for the long haul.
The “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” mentality is out and replaced by a more holistic, harmonized way of living.
While you sleep, your body nurtures your parasympathetic nervous system, regulates hormones, rebalances chemicals, and optimizes your overall well-being.
There are many options for rest and relaxation: sleep, deep breathing, massage, steam room, sauna, and developing an evening routine, to name a few.
What is one small shift you could make this week to incorporate more rest and relaxation into your life?
Stay tuned for Parts 2 and 3 of this series, where I share 8 more days of living authentically.
As always, I’m here to support you on your journey, so reach out and grab a time for us to chat.