Live. Life. Fully.

You see them every day.  Them.  The people who are smiling and skipping through life.  Maybe it is all a facade.  But, it sure looks pretty amazing.  What are they doing that I am not?  I really thought about this and decided over the past few months that I don't want to just sit back and be good at just one thing.  I want to be good at LIFE.

I totally get caught up in my work.  Work.  Well my work is different than other's work.  I'm a stay at home mom and homemaker.  That is my #1 job.  But I also wear the hat of blogger.  The hat of health and fitness coach.  The hat of helping-my-husband-where-he-needs-help.  The hats get worn out sometimes.  Sometimes I put 100% into one and then it leaves nothing for the other hats.  I need balance.

Last month, I went to Cabo with my sister-in-law, my niece and my cousin.  It was an INCREDIBLE girls trip that I now hope to take every year.  On the flight there, I paid for wi-fi so I could continue working on the plane.  So I could be in touch.  So I would not miss out on my online life.  When I got to Mexico and realized that the wifi at my resort was ONLY available at the pool area and was spotty at best I was stressed.  But after a few days into my trip, the disconnection was amazing.  It FORCED me to enjoy every single minute with my friends.  Being unplugged was the best thing for me.  In fact, though I'm not sure this is a good thing, it is weeks later and I'm still finding myself not really as involved with my connection online.  I'm finding that balance.  I did a lot of soul searching on that trip and realized that I need that balance.  I can't put all of my eggs in one basket and leave the others empty. This all led me to think about coming up with a simple list that I can refer to when I feel like toppling over.  Some things on this list come pretty easy for me, but some take thought and intention.  Here is my advice for the 6 habits to help you life a healthier and more fulfilling life.

• Exercise.  Easy peasy for me.  After 3 years of making this a priority, I actually CRAVE daily exercise.  But if you haven't gotten to that stage yet, have no fear!  Start by mastering the "mini workout."  This is a walk you take on your lunch break.  The 10 push-ups to start your day.  The 5k you are training for.  Whatever your mini workout is, master it.  Make it a priority every day.  Find a fun 30 day challenge (like the squat challenge I will be starting on my business page www.facebook.com/fitmomjoslin in April!!) and COMPLETE it.  Once you have that mastered, the next step in my opinion, is getting yourself involved with an at-home workout program.  There are so many to choose from and I am happy to help you pick the right one for you, comment below with your email address and I will contact you.  I have programs that range from 22 minutes per day up to an hour per day.  Cardio to weight training to yoga.  There is something for everyone and every level of fitness.

• Drink. More. Water.  Our bodies NEED water to survive.  Water help our bodies work like a well oiled machine.  It is no secret that dehydration can lead to lots of problems that can simply be avoided by drinking more water and staying hydrated.  Don't like water?  I get it.  You either love it or hate it.  Don't just skip it and drink a sugar loaded "sports drink".  There are so many other options.  Try a sparkling water, like La Croix.  Or unsweetened green tea.  Stay away from anything that says "artificial" on the label.  Stay away from anything that has added sugar or sugar substitutes (chemicals).  Add a lemon or lime to your water, and just like exercise... if you aren't a water drinker now, it takes daily habits to create a life long habit that will benefit you!

• Challenge yourself.  Don't just throw your hands up when it gets hard and quit!  No!  Not you.  Not this time.  When it gets hard... and it will get hard, don't give up.  Push through that challenge and you will feel amazing when you come out on the other side.  Promise :)  This doesn't have to be a physical challenge, it could be finishing that non-fiction book or learning a new skill.  For instance, I just recently purchased a brand new serger sewing machine.  I am really excited about the possibilities it will lend me that my 22 year old regular sewing machine cannot give me, but when it came in the mail the other day and I opened it... I immediately got that fear of the challenge of learning this new machine.  Part of me wants to just shelf it and figure it out some other time.  But, I know that if I just challenge myself, learn it, put it to use... well I will just love the outcome.  I challenged myself when I initially started my fitness journey and for the first time in my life... pushing through that point of the challenge paid off when I lost over 30 lbs in just 3 months!  Don't fear the challenge.  Embrace.  Push through.  Breathe.  Smile.

• Forgive.  Let it go.  Life sucks sometimes and people suck sometimes.  People close to you are going to hurt you.  I should know, people close to me have hurt me too.  And my biggest flaw?  I'm a holder-on-er.  I hold onto that hurt and anger that follows.  I burn bridges because it seems to be easier.  But then in the long run, that hurt and anger turns into bitterness and stress.  And stress sucks more than the people that hurt me.  Because, 9 times out of 10... those people probably don't even know they hurt me.  Whether you verbally forgive them for the hurt or just take a moment to meditate on it, pray on it and forgive them in your heart and mind silently on your own... just do it.  It's crazy how much that weighs and when you forgive, that weight leaves you and allows room for happiness and contentedness.  

• Be present. Wake up!  Life is happening!!!  Your life!  Put your phone down.  Trust me, this is one that I really need to work on.  It is hard to disconnect, I get it.  But you have to.  I have to.  To truly enjoy your life, you need to LIVE that life.  Not stare at a phone or a computer screen and scroll and scroll.  Next time you go out to dinner... take a look around.  It is shocking how many people are on their phones.  SHOCKING.  At the park with kids... look around.... parents everywhere on their phones.  Airports, buses, everywhere!  Again... definitely guilty here.  But, I'm trying.  I'm working on it.  Don't dismiss this.  Put your phone down and be present.  Invite your friends over and turn your phone to silent and enjoy meaningful conversation and laughter.  Take your spouse on a date night and do the same.  TALK.  LAUGH. LOVE.  Don't think you can do it?  I didn't either. But I have started small by putting my phone on silent at night after the kids have gone to bed and I don't turn the ringer on until almost NOON the next day!  It has been incredibly freeing.  No one has ever been on their death bed and regretted not spending more time on their devices.  Be present! 

• Schedule "me time."  I'm a scheduler.  I'm old school with my paper planner/calendars.  I love to have a schedule.  It keeps me sane.  And something that keeps me even more sane... me time.  If you find that it is hard to put that into your daily or weekly life.... then schedule it.  On Tuesdays, my husband takes our boys to soccer and that is my scheduled me time to read or to sew or to catch up on my soap opera.  It is something I can look forward to each week.  Some weeks I get more me time and some weeks it doesn't work out.  But you gotta have that time to unwind and relax and just be YOU.  Go for a walk.  Blare the music and dance around your kitchen.  Go to the beach.  Read.  Sew. Run. Whatever it is you need, DO IT.  Unapologetically.  Because you have to.... cause you wrote it down in your planner :)