The dog days of August are here.  What does that actually mean?  As I was wondering that, it made me think about our dog and how I might be able to learn a few things from her.  Here’s what I realized:

Take a Break – When things get a bit too much, our dog retreats to a safe, quiet place.  Once she is ready, she rejoins us in great spirits and is ready for anything.  It’s a great reminder to occasionally Pause (or should I say Paws?!), recalibrate and return refreshed.

Play Often– Our dog makes her own fun. Watch her play in the grass or water, chase a loaded Kong or interact with something she has “borrowed” from us and you can see and feel her pure joy.  We should play more and find the joy in whatever that is.

Enjoy Your Food  - We don’t need a clock in our house, because exactly(and I mean exactly) at 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. our dog is by our side giving us “the” look.  The it’s time to eat look!  As she watches us prepare her food, you can see her excitement, you can feel the anticipation and you can see the nourishment she gets from every morsel she eats.  Humans so often have a difficult relationship with food, but if we just took a lesson from our dogs it would all be so simple…pleasure + no guilt = healthy satisfaction.

Get Moving – It doesn’t take much to get our dog moving.  She runs to greet us at the door, walks whenever asked, chases rabbits and runs in circles for fun.  Dogs move without thinking about it, we could do the same…run to greet someone when they come through the door, walk whenever we can, chase our kids and do whatever is fun and active.

Be Curious  - If it’s new, old, smelly, big, small or whatever our dog will investigate.  She’s curious and seeks out answers.  We all could flex our curiosity muscle a bit more often, who knows what we might discover.

Socialize More – Our dog greets every dog she comes across, and does so with an openness to get to know them.  Imagine if we did the same thing?

So during the month of August, truly try to have a few dog days and see what happens…it might just be woofderful.

Summertime and the living is easy, or is it?  Many of us maintain a busy lifestyle, which can be exciting, enriching and exhausting.  We all have some of the same routine life requirements, but how we approach them can be key to creating less stress and more time this summer.  Consider any or all of the following to simplify your routine:

Cook up a BIG batch.  Once a week grill a bunch of chicken and veggies, cook some extra whole grains or make a big batch of soup or chili.  Enjoy some that day and then store the rest in containers for easy meals in a matter of minutes the rest of the week.

Clear Clutter.  Piles of papers and “stuff” scattered around can be an energy zapper.  Take 5 minutes everyday, crank some music and tackle a pile.  You will have the satisfaction of completing a task and soon you will have the comfort of more space.

To Don’t List.  Start a to don’t list and check it regularly.  Reminding yourself to not do something can be one of the best ways to give permission to ourselves to do the things we really want to do.

Be Repetitive.  Find a place for your keys and always put them there.  Drink a glass of water first thing in the morning. Walk your dog after dinner every night. By repeating certain actions they eventually become second nature and become part of your daily flow.

Get Socially Active.  Redefine how you spend time with friends.  Instead of always going out for dinner or to a bar, get people together and try something new!  Go for a walk, try a class, sign-up for a race and train together, explore a new neighborhood, star gaze or have a water balloon fight.

This summer, simplify your routine and the living will be easier!

School is out, Summer is on the horizon, the days are light and long…it’s time for a change.  Now is the time to tweak your routine.  By focusing on small changes over the next few weeks, you can have a new healthy habit in your natural flow by the time school is back in session.   Consider the following as steps to your upcoming success:

Define and detail a specific goal.  Once you have your goal, stop to think about WHY this goal is important to you and how it will impact your life.  Knowing your WHY will keep you motivated as you pursue your goal.

Get Ready.  Prepare for success.  Take the time to understand what you will need to make your goal a reality. 

Re-gain Control.  You are the driver of your destiny and when it comes to achieving your goal take responsibility for it. 

Plan for Obstacles.  Things, people, work, time will get in your way.  Have a plan on how to work around the obstacles that might derail you.   If and when the obstacles come up, you will be prepared to deal with them.

Build upon your Strengths.  Work with, not against your patterns, routines and ways.  Build a plan around your strengths and new habits will materialize.

Take Action.  Go ahead and start working towards your goal.  Do something, anything that gets you moving towards your goal.  Nothing is too small, just do it.

Change isn’t easy, but when you plan and prepare for it something changes…you.

What would you do today if you had no limitations?  Money, time, space, responsibilities, physical and emotional abilities are obstacles we commonly think of when we think of limits to pursuing our passions and goals. Consider the following questions as you ponder what you may do and what you will do:

What do you want more of in your life? 

Who do you want to spend more (or less) time with?

What does it look like? 

How would it make you feel?

What is holding you back?

What can you do today to start moving in the direction you want, need and deserve to be going in?

These may be tough questions to answer, but I encourage you to take the time to think about them and find your answers.  Once you do, you may just find yourself exceeding your limits and living  more in and for today.  

Are you happy?  What makes you happy? Happiness inquiries are in abundance these days.  Scientists devote time, and money to researching what happiness really is and why it is or isn’t important.  But is it really that complicated?  Think about it and what truly fills your life with joy as you consider the following:

Stop and pause to take something in.  Maybe it’s a sound, a song, a structure or a silly sign.  Try to appreciate what’s around you, not what’s behind or ahead of you.

Acknowledge yourself.  What are you doing right?  Go ahead and think about it, say it or write it to yourself – it’s a strength you have right now.  Give yourself some credit and see what follows.

Connect.  Be social in whatever format works for you, but from time to time don’t forget good old face-to-face interactions.  Feeling connected to others is a key strategy for happiness. 

Be Well.  Tend to your body- after all you only have one, so take care of it!  Moving our bodies has multiple benefits: it distracts you from worry, lets you feel in control of your health, can connect you with others and can have positive physiological changes in your body.

Pursue Goals.  Committing to a goal gives us a sense of purpose and increases self-esteem.  Consider a goal that you have a strong personal interest in and that involves approaching a desirable outcome.

Listen to your heart, your gut, or your favorite song and see what follows

Happiness isn’t something we have and hold on to, it needs to be cultivated and cared for.  Once you know what brings you joy, the rest simply flows.

Many times in life we are told what to do, how to do it and when to do it.  When it comes to your health and wellness you need to follow your own, unique marching orders.  You need to listen to your body, mind, spirit and heart.  So, as you consider how to optimize your health, try and be mindful of one or all of the following:

Why? – Why do you want to be healthy?  No, really WHY?  Honestly answering that question can be the motivation you need to stay committed to optimal living.

Move! – Move whenever you can, You don’t have to go to a gym or attend a class to get your body moving.  You can gain many of the benefits of exercise by moving throughout your day.  Park a little farther away from the entrance, walk and talk while on the phone, read the newspaper standing, crank some tunes, fidget.  Many studies say that the best time to exercise is first thing in the morning, but the best time to move is anytime you can and will.

Pause. – Take a time out and just stop.  Breathe and re-focus on what is really important for you.  You have the power and control to do this whenever you need or want to.

Hungry? – Listen to your body and be mindful of true hunger versus emotional hunger.  It may take a little time to distinguish between the two, but it’s time worth investing.  If you’re not sure if you are physically hungry(usually in between meals and at night after dinner), simply wait 10 minutes and see if the hunger or hankering has subsided.  If it has, then you might want to ask yourself, “What was/am I truly hungry for?” And if you are still hungry in 10 minutes, grab some real, fortifying food and enjoy it.

Connect. – The old-fashioned way…not through technology.  Go out with a friend, attend a community event, join a group, or play with your dog, cat or kids.  Social connections are vital to our complete health.

This month, don’t follow anyone else’s rules.  March to the beat of your body, mind 

February often gets stereotyped as the month of love.  Valentines day brings on chocolate, flowers, sparkly trinkets and a lot of pressure.  If all of this leaves you seeing red and feeling blue, then we encourage you to reframe things.  Consider looking at love as an acrostic poem with the following prompts for living a life you truly love:

Limitless – What would you do if you had no limits?  Take a moment and think about it.  Would you travel, run a marathon, perform on stage,  create or….?  What is limiting you? Determine one small step that you can take this month to start working around or abolishing your limitations.

Opportunity – Do you hear it knocking? How are you going to maximize your opportunities to live a healthy and fulfilling life? Say yes to someone or to yourself and go answer the door!

Vitality – What makes you feel alive?  When we are in the moment, joy is abundant and our lives are full and fortifying.  Take a moment and make a plan to do something that makes you feel great.

Exciting – What makes your spirits soar?  Whatever it is, make the time this week to have it be a part of your life. Consider how your life flows when you are passionate about something and make that happen as often as possible. 

When it comes to your health, remember to Live the life you L.O.V.E and L.O.V.E the life you live.

Did last year challenge and change you?  What will you do this year?  Taking some time out post-holiday to scope out your intentions for the next year can be a positive catalyst for living a healthier and happy life today, tomorrow and every day.  Consider the following when setting intentions:

Focus on changing one thing at a time.  You’ll be much more likely to achieve your goal and with success you gain positive momentum that propels you forward.

Play to your strengths.  We often focus on what we aren’t good at, turn that around and focus on what you excel at.

Reach out for help and guidance.  We can’t do it all, so ask for support when you need it.

Join in.  Commit to a cause, a race, or an occasion to find and maintain your motivation.

Make the investment in yourself at the beginning of a new year and your intentions will become your reality.  Here is to a healthy and happy new year!

This time of year it is crucial to practice using “that” word.  The word that we all know we should and could be using more.  The word is NO. It’s a simple two-letter statement that allows us to be healthier and ultimately happier during the holiday season and beyond.  Here are a few ways to just say no and the benefits it may bring to your life:

Saying NO to one person let’s you say yes to another.

When you say NO, it helps you determine what’s important and pass on what’s not.

Saying NO to someone who doesn’t value you or your time gives you the time for adding value to your life.

Saying NO to food pushers allows you to take control over what and when you eat.

Saying NO to rituals or traditions that aren’t meaningful to you and your family creates an opportunity to develop new celebrations.

So this holiday season, just do it….give yourself the gift of saying NO.

They’re back!  The holidays are quickly approaching and it’s that time of year that we often lose control.  We can feel out of our rhythm in regards to all aspects of our total health.  Body, mind, and spirit tend to be taken for granted – we exercise less, eat more, are stressed and don’t get enough rest.  Why not approach this holiday season differently?  Try one or any of the following tweaks during the next few weeks:

Before you leave your house in the morning, do something healthy.  Walk the dog, stretch or foam roll, add fruit to your cereal or meditate.  Whatever you choose to do, it will set the course for positive choices all day.

Drink Water!  After your morning cup or two of coffee or tea, only drink water for the rest of the day.  Staying properly hydrated helps with all aspects of your health and wellness.

Play!  Schedule some fun time to move.  Go for a walk or run with a friend, dance, or play tag.  Whatever it is, work up a sweat having fun.

One Swap.  Make one simple food swap today – grilled chicken instead of fried, whole-wheat bread for white, popcorn instead of potato chips.

Take the Stairs.  Avoid taking the elevator or the escalator and take the stairs

Get Up.  Once or twice an hour get up from your chair or couch and stand, walk or stretch. 

Bedtime.  Set a realistic time to go to bed and stick with it.  About 30 minutes before your bedtime, turn off your technology, change into your pajamas, wash your face, brush your teeth and think about one thing that you were happy about during that day.  You’ll be ready for bed both physically and mentally, which will increase your odds of getting a better nights rest (ideally 7-8 hours)

Maybe one or more of the suggestions above will become a part of your regular routine.  It’s a gift you can give yourself as we head into the holiday homestretch of this year.