My Life - Now vs Perfect

I would be lying if I said that I didn't continuously work on my life balance. Maybe this is something that I will never get perfect, but i'm certainly trying (end enjoying) making it so.

As we grow, our perspectives change. Our priorities change. Our relationships change and our focus changes. Despite how others may make you feel, this is not a bad thing. 

Are there changes to your current life balance that you'd like to make? No idea where to get started?

Below are common categories that most of us currently do in the areas of our life on a weekly basis:

Contribution

Self Development

Leisure

Hobby

Alone Time

Business

Family 

Relationship

Friends

You can put comments in each of these fields with what you currently do, to weigh up exactly what is not balanced.

Then on another piece of paper, write the same categories and put your "ideal" comments in these fields. Maybe you want to fill up more of the Alone Time category, or the Friends category?

By creating both lists of activities this will act as a visual aid to how you're currently balancing your current life vs how you would like to balance it better.

If you view your current life balance and you like what you see, then this is perfect. Perhaps you are one of those lucky people that can help others grow and achieve. You can help pull others up and influence them to create a healthy and balanced life in all areas of life that are important to them.

Words: My Own

Image: Pinterest

Music to Move to

iPods with uplifting beats are a great tool for exercise productivity if you find yourself losing concentration and/or interest. To keep things interesting and sustain that motivation that you're looking for, create a playlist that will aid with your motivation and keep you company, from your sunny walk outside, to a weights session at the gym. Some personal faves that keep me moving... (this is a safe space and there should be no judgement regarding song choices).

What else would you add to your fitness playlist?

~ Run the World (Girls) - Beyonce

~ Beat It - Michael Jackson

~ Under Pressure - David Bowie & Queen

~ Edge of Seventeen - Stevie Nicks

~ Hey Ya - Outkast

~ Midnight City - M83

~ My Body - Young The Giant

~ Otto Knows - Million Voices

~ Paper Planes - MIA

~ Work It - Missy Elliott

~ Push It - Salt n Pepa

~ Thunderstruck - AC/DC

x

Finding Your Purpose

Do you sometimes find yourself wading through mountains of self-help books, motivational books, quotes etc and becoming a little overwhelmed with the amount of knowledge you should be soaking up? If you're like me, you go through it with your nice colourful highlighter, waiting for certain points to just jump out at you. Then before you know it you've finished the book/article and you've completely forgotten what you found so poignant to begin with. Insert frazzled face.

Sometimes, when it comes to these lines of thinking, simple is best. Creating your own purpose, is as simple as it comes. No books, no facts, no statistics, no quotes from other people, just what springs to your own mind. What could be easier to remember, than something you have thought up yourself?

Let's go through what a purpose statement is for the newbies in the room...

This should be a reflection of who you are, the things that you value and believe in, what you strive and wish for in life. Here are some aids that may help you in writing your purpose statement.

What is my life about?

What do I value?

What do I treasure?

What is really important to me?

What do I do in my life that is worthwhile?

How do I want to be remembered?

Your purpose statement is what you would like to experience more of in your life and how you need to achieve this. Your answers to the above may be short, they may be long, but see how it feels to write down your purpose statement and refer to it. What could be more motivating or inspirational than something you have written yourself?

As a guide, I thought I would share my purpose statement with you.

Good luck with yours!

The purpose of my life is to experience happiness. To have healthy, happy relationships. To empower myself, make my positivity contagious. Be open to loving relationships and be happy and loving towards myself. I will put myself first and attract thoughtful, generous, loving people by portraying and being all these things myself. Enjoying life's simple pleasures, being pleasantly suprised by life. Opening myself up to positive change.

x

Words: My Own

Think Pink!

And so we find ourselves in October already. Can you believe it?

October marks Breast Cancer Awareness month, and in light of this, below are some great items that we can purchase that donate heavily towards breast cancer research.

 

Aside from these, you will also find Pink Ribbon products in your local supermarkets and newsagents. So how can you help? What can you purchase? Below are my top picks

 

Greens Products - Greens Delighful Pink Cupcakes, Strawberry Choc Cupcakes, Adorable Strawberry Babycakes and Orginal Pancake Shake products.

Available at Woolworths, Coles and Franklins

 

Dove Products -

Dove Pink Anti- Perspirant Roll-On Deodorant, Dove Pink Anti-Perspirant Aerosol Deodorant, Dove Pink Body Wash, Dove Pink Beauty Cream Bar, Dove Pink Shampoo and Conditioner and Dove Pink Summer Glow

Available at Woolworths, Coles, Chemists, Priceline

 

OPI - OPI’s Pink of Hearts 2013 pack includes two shades, plus 10 pink ribbon stick-on decals and crystals, retailing for $24.95 incl. GST at selected beauty salons, spas and David Jones from 13th September, while stocks last.

PILOT pens - Pilot will donate 10 cents for every pink Frixion product sold for a minimum of $60,000 annually.

Available in selected Supermarkets, Retail stores and Newsagencies throughout Australia from $2.99

Ecoya - The Limited Edition candles will be available to purchase from modelcocosmetics.com and ecoya.com with the full $29.95 being donated to The National Breast Cancer Foundation. The handmade natural soy wax candle is fragranced in the iconic ECOYA Sweet Pea & Jasmine scent.

 

I have nowhere to wear this (story of my life) but how cute and pink is this Safety Vest! I couldnt leave this off the list! Available for $14.95 from the McGrath Foundation

http://shoppink.mcgrathfoundation.com.au

 

 

Snowy mountain spring water

Snowy Mountain Natural Spring Water is available in Woolworths, Costco, Woolworths Fuel, selected I.G.A. and Foodworks supermarkets, as well as many other leading outlets.

Big W – michelle bridges – ONEActive Wear - Other Pink Ribbon products currently in-store include beach towels, photo albums, face washer and hand towel set. In-store for October is a ladies sleepwear range, candles and oil diffuser

 

Clinique moistirusier - In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, each year Clinique offers a special, limited-edition bottle of its best-selling, cult classic Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. The limited-edition version of Clinique’s new Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion + is adorned with a Clinique key ring with a “C” shaped charm and a set of three hearts ornamented with ribbons.

200ml bottle from $75 available at Clinique counters nationally in David Jones, Myer and www.clinique.com.au from 1^st October 2013. $10 from the purchase price of each of the limited-edition Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion will benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

 





Simplicity

Most of the time, when I write a blog post, I write with an intention. A message that i'd like to convey, motivation i'd like to share or encourage, or fitness related tips and information that I have found interesting and wanted to share. Today's post, is a little different, as I have no intention, or message, but simply a desire to write happy thoughts and hope that in turn as you read this, you also think happy.

 

I'm not sure what it is, but with Spring in the air, it feels like we have been given a new lease on life. The air is filled with infinite possibilities. The sun is shining brighter, the breeze is getting warmer, thoughts are becoming happier and less burdoned with the funk that was Winter.

 

Spring should be all about saying yes to new things. To new opportunites, to things you've always wanted to do or try but never got around to it. It should be about random trips to the beach, or quiet afternoons in the sun reading and relaxing. No worry of time, no hurry.

 

The mere thought of Daylights Savings has me incredibly excited.

Extra daylight to go for a walk outdoors after work, to train with more light, to be awoken every morning by natural light, rather than the alarm. No more limitations on being at home because its too dark outside to do anything.

 

 

 

Share this excitement, make it contagious, find enjoyment from the small things and you will find that you are rarely disappointed. Be a nerd like me and make a list of all those things you keep meaning to do, but dont. That book you wanted to read, that recipe you wanted to try, those herbs you wanted to plant, that sunny day picnic with friends, seriously so many things to write down.

 

I've spoken about detoxing your life for Spring, cleaning out wardrobes, pantries, life, energy, emotions for Spring, now you have all this space to impliment the things you've been waiting for.

 

 

Instead of thinking of Monday as the day that ruined your weekend, think of it as the start of a new week, of new possibilities, choices and plans

 

x

 

 

 

Words: My Own

Image: Pinterest

Summer Fitness Fun

Purple Elephants

Give yourself positive direction. If you tell yourself not to think about purple elephants, you'll think about purple elephants. Instead of saying 'don't stop', flip the negative and give yourself a positive instruction instead... 'keep going'.

Realistic Role Models

Exercise with those that have similar goals and want to succeed in the activities you try. Seeing them successfully do push-ups or run five kilometres will make you believe you can do it too. 

Show Me the Money

Every time you exercise, put $3 into a savings tin or jar. At the end of three months, or your challenge completion, use the money to buy yourself a treat. The more you exercise, the better your treat. As an extra goal - try to think past your treat being of the edible variety. Treats can come in many shapes and forms - a pedicure, new training top, BPA free water bottle, magazine subscription, yum cha with the girls

Tackle Obstacles

Let's face it, if you know me - i'm not a runner. I'm not even a yogger (it's a soft J).

I'm a shuffle while breathing heavily type person, and i'm totally ok with that. A lot of us avoid certain exercises (myself included) because of our fear factor. We worry we are too old, too big, too uncoordinated, too slow. Ask yourself what evidence you have for your thoughts and think about what you would tell a friend who expressed the same doubt. Remind yourself of your good qualities in other areas!

Reflection

Every month, do a check to see how much further you are running, whether you're lifting heavier weights, planking for longer, how loose your pants are. If you feel like opting out of a session, think how it would be to slip back after all your hard work, and how hard it would be to get back on the bandwagon.

Punishment vs Pleasure

A lot of people exercise because they don't like their body. But if you do that, exercise becomes a dreaded punishment. Work out because you want to look after your body and mental health, and you are more likely to enjoy doing so.

Image: Google

Content: My Own

Spicy Baby

Heavy dressings with your meals aren't actually necessary, if we factor in how many beneficial spices we have at our disposal. Adding certain spices to your food not only tantalise the taste buds, but provide additional health benefits.

Cloves

Good for bone health. Rich in manganese and vitamin K for stronger bones, these have been ranked the best natural antioxidant by Spanish researchers. High levels of phenolic compounds which have anti-inflammatory benefits

Turmeric

Good for building immunity. Commonly used in many Indian dishes, and great for infection protection in the stomach. Curcumin, a substance found in turmeric, increases the level of a protein essential for a strong immune system

Cinnamon

Good for brain health. A recent US study found certain compounds in cinnamon help prevent the tangles in the brain cells found in Alzheimers. Cinnamon helps keep blood sugar stable.

Black Pepper

Good for fat burning. What a suprise that one of the spices I currently am yet to like, is the fat burning one! Used for centuries in traditional Eastern medicine to treat pain and inflammation, now Korean researchers say piperine in black pepper keeps our weight in check by hampering the genes that create new fat cells

Handy Hint

Adding spices such as paprkika, turmeric and cloves to a high-fat meal can reduce the spike of bad fats in your blood after eating, by about 30 per cent, compared to the same meal eaten without the spices added, according to US experts.

Images: Google

Content: My Own| Good Health