Wellness Trick Or Treat
Are you a fan of Halloween? I always enjoy this holiday - the costumes, the decorations, the scary movies, and of course the candy.
But whether you are a Halloween hater or lover, I think you will enjoy my latest post, in which I share some classic health and wellness “tricks.” These are things that often trip people up on their health and wellness journey. But fret not, I have also included tips to help you turn those tricks into treats!
Trick - Never having enough time
Treat - Make the time! People often glorify busy-ness, but there are negative effects to being busy all the time. There can be constant pressure to always be moving and doing, which can lead to added stress and anxiety, as well as stop us from having time to do things we want to do. Try changing your language from “I don’t have time” to “It’s not important to me.” This can help to highlight what you are really sacrificing by being busy all the time and not making time for your health and wellness.
Trick - Not getting enough sleep
Treat - Poor sleep has a number of negative short and long term consequences, including memory issues, weakened immunity, weight gain, and mood changes. Nearly one-third of people sleep less than six hours and it impacts what you eat, the quality of your workouts, and how productive you are the next day. I know I am always amazed at just how much better I feel and operate after a good night’s rest. Do whatever you need to do in order to get at least 7 hours of solid sleep a night - put the phone down, turn the TV off, create a relaxing night time routine, and get enough sleep.
Trick - Traveling often
Treat - This one has tricked me a few times in the past. Traveling can easily throw you off your health and wellness routines, and while that is fine if you take one vacation a year, it can be very disruptive to your goals if you travel often. Pick two habits that you stick to even when you are traveling, whether that is working out, meditating, getting 10,000 steps, eating enough protein, whatever. This will help you maintain some health habits and still enjoy your time.
Trick - Don’t like working out
Treat - I would argue if you do not like working out, it is because you haven’t found the right workout for you yet. Exercise truly is as close to a magic pill as we have when it comes to your health so it is crucial that you find something that you enjoy doing and stick with it. You also do not have to workout everyday for two hours, try starting with two or three times a week for 30 minutes and build up from there. Anything is better than nothing!
Trick - Can’t enjoy my favorite foods
Treat - The best diet is the one that you are going to stick to and completely cutting off all your favorite foods is one of the easiest ways to ensure that you do not stick to that diet for very long. Decide what your health goals are and occasionally make room for your absolute favorite foods. The key part being occasionally - not all the time. And savor them with zero guilt when you do indulge.
Trick - Drinking your calories
Treat - Between alcohol, sugary and fatty coffee drinks, and sodas, it is very easy to consume hundreds of extra calories per day and not even realize it. Drinking your calories is not very satisfying and can quickly derail your health and wellness goals. Notice how much you are consuming in liquid calories and cut back if necessary - especially on the alcohol as that has a number of other negative health effects.
Trick - Being overly stressed
Treat - We live in stressful times and it is crucial to have a consistent stress relief practice. Whether it is meditation, journaling, or breathwork, find something that you enjoy and can do daily in order to combat the many negative effects that stress can have both physically and mentally.
