The Merriam - Webster dictionary defines August, when used as a noun, as the 8th month of the year but when defined as an adjective it means marked by majestic dignity or grandeur.  This month lets’ try to celebrate the healthy actions we already do for ourselves as opportunities to reframe them as moments to mark with a bit of majestic dignity and or grandeur.  Consider doing one, or all of the following:
 

• Drinking Water – raise your glass and toast yourself and the powerful action you are taking by hydrating. Cheers to you.

 

• Walking – adjust your posture as you walk and take in all the sights, sounds and scenery. Feel free to give a royal wave or two.

 

• Sleeping – sink into a bed that is welcoming with all the amenities that encourage both quantity and quality sleep – supple sheets, plush pillows, an accommodating mattress, comfortable covers all in a cool, dark environment. Think of your bedroom as a 5 star hotel.

 

• Snacking– designer pick-me ups can be yours by simply displaying and designing your daily snack(s).  Use funky or fancy plates, bowls, and cups to showcase a variety of colors, textures and tastes.

 

• Taking Time – scheduling time for yourself is key to your total well-being.  Make it happen without any rationale, excuses or information on what you may or may not be doing – that is a luxury we all can easily give ourselves

 
This month, recognize all you already do for your health and celebrate it and yourself with a bit of dignity and grandeur that you deserve.
 

Growing up. We commonly refer to those words when we think of or describe kids or our younger selves. What happens to that as we get older? Sometimes it feels as though our responsibilities might seem to be the only thing that keep growing. Recently, as in pandemic recently, many are focusing on the stress and trauma we ALL have experienced. Yet there is growth too, we just need to pause, reflect and build upon it. Consider one or all of the following as growth areas and or opportunities to build upon:
 
-Self-awareness – we may have recently learned to better identify and communicate what we need, want and deserve to be able to flourish.
-Social satisfaction – we may have recently realized that less is more, listening is meaningful and saying no is ok when it comes to our social interactions and options.
-Style – we may have found that comfort is king and that when we are comfortable, we can still contribute in an abundantly productive fashion.
-Strength – we have always had it, but we may have found that we had more of it than we realized and can tap into it sooner and more easily.
-Silliness – we may have felt that we shed more tears than laughs since March 2020, but our sillier selves may have recently begun to show themselves to a wider audience.
-Satiation – we may have gained a better understanding when we have had enough, (work, Zoom, partners, kids, technology, alcohol, etc.), and learned how to begin to be within our own boundaries.
-Stickyness – we may have identified that we are content in the place we are, be it our home, our jobs, our routines and we may have also discovered a few new areas that we will happily dwell in.
-Solutions (vs. Problems) – we may have shifted our approach to be more solution oriented, rather than only focusing on the problem – it was and can continue to be a positive state of action and mindset to reside.
 
We are all different, but we all have endured, evolved and engaged in ways that have nudged us all towards growth.

​It’s time to get out. We all have been in for so long.  Although in has brought out many great things, times and learned trust in ourselves and our abilities to survive, most of us are ready to get out. Consider getting into any or all of the following:
 
Outside – Walk, skip, saunter, leap or run right out your front door, go ahead and do it now.  The healing powers of nature, no matter what you do or don’t do in it, are almost magical for our well-being.
 
Out of your head – Take a time out from thinking, ruminating or planning.  Step away, take a deep breath, clear your mind and just take a cerebral time out.
 
Out of the way – Step aside.  Literally take a step and get out of your own way. We may fail, but there is room to do so, and when you are in a new spot, who knows what might come into focus.
 
Out of your comfort zone – Challenge yourself to be just a bit uncomfortable.  Try something new from time to time.  It doesn’t have to be a big endeavor, just lean out of your zone and see how it feels to expand rather than remain static.
 
Out of town – Explore.  We often think of travel as big trips to big places filled with adventure and a change of attitude.  Aim to modify that, for now, plan on micro trips to meaningful places that you fill with adventure and that can and will change your attitude.
 
Out of routine – Routines keep us healthy and connected, but at times can become stagnant.  Change up your routine for just a time or two and see and feel what flows.  Flexing within our routines can build our resilience and may re-ignite a passion and or remind of us of our purpose.
 
 
To try and better understand our motivations, our meaning and allow ourselves to experience a bit more “me” time get into getting out.  
 

May just may be your personal game-changing month. Move yourself to satisfy your appetite and see how being a priority allows you to be a better and healthier human. Consider one or all of the following areas to maybe begin to optimize your well-being
 
Move – When we move from one place to the next, we often have to pack up, lift, haul, transport and then unpack.  When is moving ever easy?  When we have help, less stuff and a plan to make it happen.  Make moving your body easier by getting help, keeping it simple and committing to a way to make it happen on a regular basis. 
 
Appetite- What are your really hungry for? Whatever you are craving, be it connection, curiosity, creativity or cuisine, lean into it, listen to your gut, dig in and enjoy. 
 
You – Are you a priority in your life?  You need to put yourself on your daily priority list. You may not need to be at the top of the list, but you need to be on it – every single day.  It’s a way to guarantee that you remember to put your air mask on first, take a deep breath and care about and for yourself.
 
 
May you take better care of yourself?  Of course you may! 

How many times do we try and fool ourselves or others about healthy discoveries and or habits?  We hear about something new or a quick fix and we lean into or all over it. How can we base more of our lifestyle decisions in our own reality?  Consider trying one or all of the following:
 
-Prioritize sleep by making a date with your bed and keeping it.  Without a decent amount of sleep, we are cheating our body, mind and spirit of the energy and clarity it needs, wants and deserves.
-Drink mostly water, some coffee (or tea) and an occasional alcoholic beverage.
-Listen to your heart and follow it. 
-Move in a way that suits you and fits or flexes into a regular routine.
-Let go of relationships that no longer nurture you and or drain you.
-Pause to reflect on the good stuff…even when there isn’t much of it
-Connect with friends, family, coworkers and yourself in an authentic way.
-Eat what nourishes you by trusting your gut and feed it a satisfying combination of fresh food that mixes up textures, tastes, colors and culinary creativity.
 
You can stop fooling yourself with unsustainable actions and begin to take better control of your health…doing so is no joke and the punch line will surely deliver improved well-being.

We’ve all hit it at some point and as we lap into year two of pandemic precautions, we all may be staring at it.  Call it fatigue, an obstacle or just general frustration – we all are dealing with a wall or walls that may be preventing us from moving forward.  To work with, get around, over or through your wall, consider trying one or all of the following:
 
Connection – If you are struggling to find things to talk about in conversations with those closest to you, try playing a game of chess or checkers, a jigsaw puzzle or a word game.  Now play it on your own time and have your housemate/friend/partner do the same.  Put a few pieces of a puzzle together, make your move on a game board and when the other person is in the mood, they can take their turn.  It’s a quiet, fun connection with few emotional walls to conquer.
 
Work – With no clear division between the office and home, we may be experiencing work creep at all hours.  Turn your computer off, put your phone away, take your watch off and mentally close for the day.  Be the owner of your business (both professional and personal) and set your opening and closing hours – creating a wall between your work life and your home life.
 
Home – Be it literal, but we may be stuck looking at the same walls and furniture day in and day out.  Move things (furniture, art, lights, pillows) around, add some color, bring nature inside (flowers, plants, etc.) and change/rotate any framed photos.  With a few simple tweaks you can be living with a different perspective.
 
Physical – Do something, anything that is fun and involves moving your body.  Keep it simple, silly and stretch out of the routine you have or haven’t committed to.  Break down your own mental barriers about what counts as exercise.
 
Self-care – Think about it as self- compassion.  Mix it up and treat yourself like you would a good friend.  Think about leaning more towards self-kindness rather than continuous self-improvement.
 
Food - We all get into eating ruts and we might be ravenous to get past them.  Challenge yourself and possibly your cooking (or ordering) skills to focus on a sensory element of what you need, want or crave.  Choose to dine on something with a different color, crunchiness, texture, smell and taste.  Experiment with a cuisine or ingredient you haven’t had in a while, or ever.  It’s a culinary expedition that you can safely venture on.
 
 
It's time to be your own builder – the writing is on the wall.

Before 2020, what did you think of when you heard the word zoom?  Was it to move or travel very quickly, a TV show or was it to narrow a lens in from a long shot to a close-up or vice versa?  Whichever definition you associated to the word, we can extrapolate that into our current, early 2021 perspective and habits.  Consider any or all of the following “zoom” activities:
 
Clarity – Gain a clear picture of a situation by taking a step back to get some focus.
 
Details – Slow down to gather all the facts and actions you may need or want to take.
 
Awareness – Pause to understand something, someone or yourself.
 
Optimism – Go wide and find a positive angle.
 
Resilience – Not everything happens at the pace or in the way we hope it will. Tap into your past exposure to challenges and use that to bounce back and forward.
 
Perspective – Reframe the picture by adjusting your fixed position to a growth mindset.
 
Zoom. Do it not only for work, fun and social connections, but also for your own well-being.
Zoom in on yourself and get the full picture.
 

It’s a new year and normally we’d all feel a sense of renewal and energy towards the changes that this time of year can often bring.  But nothing seems to be normal right now.  You can create your own sense of normal and have some control for your physical, mental and emotional well-being, by focusing on some healthy basics. Consider putting a little energy and time towards any or all of the following basics:

• Sleep – tired of hearing about how impactful sleep is?  Wake up, it’s proven and now it’s time to commit to yourself to prioritize getting the proper quantity and quality of sleep you need.  Set a bedtime and stick to it.  Limit pre-bed distractions (I’m talking to you technology) and be mindful to get into some natural light during the day to help regulate your circadian rhythms
• Stress management – pause, breathe, repeat and do it again.  Couple that with saying “no” more often and you will be on the management, the stress management track.
• Move – right now.  Get up and walk around or dance or go old school and do some calisthenics.  You can move enough during the day, without a formal workout if you choose to move for a few minutes every hour. But if simply moving doesn’t “count” for you, schedule a workout 2-3x/week and keep the appointment with yourself – it’s much better than having to make an appointment with a doctor because you’re in poor health.
• Social connection – our ways of socializing have been challenged lately, but our connections don’t need to be.  Reach out to someone, daily.  Bonus for being real, being honest and being open to truly connecting.
• Nutrition – Michael Pollan said it best: eat real food, not too much, mostly plants. His advice is simple, straightforward and is scientifically-proven to be successful and satisfying.
• Get outside – every day, no exceptions.  Being in nature is one of the most natural (pun intended) things you can do for yourself and for your health
• Fun – do something fun, nothing big, just something fun for you. Don’t overthink it, just have fun.

The basics have a pays off—more than just about any other investment you could make in your life. The returns are all positive: more health, joy, connection, and fulfillment. 
​Let’s get back to basics.
 

2020 will go down in history as one of the most unique years.  We have adapted, aligned and acknowledged so much.  Yet, it often feels as though each day is basically an auto repeat of the previous one. It’s time to try and adjust our routines in a small, safe, fun and healthy way.  Consider trying one or all of the following changes:
 
Recipe – change it up, the spices that is.  Explore new spices and discover a new cuisine
Beverages – go beyond your usual cup of tea or coffee and try a different blend or brew
Rest – take a 10 minute break to do absolutely nothing to be set for the rest of the day
Connection – reach out to someone you haven’t communicated in awhile, but do it with no expectations or excuses
Workout – add one more rep or an additional minute of movement
Energy – avoid an energy vampire for a day and see what happens to your own energy
Sleep – change the side of the bed you sleep on
Environment – shift some things around in your room, office or kitchen and tune into the environmental awareness you just created
 
No need to study or memorize anything for these small changes in this historical year, just create your own narrative and notice the impact.
 

Often when we come to the bottom of a jar and we scrape what remains, it can leave us with a feeling of frustration or sadness.  Although those feelings are certainly valid, we can reframe our thoughts and perspective about the empty jar.  We can reflect back on how much we enjoyed its contents.  We can also be creative and consider how to best repurpose the jar by taking a look at it from a different angle. Consider trying one or all of the following:
 
 
Drink – prepare beverages (tea, iced coffee, mocktails or your favorite cocktail) in advance in a jar, screw on the lid and you have a pre-made, portable hydration fest
 
Glow– place a small light in a jar for an outdoor lantern or an indoor mood setter 
 
Frame- place a picture in a jar so that it curves along the glass interior
 
Fire it up – place some sand in a jar, add a candle and get lit up.
 
Layer– make salad in a jar or alternate yogurt, fruit and granola for a parfait
 
Set – make an easy place setting by putting a napkin, utensils inside a glass jar
 
Grow – sprout seeds or root herbs and have a home-grown addition to any meal
 
Gifts – flavor oil, sugar or bath salts and gift them in a jar
 
A jar can even be more meaningful when we see it as a metaphor for a situation you may find yourself in.  When we get to the end of things, we may be sad or empty, all valid feelings, but consider reframing the ending of something, simply as an opportunity to get creative, have fun and repurpose your time or energy.