How I Take Care of Myself

I feel at my best mentally when I take the time to take care of my body as well as my mind. These two are very much connected, and I’ve always been able to tell a significant difference in how I feel mentally when I workout regularly and when I don’t.

My workout routines have come and gone a bit over the last year. I had a really good summer/fall last year, got my heart broken in November, fell out of it all (as one often do), got back on track again this spring, and then I’ve been a bit back and forth. I started to get back on track with the good routines again a few weeks before I went on my summer vacation, and while I’ve been away, I’ve slowly, but surely been finding my way back into a good routine when it comes to both what I do with my body and my mind, as well as what I put into my body.

A lot of people have the misconception about veganism as a form of lifestyle that just automatically makes you eat only healthy food. Yes, I eat a lot of greens, but there is plenty of unhealthy vegan food as well. Let’s just mention Orio’s and Ben & Jerry’s. I’m not saying I don’t enjoy those things, because I do, but in moderation.

So now that I’m getting into a good routine, what does that mean for me?

Yoga

I love yoga. Not just for the physical results it gives me, but for how it makes me feel. The focus on breathing and getting rid of the tension in the muscles is amazing. When I actively do yoga, I manage stress so much better. I take the time to check in with my body more often, and I’m a better listener whenever my body tries to tell me something.

You can do yoga pretty much anywhere and without any equipment. A mat is nice to have, but definitely not a must. You can easily use a towel or just soft grass.

And if you need a little bit of guidance, then I would recommend YouTube. When I need a little bit of a push and guidance back into yoga, I always turn to Yoga with Adrienne. She’s amazing, and I love how easy her guided yoga sessions are to keep up with.

Meditation

When it comes to coping with stress, meditation is also a great way to train oneself to handle it better. I usually do a meditation session in the morning before I get out of bed. It’s a great way to start the day and to set your focus for the day.

If you feel like you could use some guidance through your meditations, there are numerous videos on YouTube and apps for both Android and iPhone. One of my favorites is Headspace. Headspace is a great way to start getting into meditation, and you can choose the length of the session so it fits the time that you have available.

Click the Headspace logo if you want to find out more:

Run and walk

I’m finally getting back into running, which is something that I love to do when I just get into the routine of it. It’s such an amazing feeling to just turn the music on and run. I prefer to run in the forest. It’s easier on the body than running on asphalt, and I love being so close to nature.

Another great way to just stay active is to walk. I often choose to walk instead of using public transportation if I can. It’s a great walk to workout without even feeling like that’s what you’re doing. And with a good audiobook or some great music, it’s even better!

I use Audible for listening to audiobooks when I walk. If you want to try Audible, you can click the on the box below and you’ll get a 30-day free trial with 2 audiobooks of your own choosing included!

❈❈ If you buy via my affiliate links, I get a small commission ❈❈

 

Take Time Off

This is something that I’m not always really good at. I tend to get lost in all of my projects and I will work and work until I’m on the edge of getting burned out. After getting completely burned out a couple of times though, I’ve learned to listen to my body more, and I prioritize taking much needed time off. I disconnect from social media, I read, I spend time with people that I love and I devour art as a way to recharge. And sleep, don’t forget to sleep and get your rest! It’s so important for your body and your mind!

❤️

And the last, but maybe the most important things that I do to take care of myself is to LOVE, to practice GRATITUDE, and to LAUGH!

Don’t underestimate the power of the simple things in life💛

 

Walk It Off!

Whenever my mind feels a bit too full and in need of a break, there’s always one thing that helps it to calm down and get things sorted a little. That one thing is going for a walk.

Lately (as you guys know) my mind has been a bit all over the place, and at times it felt like it was just spread as thin as it could possibly get. I knew it was time to do something about that. Needed to get back into the good routines that I used to have. Or maybe it was just time for some new ones.

Then I had a thought. The place where I’m working now is one that I always take public transportation to and from. First I take the subway, and then I change over to a bus. It takes me about 30 minutes from the moment I walk out the door, depending on the traffic. But how long would it take me to walk?

So I sat down and started looking at different routes recommended by Google Maps, and found that it didn’t look so bad. I hadn’t really decided that I was going to actually do this until the morning on my birthday (two days ago) when I got up at 5 am and started my day off with 20 minutes of meditation. Just to get such a good start to the day made me highly motivated to try to make more out of the day, and I decided to take the walk.

The 8 km walk (5 miles) took me about an hour and a half, and it felt so good! My mind felt so much calmer and clearer by the time I got to work, and I held a steady pace for the whole walk, so it counts as a bit of good exercise as well! My best friend Kirsti picked me up after work for our Birthday Pyjama Date, so I didn’t walk home that day. Wednesday I had a day off work, but today however I thought it was time to do the walk both to and from, and I did!

Now I’m not saying that walking fixes everything. My brain is constantly filled with way too much that goes on at the same time, but the walking helps me to sort it. To be able to be on the move, and at one with my thoughts, it just makes it so much easier to see the difference between the important thoughts and the unnecessary ones. To differ between voices and noise.

I don’t think that I will be walking to and from work every day, but from now on, I will definitely do it more often.

There’s something so very therapeutic about going for a walk, and I sure as hell needed it! Most of us could, from time to time.