Self Care Suggestions

Self Care is a popular buzzword now - and for good reason!! A healthy YOU is more than just taking care of your physical health and eating a healthy diet... it's about caring for your well-being, too. Whole body wellness should include a focus on your emotional, mental, and social health. I make my emotional well-being a priority, because it helps to keep me focused and in a positive mood. Try these self care tips and see if they help promote holistic wellness in your life!

Practice breathing exercises. When you breathe, you pump oxygen to all the cells and muscles of your body. Breathing the right way will result in an increased oxygen intake that can lead to more energy, less stress, a clearer mind and better health in general. I love this Abdominal Breathing exercise from my Stop The Clock Workout Plan - it is so good for instant relaxation.

1. • Lie down on your back or sit comfortably.
   • Place your hands on your abdomen.
   • Inhale slowly and deeply, breathing air all the way down into the lower lobes of your lungs.
   • As these fill with air, your lower belly should expand like a balloon. (Keep one hand on it so you can feel this happening.)
   • Exhale slowly, allowing your abdomen to deflate as your body releases stale air. Inhale easily. Feel your belly expand again.
   • Repeat for 3 to 5 minutes.

Try it, and get more breathing exercises in my Stop The Clock Workout Plan!

Spend time outdoors. This may not be possible every day, depending on where you live, but being outdoors in nature is so important for your overall well-being. I try to get outside every single day - I'll do an outdoor workout, I'll have my morning coffee or afternoon snack on my porch, or stroll around the neighborhood after dinner with Jeff. Sometimes I will do all three, because nature is so important for my mood!

Reach out to a loved one. It's no secret I looooove my daughters, sisters and friends, they are what keep me going! A simple phone call can do wonders for helping you feel more positive, and if you have the time, consider writing a letter to a love one - something I always am happy to receive!

Do something new. New experiences keep us young, alert and alive! Keep an ongoing list of new things you want to try out - an art exhibit, a new type of workout, a recipe you have never made, a place you want to visit. Then do it - you will feel great afterwards, and looking forward to the experience is fun as well!

Treat yourself! Fresh cut flowers, a long bath, starting a new book... little things can go a long way in making your mind feel better. Think about what truly makes you feel good and positive, and add them into your life on a regular basis!

I hope you enjoy these self care suggestions - along with a regular workout routine that includes cardio, strength training and flexibility exercises such as yoga, and eating a healthy diet - you CAN achieve well-being!

Let's get fitter, together - inside and out,

Denise