Get Back & Give Back To Yourself
For almost a full year now, our communities have been divided by a pandemic. Racial injustice was at the forefront of our existence, and many of our healthy habits went to the wayside. Together, we struggled. While it looked different for everyone, 2021 couldn’t get here fast enough.
We’re not the “New Year, New Me” type of girls. To become a “new” version of ourselves every year discounts the lessons learned and growth experienced from prior years. Plus, it sounds exhausting! We instead subscribe to the “New Year, Better Me,” working towards two or three goals. As besties, we like to have our annual check-in, and this year, instead of looking outward, we decided to look inward and explore ways to get and give back to ourselves. Below are a few insights for how we plan to begin getting back to ourselves.
Find Joyful Ways to Move Our Bodies
What would happen if you changed your mindset about exercise? Instead of viewing it as a punishment for “overdoing it” in 2020, see it as a way to show your body some love. Sure, not every workout is going to be comfortable, but it also isn’t a requirement to do 50 million push-ups and sit-ups to see a change. We have a friend who tapped into a love for dance, and has committed to doing it at last four days week. We love seeing her have fun and most importantly feel good.
Shawnie - I have committed the first few weeks of the year to getting up before dawn to do a killer workout with one of my trainer besties. We design workouts for each other and find new and creative ways to challenge our bodies. There is something peaceful and magical about watching the sunrise in the middle of a superset.
CaCera - I have made Sundays my #RunDay. I find that running brings me a lot of joy. It gives me a chance to listen to and discover new music, clear my mind, spend time breathing in fresh air and time to appreciate my body for carrying me through each run. I also found that I really enjoy the guided outdoor Peloton runs. I fire up my app and trust my legs to do the rest.
Get Lost In a Quiet Moment
Have you found that even in this moment of being forced into stillness, you can’t quite shut off and shut it all out? We’ve been bred in “hustle culture” and the time of the “girl boss.” It’s hard to shut off. Finding time for quiet moments to meditate, journal or read is key to tuning out all the noise and daily demands. It allows time to truly focus on you and what your body, mind and soul is telling you it needs.
CaCera - I began journaling regularly last year. But what I truly enjoy is getting lost in a good book. I have a monthly bookclub with friends and getting lost in a plot and wrapped up in the lives of other characters helps me reset. It also gives me a boost of creativity.
Shawnie - Like CaCera, I love diving into the written word. Lately, my focus has been on books and articles that inspire me to dream in color and take practical steps towards those dreams. I also take advantage of the stillness of the early mornings to check in with my own feelings about my place in the world. I allow my mind to wander with no limits, giving myself permission to experience all of my emotions at that moment.
Be Unapologetic about what you will and won’t do
Saying “no” is the best gift we can give ourselves. There is more than enough tasks to fill our day. While we may have the same 24 hours as Oprah and Beyonce, we don’t have the same staff on hand to help us get through it all. Reclaim your time. What brings you peace? Focus on that and be unapologetic about saying “no” to the things that will bring you extra stress.
Shawnie - I have a passion for helping others achieve their goals through training and teaching group classes. It makes me happy. So, I decided to lean into that passion, whether online or in-person, and it’s been one of the best decisions I ever made in my life. I also love to cook, but last year I allowed stress to overtake that love, exchanging it for take-out and meal delivery. This year, I decided to fall back in love with cooking. I’ve been trying out new recipes, even those that used to feel a little intimidating and building my skill set one step at a time.
CaCera - I am my best self when things around me are organized. I decided early in the pandemic that if my house was going to be my sanctuary, I was going to truly make it my happy place. In addition to decor, I wanted to keep it clean and dishes were not apart of that equation. So paper plates and meal delivery on Sundays it is. I order my meals each week to eliminate excessive pots and pans. I am still have balanced, wholesome food that helps fuel her fit lifestyle without all the mess and having to wash dishes every other hour.
What’s one tip you want to share with our readers? Add it to the list by leaving a comment below or dropping us a line on Instagram. We love chatting with you.