Here we are, on the cusp of a new year. 2013 promises to deliver everything that we've always wanted... our resolution list grows by the second.

But how will you keep those resolutions? Will you have abandoned them for folly mere weeks into the year?

I found an article through one of the Facebook pages I subscribe to - Helping Organize People Everyday  - and they offer some great tips on how to stick with your resolutions. (They also have tons of great organizational stories year round!)

Here's a link to the story, but I'll sum it up quick:

Be specific. You can' t just say, "I want to be healthier." That's too broad and how can you define that, or your success?  Try, instead, "I want to cut soda out of my diet." That's a healthy goal (and one we'll talk about later!). Or, "I want to exercise 2 days per week for at least 30 minutes."  That's measurable, reasonable and a great small goal on the way to a healthier you.

Make your goal public.  Tell someone, anyone, EVERYONE about your new goal. If it's to quit smoking, tell your smoking buddies. "Hey, I'm kicking the habit so don't invite me on smoke breaks." Or, "Who wants to join me for a brisk walk 2 evenings a week? It's my goal!"  You'll get your work outs in, and possibly get closer with friend or family member while you walk and talk.

Substitute good behaviors for the bad.  If there is a bad habit in the way of your success, find something positive to take it's place. If you always have dessert, or feel like snacking after supper, brush and floss your teeth right after the meal. Your teeth will look great and no one likes to mess up that minty fresh feeling with junk food! Gum is also another great tool to curb the munchies.

Track your progress. I've mentioned it before, but I like to know how I'm progressing in order to see success on paper. Sure I may look and feel better, but there is nothing as awesome as saying, "I've lost xx inches, xx pounds, and went from a size Y to a size X. 

Each year I tend to bite off more than I can chew with my resolutions. This year I'm focused on finding small,  healthy changes that I can stick to for life. Not a diet, not a fad, but something that will help me achieve my Whole Life. 

I hope you will join me! What will your goals for 2013 be? 

<3 Jen

'Tis the Season... To Fight the Sickies

So, it's winter (I know, not technically until Saturday) and with all the germs and crud flying around, we're all bound to get something. Sometimes our co-workers share, sometimes our kids, our gym mates, or neighbors, even the folks working at the restaurant where we had lunch.

Advice on how to stay away from the crud:

Wash your hands. We've all heard it ten thousand times, but it bares repeating. This time of year we need to remember that more is more here. Not just before we handle food, or after using the restroom, but after a meeting when you've glad handed the boss/clients. Event after helping your kiddos with homework. WASH. Then moisturize. Your hands will thank you.

Rest.  It's easy to get run down this time of year. We are all running around, shopping, meetings, gatherings, programs, on top of all the 'regular' stuff we have to do. Get your Zzz's. Your well rested body will be better equipped to fight off the crud.

Take a Deep Breath. 'Tis the season to be stressed, too. Seasonal pressures can lead to feeling run down and could leave you susceptible to the sneaky germs bouncing around.

Drink Water. What? Yes, water. A well hydrated body has healthier cells. Healthy cells fight the crud. Along those same lines - eat your veggies and take a multi-vitamin. Be proactive with your health!

What to do once you have the crud:

It's okay to say, "Thanks for the invite, but I can't make it." or "I'm sick and I need to stay home."  How many times have you seen folks, attending a function when they are not well? Coughing, sniffling and being,well, miserable. And even more fabulous, spreading their (or their kids') germs.  Probably something we tend to do even more is to go into work when clearly we are a petri dish of varied crud, crud that is ready to pounce on unsuspecting coworkers and clients. Stay home. Take your medicine. See your doctor. Rest. Oh, and wash your hands.

Rest. Stay home. It's too late for the avoidance. I'm full on CRUD. Coughing, sniffling, sneezing.  I didn't want to miss my workout on Tuesday night - but I did. No one wants to work out with that girl who hacks all over the equipment I'm up to use next and I didn't want to BE that girl, either.

I'm guilty of going to work - I tried to stay in my office, door closed, and use Clorox wipes on every surface I came into contact with.

Also guilty of helping to scoop the driveway after our first bout of snow. I couldn't leave it up to my hubby - I mean, I should have - but we're a team. But the cold air, coughing and strain on my body did NOTHING to help speed my recovery. I need to learn when to say "when."

So, moving forward, I'm taking small steps. More water. Wash my hands. Put the vitamins next to my tooth brush (I don't forget that in the morning!) and learning that it's okay to admit defeat and go to bed. Asking for help with the 'to do' list will be my biggest challenge.

But I love a challenge!

Stay (or get) well, friends.
<3Jen

If you'd like to learn more about simple steps to stay healthy, check out these pages:
Prevention Tips
Men's Health
And a myriad of other sites, but really, they all say about the same stuff - WASH YOUR HANDS! :)

Your Definition of Success

What is your definition of success? What does success look like?

That's a hard thing to nail down. I mean, I've had successes, right? Well, sure I have. Everyone does. We all learned to walk, talk, hey - you're reading right now. That's a success, right?  But we are all different and each will have unique goals and aspirations.

We've all heard the quote from Albert Einstein, "Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”  So, maybe I'll never be a super model brain surgeon who makes the best apple pie in 8 counties. But that's okay because that's not what I consider my success (though, how sweet would that be?).  

I read a fabulous article in my online edition of Shape Magazine entitled "How to Succeed at Everything." It was a reminder  that we aren't perfect, made of super hero materials or all star soccer players (like David Beckham - YUM).  But we can all experience success.  

By considering our realistic goals, manageable steps, and holding ourselves accountable, we can experience little successes every day.  I'm going to lean on my local experts to help me set those goals. For now, I'm going to start a successful day tomorrow with a good night's sleep... until next time...

<3Jen

What's "Ideal" Look Like?

When you look ahead to what your "whole" life might look like - what makes it your ideal? Is it the house that's always clean? Freshly pressed apron and dinner on the table by 5pm? Ya, me either. But there are some habits that I'd like to say that I incorporate into my life.

* Enough sleep. 

Who doesn't want to wake up without having to hit the snooze button or need a nap half way through the day. On the other hand, I don't want to have to be in bed by 9pm every night, either. 

* Healthy balance between what I eat and what my body needs for fuel.
I've read a hundred times that I'm not a dog and that I shouldn't reward myself with food. I know this, logically. But c'mon - you finish a long run or wicked tough workout and the first thing you say is "It's ok, I earned this (insert favorite snack item here - cookie, chocolate milk, giant tub of popcorn)."  It will be a major change if I'm going to eat to run, instead of running to eat.

*Me time.

Right now, me time is when I take the dogs for their nightly neighborhood patrol. But even then, I am being pulled - literally - and distracted from what it is that I want to think about. Long baths and reading in a sunny nook aren't on my daily to do list, so when am I going to find this elusive "me time" everyone says I need?

*Intellectual stimulation.

I want to be that woman who says, "I'm reading this fabulous book by..." or "Did you read that article? I thought it was so interesting..." or even "The exhibit was beautiful! Can you believe how talented...."
Let's face it, Words with Friends is not going to keep these brain cells firing at their highest level and Sudoko puzzles just tick me off. I want to learn and absorb and know.

*Community Involvement.
I love to volunteer - it's not just the warm fuzzy you get working for free, or making a difference in the community. I also love the people I get to interact with. I enjoy learning and doing new things. I relish in the opportunity to use my organizational skills and process mindedness to improve systems and programs. It's almost as if all my favorite parts of the brain get to play together. Working hard (accomplishment), meeting and helping people (social), learning new things (intellectual), and self worth (me time - sort of!). 

*Family time.

We already do a pretty good job of having dinner together, at the table, where we share our Hi/Lows each night. Sure, we miss a few with work and other commitments, but on the whole we've made it a priority and that's something I'm proud of. Still, I often find one kid gaming, another buried in a book, Dad on the computer and me puttering around doing chores, or surfing the web. I'm looking for a better balance.

These are some areas of my life that need focus.. my "ideal" life. Yours will be different. And that's OK because you and I are different. I'm curious to find out if, as I explore this idea of a "whole life", my "ideal life" will change. 

This experiment will officially kick off January, 2013 - but I'm gathering my wits, resources and positive attitude now! I hope you'll follow along. Even better? Join me! Share your thoughts and ideas and we'll figure this thing out, in our own way, together.

Until next time,

<3jen

Knowing is Half the Battle

In the world of wellness with so much unknown to the average Josephine, so many opinions, so many options... how do you know where to start? What are your goals? How do you know when you get there? Truth is, if you don't know where you ARE, you can't determine your improvement. 

Knowing is half the battle.  So, tomorrow morning, I'll be breaking out the measuring tape and scale.

Scales and Tapes

I'm freaking out. I don't want to see what those numbers are. I already know that my favorite jeans are a little snug, and that blouse isn't as flattering as it once was. Why do I want to know my measurements? 

So I can measure improvement. 

 

Knowing that the choices I make daily have a positive mental (I feel good) and physical (I look good) affect, I will be driven by success! I know it won't happen over night, but you'd better believe I'm going to brag about the changes I feel and see in the mirror. 

The scale - let's face it - we all hate it.  And I vow, now and forever, to not be driven by that number. I'm looking for a healthy me - whatever that number says. Do I secretly long to be able to slide into that slinky black number I wore to a wedding once or that high school cheer leading uniform that I've wanted to wear for Halloween, but knew there wasn't a chance in Hades I was going to get it zipped? Sure. But I also fantasize about dating Gerard Butler. Big whoop. Would I be flattered if Gerard walked up and said, "Nice uniform." ? Uh, ya. But am I living my life for it? No.

Knowing where I started will help me to see progress, no matter how small, and provide the analytical side of me a measurable outcome to compare and evaluate. I'll probably graph it. I'm sick like that.  

Oh, and don't get your twisted hopes up, I'm not sharing the actual numbers with you here... but will absolutely brag from the mountain tops as I see improvements.

I've found these resources to help with how and where to measure:

Livestrong: Measure Yourself for Weight Loss

About.com's Weightloss Track

There are tons of other sites with about the same advice, and I'm planning to enlist the help of a local expert with the body fat percentage and BMI measurements, but this is enough to get me started.

Don't let those numbers deter you. It is just one of the first steps to a healthier you. And, at any size, shape and age - that's what I'm after. To be healthy in my WHOLE life.

<3jen

Are you living your WHOLE life?

What does it mean to live your WHOLE life? 

Sure, I've been alive. I just turned 37, I'm converting oxygen into carbon dioxide, I eat, sleep, and pee. I have a pretty good life. I'm employed, have a great husband, kids to be proud of, friends, a home, (naughty) dogs, twisted sense of humor, even more twisted relatives.  By gosh and by golly, I'm LIVING!

But am I living my WHOLE life?   What does that mean?

Here's what I think. My WHOLE life should include all the things that would make me the most awesome version of myself. Stronger in mind, body, spirit, family and community.  I'm an active gal, try to eat things I know are good for me (but let's be honest, I love ALL food!), love to learn, volunteer regularly and try to be an active and loving mother and wife. But, and there is always a but, I sometimes feel like I'm running in circles. There aren't enough hours in the day. I do the best I can, but are there tools out there to help me reach a better balanced, WHOLE life?

Turns out there are a plethora of amazing resources right here in Omaha. Experts in their field, who would like nothing more than to share their knowledge with the Average Joe (or Josephine) to make us so much more than average. 

So - he's the next step. I'm going to reach out to some of those experts, enlist their help in finding balance in my life: nutrition, exercise, relaxation and rest, community, and mental growth.  

Holy cow. That sounds like a lot. I still only have 24 hours in each day... 

Join me in this journey to find out what it means to live your WHOLE life. 

If you are one of our local experts, I'd love to talk to you! Reach out to me via email at jenmarhenke@gmail.com!