Have you ever looked at that gorgeous woman on television and envied her hourglass figure? Have you wondered what she does to stay trim and fit?
Have you also thought that it wasn’t within your reach to achieve that milestone?
If you are a working woman, juggling deadlines and dirty dishes on a daily basis, you probably feel like you just don’t have time to live a healthy lifestyle sometimes.
You might feel like you can never get the ideal body you want. And it doesn’t seem to matter if you work or stay-at-home, really.
The scary truth is that both sets of women, working and stay-at-home moms, or at least a large percentage of both, lead similarly sedentary lifestyles.
While the woman at home might lounge on the couch in the middle of a tiring day, the one at work is seated behind a desk, crunching numbers and attending meetings. Both scenarios are not ideal when it comes to fitness and overall health.
However, there are some ways to ensure that you get into shape and stay in shape, even with a busy workday looming ahead. The trick is to get into a lifestyle change rather than a quick-fix solution to a specific health issue.
Need help getting started? Check out these fitness tips for working women.
Fitness Tips for Working Women: Walk It Out
Walking is a surefire way to burn off the calories. You don’t have time for a walking routine? No problem. Walk while you talk. If you have to take a phone call, make sure you’re walking back and forth. You’d be surprised at how many steps you would take on an hour-long conference call.
Fitness Tips for Working Women: Stretch It Out
Stretch your limbs any time you can. We sit for so many hours behind a desk that we don’t even realize how numb our extremities become. For every hour spent at the computer, stretch your arms above your head for two minutes. Similarly, go for a short walk every hour or two, to keep the circulation going.
Fitness Tips for Working Women: Don’t Starve Yourself
Never skip your breakfast. It is very easy for the early-morning rush to overwhelm you and it becomes easy to grab a burger on the way to work. Stop, pause, breathe and set time aside for a hearty breakfast. It fuels you up to tackle the challenges of the day. Also, stock up on healthy snacks which you can access in the middle of a busy schedule. A fistful of nuts, dry fruits or a peanut butter sandwich is perfect for those mid-morning cravings without adding on the pounds.
Fitness Tips for Working Women: Tone It Up
Are you too busy to visit the gym? No problem. Pick up a couple of 500 ml bottles and use them as dumbbells at work. Use that tea break to do a few arm lifts and curls which will tone those muscles and work on the upper body strength.
Fitness Tips for Working Women: Drink Your Water
You’ve heard this one before. You’ve read about it in every fitness journal possible and you’ve heard the doctor tell you this each time you visit him for that yearly check up. Drink plenty of water. Water keeps you hydrated, feeling younger and more energized to take on the demands of a home/work balance.
These are not complete options when it comes to a sound mind and body. But they are a great way to start or get into a routine to set that lifestyle clock. Slowly, you can add more ideas into your day; an hour of exercise, a restricted diet or an evening of yoga. The point is, take those baby steps towards a fitter you, then you can jog your way into a hearty middle age.
About the Author
Ray Lehigh is a person with great passion for writing; he has written many articles on different topics like Medifast. You can look out for more on his other blogs related to health and beauty.
Sometimes, there’s no compromising. You shouldn’t compromise on your values, your beliefs, your personal health and well-being. But other times, there’s no reason not to compromise.
The fact is that the ability to compromise makes our lives and relationships run more smoothly, even if the concept sometimes seems challenging to implement.
Here are some of the advantages of compromising as well as some techniques for finding middle ground.
Good Reasons to Compromise
To advance the greater good. Making reasonable concessions paves the way for finding solutions to difficult conflicts. For example, if you’re a parent with physical custody, be generous about accommodating your ex-spouse’s schedule so your kids grow up with two loving parents.
To facilitate cooperation. Teamwork flourishes in an atmosphere of trust and respect. By demonstrating your commitment to the common good, you make it easier to work together at the office and at home.
To strengthen your relationships.Cultivating our relationships is usually far more valuable than coming out ahead on any particular decision. Build good will by welcoming your mother-in-law’s help in the kitchen even if you think it would be faster to do a task yourself.
To feel happier. Our happiness depends more on the way we view events than on the events themselves. As you practice accommodating others, you’ll find that becoming more flexible and generous feels good.
Techniques for Making Constructive Compromises
Uphold your core values and needs.Distinguish between compromising and copping out. Bullying is destructive for both parties, so preserve your own integrity and set healthy boundaries. Be firm and respectful about communicating your rights and desires.
Prioritize issues.Save your energy for the stuff that really matters. As long as your son is getting good grades and staying out of trouble, maybe you can live with him coming home from college with an eyebrow piercing.
Gather facts. Try bolstering your position by doing the research to back it up. If your boss tends to resist change, he may be more receptive to approving a new employee benefit if you document how it saves money and improves employee retention.
Empathize with the other person’s position. When you’re asking someone to meet you halfway, try to put yourself in their shoes. Listen closely to their concerns and goals so that you can address them.
Consider all your options. We all attach different values to the same things. If you and your partner have different standards for house cleaning, you may be able to work things out by hiring a cleaning service.
Express appreciation. Thank people for being willing to make trade-offs. Acknowledge the concessions they make and their contribution to creating more positive outcomes. For example, if your employees work through the weekend to meet a production deadline, ensure it gets noted in their annual review and encourage them to take compensating time off.
Stick to your word. Think carefully before making a serious compromise so you’ll feel confident that you can live with it. Proceeding slowly is better than making promises you may later regret. On the other hand, your loved ones will usually be willing to rethink an arrangement if it’s undermining your wellbeing.
Take accountability for your decision. Once you spell out the terms you can abide by, assume responsibility for the choices you’ve made. This will help you to avoid becoming resentful.
Wield power wisely. Even if you have the upper hand in an interaction, it’s usually best to seek an agreement that’s acceptable to everyone involved. Future situations are likely to run more smoothly and you’ll enjoy more peace of mind.
Learning to give and take helps everyone to wind up with more in the end. Stay true to yourself while being open to making accommodations that create better solutions in both your private and public lives.
What are some ways you have compromised? Share your thoughts in the comments section, below.
“Make a choice. Just decide what it’s going to be, who you’re going to be, how you’re going to do it. Just DECIDE! And then from that point the universe is going to get out of your way.” ~Will Smith
I have always liked Will Smith. I first liked him back in the days of The Fresh Prince of BelAire, the days of Parents Just Don’t Understand. Not only was he hilarious, smart and fun to watch, but I really GOT his message back then–parents really DIDN’T understand! (Of course, now I see the opposite side of things, as a parent myself!)
Since then, I’ve enjoyed most of his music and many of his movies. He’s a great musician, a great actor, great comedian…a great family man who isn’t afraid to say it (unlike many of his Hollywood colleagues.) And let’s be honest–he’s not too hard on the eyes either! But I digress…
As I’ve grown up, I’ve watched Will do the same. I’m consistently impressed with him, and even more so since I’ve begun to understand his life philosophy. Once again, I really GET his message, and this time, I understand it on a whole new level. Plus, I love that he and his beautiful and talented wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, are raising their children with the same philosophy–and it’s already showing as the Smith kids are already actively following their individual dreams.
Like me, Will believes that every single person alive has unlimited potential, and can choose to do, have and be whatever he or she wants. So today, I thought I would share a great video I found that sort of sums up Will’s life strategies and philosophies. If you need a little inspiration, take a look at the video below.
What do you think? Can you use any of Will’s advice? Let me know in the comments!
This post was originally published on InPursuitofFulfillment.com. If found anywhere else, this content is illegally copied and should be reported.
Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past. ~Henry Ward Beecher
Happy new year (Photo credit: Amodiovalerio Verde)
2012 was a pretty eventful year for me. I grew my career. I got closer to some people in my life, and I redefined some relationships. I made some really difficult choices, and I learned a lot about myself.
I took a step back and looked at my life with fresh eyes, a new perspective provided by the choices I made, and I came to understand many things on a profound new level.
In the end, I am calling 2012 a success and I’m so grateful for all of the wonderful people, things and situations in my life. I love my life and I’m very blessed to have everything I could ever want or need to be happy. 🙂
But back in 2010, I started this new thing, and I had to share it with you–because it changed my world.
Instead of coming up with a bunch of traditional “New Year’s Resolutions,” I’m going with “New Year’s Intentions.”
As far as I’m concerned, resolutions are sort of a recipe for negativity. Statistically speaking, most people don’t follow through with most resolutions–and they’re left feeling like they’ve failed. This can begin a cycle of negativity that can spin out of control.
I’m starting out 2013 by feeling good. I’ve lost a significant amount of weight, I’m feeling happy and healthy and I am generally doing better than I’ve ever done on many levels.
I’ve said it a thousand times, and I’ll say it again: when we feel good, we bring more reasons to feel good into our lives.
What we think about, we bring about. If we focus on our problems, we attract more problems into our lives.
When we think about things or situations or people that we find unpleasant–guess what? We are actively attracting them into our lives.
So this year, instead of promising myself I am going to Become A Whole New Person, I am promising myself that I will be happy with who I am, right now.
I will define myself, instead of letting someone else define me. I am promising myself to focus on positive thoughts, actions, people, places, things.
I am promising myself that I will focus on what I want–not what I don’t want.
Instead of worrying about the size of my jeans, I’m going to focus on the fact that my body is an amazing machine that helps me do what I want and need to do every day.
Instead of focusing on the dust on my shelves, I’m going to focus on being grateful for the home that those dusty shelves (and I) live in.
Instead of worrying about mean people and icky situations, I’m going to focus on love–love for my family and friends, love for my career, love for myself.
You get the idea–like the old song goes, I’m going to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative.
Instead of focusing on what other people think about me and want from me, I’m going to focus on what I think and what I want for me.
If I feel stressed or anxious, I am going to change my mind, and focus on the things for which I’m grateful instead. I’m not going to beat myself up if something doesn’t go my way–I’m going to realize that another opportunity is on the way and stay positive in anticipation of it.
It’s all in my head. And that’s where it all starts, for each and every one of us. It’s good to think big–just remember to focus on your own vision and not what you think you’re supposed to want.
Did you ever have one of those days when you’ve got like fifty-bazillion things to do and yet all you seem to get done is updating your Facebook status and maybe a shower, if you’re lucky?
I’ve been there. Who hasn’t?
From the outside, it might just look like you’re procrastinating, but in reality, it feels a little more like being paralyzed, am I right?
Well, here’s a tip that might just help you to move past that whole “feeling so overwhelmed that I can’t do a single thing” issue. I hope you’re sitting down for this one, because it is seriously going to blow your mind.
Just do SOMETHING. Pick one thing on your list, even something tiny and easy, and start doing it. Don’t stop until you’re finished. Maybe this is something small–like, I don’t know, a blog post. Or maybe it’s something bigger, like finally organizing your kitchen cabinets. It doesn’t matter what it is. Just do one thing.
When you’re done, look at what you’ve done and pat yourself on the back. You have just ended the vicious cycle of procrastination and paralyisis, and you are on your way to getting back on the productive horse.
Who knew it could be so easy?
And, once you’ve got your juices flowing, do one more thing. And so on.
I know, this all sounds positively basic and simple–but every now and then, we all need someone to tell us, as Nike once did, to Just Do It.
So, enough procrastination. Enough paralysis. Just do SOMETHING. Are you with me?
What are your best tips for avoiding procrastination and paralysis when you’ve got a fifty-bazillion things to do? Tell me in the comments!
Have you ever looked at that gorgeous woman on television and envied her hourglass figure? Have you wondered what she does to stay trim and fit?
