Throughout January and February we’ll be featuring “You in 2022” – a variety of stories from instructors and enthusiasts alike on what inspires them to be healthier. We hope they inspire you to make a healthy choice, too!
Many people out there loathe transitions: birthdays and milestones for example, like the New Year, can feel like massive mountains to climb, caverns to traverse. Rather than seeing transitions as a fresh start, they’re often seen as a one-way ticket to failure.
But what’s a transition? It’s nothing more than a fancy word for change. People generally dislike change because of fear – fear of the unknown and fear of losing ground. Even the inevitable transition into a new year can cause trepidation and discomfort. How we manage that worry or fear can dictate how we manage other changes in our lives.
Change will happen whether we want it or not – it’s a function of life. It’s how we perceive the journey that dictates our experience, and that’s what matters. In order to be successful, we have to reframe our approach to change. There’s no better time to than the present – here are a few tips for mapping your wellness journey this year:
Ditch the Resolutions
No matter how many times we try, more than 80% of us fail to manifest our New Year’s Resolutions. In fact, the abysmal low-to-no success rate of our annual proclamations is so pervasive that countless books, TV shows, and dollars are committed to tackling the topic – to no avail. No one talks about is the detrimental effects of failed resolutions though, and it’s a big deal (just ask any therapist).
It’s not a lack of desire that derails us: it’s that our resolutions often come from a place of yearning or urgency – I want to lose 15 pounds, or I need to find a better job – without an actionable plan for success. Anyone who’s tried to up level their employment prospects knows the amount of time it takes to do so; the same holds true for any change we’re trying to make. Yet at the start of each year, we vomit our resolutions as if they’re as simple to come by as a good ol’ Christmas miracle.
Instead of resolving to conquer a herculean task, focus your attention on something small. Make a habit of layering easy-to-apply steps to get there. Those successes will motivate you to keep going.
Exercise Authentically
Have you ever wanted to run a marathon? If your answer is no, then maybe it shouldn’t appear on your Things to Do list for the new year.
It’s great to prioritize fitness and health, but we jeopardize our potential for success when we choose areas of exercise that aren’t appealing. While our friends may love kickboxing, we may prefer Pilates, or lifting, and that’s OK! It’s important to lean in to the type of movement that excites us – it’s the only way we’ll stay consistent and hopefully create a long-lasting habit of prioritizing movement.
Make It a Mini
One of the biggest barriers to wellness is time. It’s so easy to get buried in our days to the point of exhaustion, and once that happens, our time for wellness is abandoned for time scrolling.
It’s been proven that in most cases, any amount of time spent focusing on our personal wellness is time well spent. Don’t have an hour to work out? Grab a few 10-minute workouts throughout the day. No time to meditate? Take a mindful moment during your shower!
These “fit nibblets of time allow for enhanced mood, improved focus and diminished stress – all of which provide a positive boost to your well-being overall.
These crazy times in which we’re living make perfection improbable. Be kind to yourself! If you make a goal but miss the mark a few days in, try again! And keep trying until you find your way. And one more tip: stay focused on the true target – whether it’s better health and happiness, or something more, what’s most important is that it’s safe, effective, and brings you joy.
All ideas and assertions expressed in The CORE are those of the individual contributors, offered to spark conversation, enrich understanding/inspire growth and share diverse perspectives within our community. They may not necessarily reflect the views of Balanced Body®.
Misty is the owner of Dragonfly Pilates Studios, a Professional Coach and public speaker.
For 20 years Misty has directed her energies toward educating people of all ages and stages about the power of movement to strengthen, balance, and heal their bodies. As a Balanced Body Master Instructor since 2008, I’ve trained the next generation of teachers to share the gifts of Pilates, Bodhi Suspension System, and Balanced Body Barre.
Misty's goal as a teacher is to lead her students and clients to the joy of movement through grace, humor, and hard work. She also loves telling people what to do, so that’s a bonus.
