Nov 16

Nov 16 12 Days of Self-Care | Move Your Body

12 Days of Self-Care: Move Your Body | Set the Table #selfcare

I wasn’t exactly good at exercising regularly until the last 2 years. Until February of 2016, I would go through spurts where I would workout really hard for a while, then realize it was unsustainable, and I’d give up. Then, one cold February night, I went to a workout class and decided then and there, when I couldn’t even do a sit-up without feeling like death, that I needed to do better. But I needed to make this change at a slower pace than I had before. So, I signed up for one workout class a week and stuck with that for a while. Almost immediately I felt more energized. I got sick less. And (bonus) my confidence level began to rise.

Now, I exercise 3-4 times a week. It is something that didn’t seem to fit into my life until I made the decision to make it work. My mental and physical health has benefited so much from simply moving my body and I am grateful to have realized how important it is for me.

I know what you’re thinking: there’s NO WAY I can add a workout routine to my already crazy schedule this time of year! But here is what I will say until I’m blue in the face: any movement, no matter what it is, will help your mood and your productivity and your sleep. It just will.

How to make it work:

Here are my suggestions for you to practice Self-Care in the form of moving your body:

If you aren’t already in a routine, start small by doing 10-15 minutes of something that makes you sweat. Shoot for at least 2 times a week.
If you are already in a routine, STICK TO IT. It can be so easy to take exercise of the list when life gets crazy, but that is what you need most when life is full.
Communicate with your partner about when you want to exercise or arrange for child care if you need to. Again: STICK TO IT. No excuses. You will never regret the time you spend moving your body.
What are your recommendations for moving your body on a regular basis? I like to do 2 high intensity workouts a week and 2-3 barre workouts. I find that is a perfect balance for my mood and for what my body needs.