Here at Superfeet, we're full of good intentions rolling into the new year: get active, maintain a healthy work-life balance, and be mindful. We'll hit the ground running with fresh resolutions. By the time its February, we've started slowing down a bit. By March, forget about it. Sound familiar?
This year, we're going about things a little bit differently. We want long-lasting, feel-good-about-ourselves change that will annoy our friends and colleagues. Experts say it can take as little as 21 days to make or break a habit.
Get Active
We’ll gladly take on the challenge of just being active on a regular basis. Twenty-one days? In a row? We can do that. Health and balance is the name of the game, and here are some easy ways to fit activity into your day to day life:
Be realistic. Enthusiasm is good. You want to get going. Burn out is not so good. Start slow and start smart. Getting your heart rate up for 30 minutes a day is a good start. Whether it’s walking for 30 minutes a day or training to run your first half-marathon, realistic goal setting can help make your dreams tangible. Take your goal and break it down into smaller, easier to achieve pieces and build on successfully reaching a smaller milestone. Walk 5 minutes, then 8, then 15. Run a ¼ mile, then a ½.
Get social. Getting together can mean more than just the usual happy hour. Invite friends and family to work out. There’s a reason they call it the buddy system; it works. You get time to chat, and it helps keep you accountable.
Stay flexible. Life changes from day to day; setting a weekly workout plan can help you avoid unnecessary let downs if you miss a day.
Change it up. If you normally sit at a desk it’s time to change it up! Spending most of your day sitting increases the risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Try sitting on an exercise ball it can help strengthen your core and burn an additional 30 calories per eight-hour work day.
Maintain a healthy work-life balance
Easier said than done, for sure. Balance can be relative. While some people work for a company that monitors employee work-life balance, some might need to manage it on their own. If you’re going through a more stressful period and are trying to achieve a happy balance, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Take breaks. Some of the best ideas are conceived when you’re not at your desk, which is why it’s important to step away for some fresh air. Here at Superfeet HQ, some hop into our game room for a friendly match of Ping-Pong, others grab a couple of minutes in the sun out on the porch or play catch out back. A walk around the block will also do the trick.
Plan smart. Don’t get stuck spending hours on insignificant tasks. Schedule your day in order of importance and block out your calendar accordingly.
Learn when to say “no”. Learning when and how to say it respectfully can be one of the best things you can do for yourself. Think about it this way, saying “no” to one thing will allow you more time to fully devote yourself to more important items on your to-do list.
Stay positive. A key component to a healthy work-life balance is a positive attitude. It sounds cliché, but studies have shown that positive thinkers have less stress and overall better health. Plus a positive attitude can be contagious, you never know who you could be inspiring.
Be Mindful
Having a clear mind completes our New Year's resolution trifecta. If we commit to being active, maintain a good work-life balance, and know how and when to de-clutter our mind, this year will be one for the books. This is one simple thing we’re doing on the daily to get a little peace of mind:
De-stress with mindfulness. Anyone looking to un-wind from work and life’s every day stresses should give this a try. Trust us, it is likely not what you are expecting and has some pretty pleasant results.
Are you kicking your healthy habits into gear? Want to keep track on how we're doing? We look forward to the journey this year. Hope to see you out there.