In Blog 270 I Talked about Doggydaddyshop.com is born. In this blog I am going to talk about Time to Work on Me Now.

Many of us live our lives running from task to task, painfully aware that we aren’t taking care of ourselves as well as we should be or living in the moments. I knew I needed to focus on this myself, but it is hard to create these inviting moments for self-reflection and growth when you are struggling to keep up with work, life and family obligations; taking time out just seems impossible. Yet it doesn’t have to be this way – So I decided to act. I’m dedicated to helping myself break away from my daily routines so that I can start carving out those meaningful moments of reflection and focus on myself each day.

Working on me now

If you’re interested in self-improvement, the best time to start is always now. This means that if you want to make a positive change in your life, today’s the perfect day. It can be daunting when we hesitate about making changes for ourselves and wonder if it’s worth it or not; but putting yourself first is never wrong – taking ownership of your journey and path ahead will help lead you into a more fulfilling life. In this blog post, I’ll discuss how taking steps towards working on yourself now can enable an easier transition into lasting growth and development. So read on to see how I decided to start my wellness journey!

Step 1 Understanding Your Needs – Identify your current emotional and physical state.

Understanding your needs is a crucial step towards leading a fulfilling life. It’s important to identify your current emotional and physical state to give your mind and body what they require. Begin by carving out some time for yourself each day to reflect on how you’re feeling. Consider your emotions and assess how they impact your overall well-being. Additionally, pay attention to your body and any physical sensations you’re experiencing. Take note of any aches, pains, or discomforts and ask yourself what changes you can make to feel more comfortable. Through self-reflection, and a willingness to make small but impactful adjustments to your routine, you can gain a deeper understanding of your needs and what you must do to thrive. I decided I needed help with all this, so I went to see a wellness coach and she helped me plan my path to success. There were a few key points I had to address. The loss of my 19 year career, gaining weight and not working out, being unorganized and eating healthier.

Step 2 Establishing Goals – Set reachable goals to improve your wellbeing.

Establishing achievable goals can have a significant impact on your overall wellbeing. It’s important to set goals that are not only challenging but also realistic so that you can gradually work towards achieving them. I remember Dr Vik advising me to do this years ago, so it wasn’t foreign to me. Having clear objectives to work towards can help improve your mental and physical health. Setting achievable goals allows for a sense of accomplishment and helps build overall confidence and resilience, both of which are important for improving wellbeing. I decided to go “old school” and take what I learned from the Franklin Planning system I used at Nordstrom and write it down in a journal I created through my business. I had goals I want to achieve each month and the daily planning helps me with achieving those goals. I try to tackle a project each week so for the month I could knock out a few different ones and help my wellness in the process.

Step 3 Self-Care Practices – Make time for yourself.

Life can be busy and stressful, leaving us feeling depleted and overwhelmed. That’s why it’s essential to make self-care a priority in our lives. Taking the time to relax and recharge can have a significant impact on our physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. Whether it’s reading a book, tending the garden, or practicing meditation, finding activities that bring us joy and tranquility can help alleviate stress and improve our overall quality of life. I decided to start my day by enjoying a cup of coffee with my dog Teddy and writing out my daily goals in my notebook. I love my garden, so that would be part of my day starting out, followed by a good workout incorporating meditation to end the workout. I would make hourly goals to achieve and stop at 6 to help out with dinner since I want my fast to start at 8pm each day.

Step 4 Exercise Regularly – Establish an achievable exercise routine that you can stick to

Exercise is essential to maintain a healthy mind and body but establishing a routine can be challenging. A reliable way to stay on track is by finding an enjoyable fitness activity, and Peloton makes it easy. Peloton provides a comprehensive at-home workout experience with live and on-demand classes that cater to different levels and preferences. For me starting back into it though, the live classes were just too intense for me. I decided to start with a 20-minute low impact ride in the on-demand classes, followed by a strength workout. A good 10-minute stretch after the first two and ending with a 10-minute meditation. I have my favorite instructors I try to use to make the workout more enjoyable as well. On workouts I’m used to doing and since I know the routine I’ll sometimes turn the sound down and listen to my own soundtrack.

Step 5 Eating Well – Choose nutritious food options and maintain a balanced diet.

Eating well is essential in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Nutritious food options can improve your overall well-being and prevent weight gain or worse yet, body fat.. A balanced diet involves incorporating a variety of foods from all food groups, including fruits and vegetables, which I haven’t been great at incorporating into my diet. When choosing your meals, consider the nutritional value of each food item and the benefits it can provide to your body keeping the portions at a minimum. While it may be tempting to indulge in unhealthy options, making smart choices can make a significant impact on your health and energy levels.  We are doing a hybrid of the Mediterranean diet followed by intermittent fasting from 8pm -11am each day. We still try to do steak night on Fridays but are more conscious of the size of the steaks we get. Of course it doesn’t hurt to cheat a little as long as it’s in moderation.

Step 6 Mental Health Maintenance – Practice self-kindness, think positively, and stay connected with friends and family.

Maintaining good mental health is crucial to living a happy and fulfilling life. Taking steps to practice self-kindness, thinking positively, and staying connected with loved ones can all contribute to a healthier mindset. It’s important to treat yourself with kindness and understanding, especially during times of stress or difficulty. Focusing on positive thoughts and affirmations can also help shift the mind towards a more positive outlook. For the last 19 years it was go – go – go. I’m making it a priority to call family and friends more frequently and telling them how much they mean to me. Another pain point for me was how unorganized I was. It was common for me to put things in boxes for an out of sight out of mind type thing. One of the first projects I knocked out was to take the 20 boxes of stuff I had and organize it all into a file system I could actually find the items I was looking for. I’m already enjoying the fact I know where things are, the next big project is Photos and slides. I have thousands I need to organize so this is high on the list of things to work on next.

Self-care is an essential component of living a healthy and happy life. As you have learned in the blog post, taking care of yourself—through understanding your needs, setting goals, engaging in self-care practices, eating well, exercising regularly, and maintaining your mental health—will help you be the best version of yourself. By practicing self-care on a regular basis, you can give yourself the tender loving care that you deserve and create healthier habits for the future. Do not be afraid to adapt your routine as needed; ultimately, every journey is different. As long as you are working toward improving yourself and your wellbeing with patience, an open heart and an open mind, success will come to fruition soon enough. In the short time I’ve been doing this it has lifted my spirits exponentially and highly recommend this for anyone.