Taking a Break

This week I tried to be mindful of the amount of technology I used. I tried to disconnect from the virtual world and reconnect with the physical world that surrounds me. But, in all honesty, this was very, very difficult as the majority of our lives now revolve around technology and being engaged in our virtual lives rather than our real lives. Because of this, I began to think about the implications of social media and the virtual world on our lives and I came across the following two videos which I found profoundly true!

What happens in our lives when we consume ourselves in social media rather than the physical world?





After watching these videos, trying to get off my phone and laptop became a lot more motivating. I worked on this by doing small things such as leaving my phone in the car while I went into the mall or grocery store, or leaving it in my backpack while I walked down the hall. At first it felt weird, but after a while it became a relief to not have my phone glued to my side as I became more aware of the people around me and I found myself talking to more people in person. I'm not saying that limiting your use of social media and technology is easy and i'm not saying we should get rid of it all together, but if you are able to do little things like I was then I can guarantee that you will notice yourself feeling more connected to your surroundings and the people around you rather than the virtual world you have created.

Sleeping Habits

This week I focused on my sleeping patterns and how to get enough sleep in order to not feel tired the next day. In order to accomplish this I set up a chart that outlined a bedtime routine that I would check off to help me stay on track. If you wanted to created a bedtime routine chart, just remember, it doesn't need to look like mine! The whole point of the chart is to gear it towards what you need to focus on in order to get better night sleeps. 

Tips for getting into healthy sleep habits:

• Keep a consistent schedule 
• Get at least 7 hours of sleep
• Don't drink too much right before going to bed
• Use your bed for sleeping only 
• Relax your mind before going to sleep
• Turn off the electronics 30 minutes before going to bed
• Avoid caffeine in the evening 
• Have a cup of camomile tea before going to bed 
• Don't eat a large meal before going to bed

My Bedtime Routine Chart 

I noticed through my bedtime routine chart that the days where I was able to accomplish at least 4 out of the 5 tasks I would get the best sleeps and feel the most energized the next morning. It wasn't always realistic for me to complete all of my tasks because of my daytime routine such as late classes or needing to complete homework. However, by having a visual schedule, I was better at completing the majority of my tasks than I usually am. 

If you are somebody who has troubles establishing a sleeping routine than creating a chart is something I would highly recommend. Make sure it is ambitious but still attainable in order to start creating a routine that will eventually become a habit. 

Healthy Eating

This week I decided to focus on different snacks I could make that are delicious but also healthy. By the end of the week, I had different snack ideas and eating habits that were easy to make, gave me energy and were also delicious! Eating healthy is an important part of staying healthy all together, as the saying goes "you are what you eat." This doesn't mean we should feel guilty for eating anything bad for us, but I found out this week that it's just as easy to eat healthy and still feel like you are snacking. There's many ways to do this, such as making healthy recipes, substituting certain ingredients for others as well as controlling your portions. All in all, once you get in the routine of things, eating healthy is a very easy habit to get into.  

Healthy Recipes

Peanut Butter Energy Balls
One of my person favourites! These were a great snack to grab in the morning if I was running late, or to have as a snack if I was feeling like a treat. Tastes a lot like cookie dough, but is very healthy and keeps you going for a long time, and they're easy to make! I made mine with peanut butter, flax seed, honey, oats and chocolate chips. Check out Kelley's page for an awesome, easy to follow recipe. 

Ingredients for Energy Balls

Frozen Yogurt
The next time you are craving ice cream, I highly recommend making your own frozen yogurt instead, it quick to make and a healthy alternative to ice cream. This week, I made a strawberry frozen yogurt, however, you could choose any flavour you want, or mix and match your favourite flavours. Some other flavour combos I was thinking was: strawberry banana, berry blend, coconut and pineapple, or raspberry mango. Check out Tiffany's blog for the strawberry frozen yogurt recipe I used! The blog also has a tone of other useful recourses that include meal plans, healthy recipes and challenges. 

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins 
Who knew banana chocolate chip muffins could be healthy! This recipe is the perfect way to feel like you're having a treat but also feel like you are eating healthy and still have energy for your busy day ahead! Visit Monique's blog to make this recipe for yourself. It includes some great tips on how to turn snacks, like muffins, into healthy options, by replacing ingredients such as sugar for things like honey or apple sauce!    

Need some more healthy snack ideas? Check out this Tasty video! 

Energizing your Body

This past week I have been focusing on doing things for my body that will help energize me physically. This included trying out yoga, meditation and different fitness routines. At first I was afraid that I would not be able to find the time to complete these activities, however, I made sure that I set aside 1 hour each day in order to focus on staying physically energized. Believe it or not, it was a lot easier to do than I thought! Once I started getting into the routine, it became a part of my day that I looked forward to and helped me manage the stress in other parts of my day. You don't need anything fancy either to complete these activities, just a few essentials and an open-mind (a Pinterest account doesn't hurt either!). 

Starting With the Basics!

I like to be organized, so I decided to make a chart that I would use to track my physically activities to hold myself accountable. 

Next, I went onto Pinterest and created a board of all the different types of yoga, meditation and fitness activities I wanted to do. Click HERE to check it out yourself for some ideas! 

Lastly, I made sure I had all the resources I would need, that way I would have no excuse to not do one of the activities. I was surprised by the how little of resources I needed in order to complete all the activities I had planned. 

Here is the list I came up with:

1. Yoga mat
2. Water Bottle
3. Gym shorts or yoga pants, fitness shirt and running shoes
4. Music
...THATS IT!

Let's Try Some Yoga!

For me personally, this was not my first time doing yoga, so going through the various routines was not difficult for me because I already knew what the poses should look like. However, as a first time yogi, I would recommend googling the different poses you are doing in order to understand them step by step. Again for a list of all the yoga routines I did, check out my Pinterest board!

I enjoyed doing the yoga the most because it was both a workout and relaxing. I felt like it gave me a chance to unwind and calm down after a busy day, however, I was still being active and sweating. 

In fact, I liked it so much that I looked into places in the St. Catharines area where I could take classes! Here's what I found...

Moksha Yoga

Power Yoga Canada

YMCA

Moving onto Fitness Routines...

The routines that I had selected through my Pinterest board were a great fit for me and my workout style, however, they may not be for you. Feel free to explore my Pinterest page to get ideas, but also don't be shy to go exploring on your own. And remember, just because a routine is laid out one way, doesn't mean it's the only way. You can easily take out moves if you don't feel like they are working for you, or add others from another pre-made workout routine. 

I did all of my workout routines in the comfort of my own home, which was so nice because it didn't matter how loud I had my music or how much I was struggling because no one was watching me. I personally found this to be more motivational to then want to take risks in my workouts and push me further. However, some people find going to the gym gives them that kind of motivation. Whichever you chose, you can easily bring your Pinterest board with you and complete your own routine. 

Meditating

I have tried meditation in the past and was not the biggest fan. I personally found it difficult to relax my mind and left the class not feeling a lot different than before. This could mean two things: 1. meditation is not for me, or 2. I need to work harder at it. Don't get me wrong, just because I didn't enjoy it, doesn't mean I am against it! I think there can be a lot of benefit to meditation for some people and really help a person through a rough time. If you are on the fence about meditation too, check out this poster, it might help change your mind!

                                                             by Meditative Wisdom

Thanks for reading my post about energizing your body! I hope you were able to learn some useful information that you might even be able to use yourself! 

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