Time to Reset

Now that we are in the official beginnings of Autumn and the beautiful leaves are changing colors, I find myself reflecting on what occurred over the summer and how this new phase will be different and hopefully better. Do you do the same? There is something about the calming effects of nature that opens my mind to the reality that yes, things are going well, but some things could also be going better.

We all have so many roles to play! We have items or people to care for, work that needs to be finished, home projects, kids activities that have us running until after bedtime and so much more. It is SO important to reflect on what you as an individual are all about as well as what you want to be ’all about!’ What do you stand for? What have you accomplished in the past few months? How are your relationships? How is your relationship with yourself? Now is the time to reset all of your roles and how it all balances or fits together. Ok-side note...do you see Nicholas Cage in the movie The Family Man, waking up clueless to how he ended up in a big house, with a beautiful wife and a slew of kids? How about that awesome song by the Talking Heads... “Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down, Letting the days go by...(keep going until they sing) My GOD, WHAT HAVE I DONE? 

Ok, let’s regroup! Grab a pen and piece of paper and make three columns for your nutrition, your daily activity, and your life balance!

-Nutrition: You may ask yourself-How is my health? How do I eat? Those are NOT MY chocolates in the cupboard! Do I drink enough water? Do I eat vegetables daily? Do I consume alcohol? If so, how much alcohol? Hmmm, what can I do to make this better?

-Daily Activity: You may ask yourself-What am I doing for physical activity? Is it rigorous enough? Do I even get regular activity in weekly? What do I do on the days I don’t workout? Do I like to play racquetball with a friend, meditate, do yoga? What do I spend time doing that fills my cup on a regular basis? Are there nature centers close by that I can spend time snowshoeing or walking, running, cross country skiing?

-Life Balance: You may tell yourself-”This is a biggie...it’s where it all fits together! What are you giving up to fit everything else in? What has been bothering you for the past 6-12 months that you just have not done yet? Did you lose your health running after your job or kids? Have you been meaning to spend a few minutes each week reading a book? You are here on this earth for a purpose, do you know what it is? I encourage you to take a serious look at this area and see where you can edit and add to make your daily, weekly and overall life more enjoyable and you a happier person.

Take some time to reflect on these three important areas and write down your thoughts. Perhaps you take a week and brainstorm in a journal (when was the last time you did that)? After a few days of brainstorming, prioritize your ideas and pick one goal from each category (Nutrition, Activity, Life Balance) to focus on over the next four weeks. Make that one goal from each category specific, measurable, attainable and realistic. Think about what you can control on a daily basis for each category and post it on your fridge, bathroom mirror, or wherever you will see it frequently. If you can’t hold yourself accountable tell someone! Tell a friend, mentor, family member or someone who can ask you along the way about how those goals are coming and what’s getting in the way of you doing and achieving them.  Let’s face it, we all need help at certain times and I am sure you would return the favor! Think about how great it will feel to regroup, reset and prioritize yourself and those people/activities/times you deem valuable. Follow through for four weeks and see for yourself! Don’t let yourself finish life the same way the Talking Heads song did... “Same as it ever was...same as it ever was...same as it ever was! Take the time, reset, prioritize so you can enjoy the journey and never be afraid to ask for help if you need it!

Written by Laura Peters, Trumi Training Stillwater  www.trumi.com