Spring “Break”

 Spring is here!  We just celebrated Passover.  Easter is around the corner.  The air feels different.  The days are getting longer.  And there is definitely a feeling of renewal all around.  It is the perfect time for a different kind of “Spring Break” -a time to break out from our Winter hibernation and do some self-improvement.

Spring is a wonderful opportunity to make some small changes in our self-care that will benefit us the rest of the year.  Let’s start with sleep.  Getting a good night’s sleep really helps to set the tone for the rest of your day.  The recommendation for adults is 7-9 hours/night.  Are you falling in that range? If you aren’t, is there some simple change you can make to add even 30 minutes to your sleep cycle?  Read before bed instead of watching TV?  Invest in a better pillow? Limit caffeine before bed?

Let’s talk about water!  Water may be the single greatest tool in the self-care toolkit!  It hydrates the body, it improves your complexion and…drumroll…it helps with weight loss.  Studies have found that people who drink a glass of water before each meal are more successful with weight loss.  The recommendation for most adults is eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day.  However, if you are starting from 0-2 glasses of water a day, do not jump to 8 glasses at once. That might be too much too soon.  Instead, try to gradually increase your water intake.

And, what about food?  I am sure that, like me, you were craving comfort food all winter and that is totally understandable. We just crawled out of a long, Covid winter.  But now, let’s take advantage of the incredible variety of fresh fruits and vegetables that Spring offers to make some smarter food choices.  If you haven’t before, this might be a good time to start a food journal.  I do this from time to time as a way of keeping my food choices in check.  It can be eye-opening to see how much mindless eating we do in a day.  Just keeping the food journal can help curtail some of those empty calories.  And meal planning is also a very useful tool to help keep you on a better path as it prevents those last minute “I don’t know what to make so let’s just order pizza” moments!

Finally…get moving!  Nothing can make you feel as good as a great workout!  My HomeBodies Fitness members know this. Most of them have not missed a single workout since we launched.  Making exercise a priority is the greatest gift you can give yourself.  If you feel strong and confident and healthy, you will be a better parent, a better partner and a more productive person.  Start adding it to your calendar and hold yourself accountable to it.  I promise that soon it will become the best of habits!

“Spring” into action with me this April and let’s break out of our winter routine!