Is the News Making You Feel Unmotivated?

Ask Keri: The news cycle has me feeling really low and unmotivated. What are some ways to stay focused on my health and wellness?   Keri Says:  Most of us have been spending more time at home lately than we’re used to, and as a result, we’re watching and reading the news more frequently – a news cycle which is flooded with stories about the pandemic. Yes, many of these stories are uplifting, and there’s no shortage of inspirational talk on social media about utilizing this time to try new things. “Read a new book,” they say. “Start a side hustle,” or “Pick up a new hobby or two.” Sure, that all sounds wonderful, but, if all you feel like doing is throwing on your sweats and binging on Netflix, I get it and I don’t blame you. With constant reminders that our world is anything but “normal” right now, we’re all in the middle of an emotional roller coaster, and most of us could use a little extra motivation during these strange times. With the entire world in a state of uncertainty, you may  not always feel like focusing on health and wellness all the time. Or, at all. And it’s absolutely okay to feel that way. Just don’t STAY there. RELATED: Why Cultivating Self-Worth Leads to Healthier Choices (and How to Do It) Prioritizing your wellbeing is more important right now than ever, and may be the very thing that can help you out of your funk. So, while it’s okay to give yourself a break now and then, it’s important not to lose sight of your health and wellness goals for too long.  When the world throws challenges at us, it’s easy to lose focus on what matters most. I challenge you not to give up, and hang in there. Here are some of the  tricks I use to  stay motivated and make healthy habits last.  1. Write Down Your Goals. It’s time to put some pen to paper and get clear on your health and wellness goals. Writing down realistic goals, along with why you want to achieve them in the first place is the first step in making any healthy habits last. You know you want to eat healthier, but what’s the deeper reason? Maybe you want to have more energy, set a positive example for your kids, or feel happier. Whatever your reasons are, writing them down ensures you won’t forget why you started in the first place. When you feel unmotivated (because we all do, sometimes) coming back to your “why” will help you stick to your goals no matter what obstacles are thrown in your way. But, just writing down general goals isn’t enough. They have to be specific and realistic goals that you can actually measure. Exercising more is a great general goal to aim for, but how will you know when you’ve achieved it? What does “exercising more” mean to you? . Instead of just aiming to exercise more, you should set a more specific goal, such as walking for 30 minutes, four days a week. Once you achieve this goal and build confidence, you can increase your goal to walking for 45 minutes, four days a week, for example, and so on. 2. Make an Upbeat Playlist. There’s nothing like hearing your favorite song to instantly change your mood. If you’re feeling down or discouraged by the current events, play some music to lift your spirits and shift your mindset. Research shows that music can boost mood and even make exercise more enjoyable.  So, find some pump-up jams for your workouts, calming melodies for when you need to unplug, and happy tunes to inspire some dancing in the kitchen to make meal prepping a little more fun. A little music makes everything better, so don’t neglect to add some to your day. 3. Find a Buddy or Group. Yes, we might be social distancing right now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find support or a community of like-minded people to keep you accountable and inspired. If you’re living with your partner, roommate, or family, you can get them involved by trying new recipes together, going on walks, or unplugging together by playing some games.  On your own? You can also find virtual communities for everything from fitness to meditation, thanks to countless online classes and apps. You’ll be less likely to bail if a friend is expecting to see you for that live online yoga class. Plus, seeing others achieve their goals will keep you inspired and determined to reach yours.  4. Put it On the Calendar. Feeling a little out-of-sorts these days? You’re not alone. The coronavirus has undoubtedly changed our routines and daily schedules, which means scheduling health and wellness into your day may be more important than ever. When you make something part of your schedule and write it on the calendar, you’re less likely to forget about it, and you have one less excuse for not doing it. You can also try setting reminders on your phone for wellness breaks throughout the day, such as standing up and moving, drinking water, meal prepping, getting outside, or relaxing with a book. While these may feel like small things, they can make all the difference in your day, so don’t forget to make time for them. 5. Get Organized and Declutter. A little Marie Kondo-ing might just be the refresher you need to feel less stressed and shift your focus to health and wellness. Our living spaces can have a powerful  impact on our mood, so decluttering and rearranging your space to promote peace and wellness will set you up for success.  Consider finding a spot such as your bedroom, a corner in your living room, or even the bathtub, that can be your place for some Zen and restoration. Stock up on nutritious foods and  hide the sugary treats. Consider getting a jogging stroller to take your kids with you on a run, and/or

10 Surprising Healthy Habits Wellness Experts Trust

There are eight pillars of living a Nutritious Life because we believe that a balanced lifestyle encompasses much more than just “more sweat, less sugar”—and when you ask wellness experts to share the healthy habits that add vibrancy to their lives on the reg, it’s obvious most agree. Over time, we’ve tapped a variety of these role models—from celebrity yoga teachers and trainers to superstar nutritionists and healthy chefs—to share how they live their own Nutritious Lives. Within the interviews, they revealed super interesting insights into healthy habits they swear by, some of which may surprise you. We’re sharing 10, here, to inspire your own well-rounded wellness regimen. Surprising Healthy Habits Wellness Experts Trust 1. Eat food that makes you feel good. It’s not always about balancing protein and carbs or scouring labels for organic ingredients, say Sakara founders Whitney Tingle and Danielle DuBoise. Eating Empowered, to them, is “knowing what it feels like to eat good food. Food is meant to be nourishment and food should make you feel sexy!” Read more. 2. Align your body, and your life will follow. “Finding alignment in your physical body is the first step to aligning your life, connecting to your gifts, attracting your deepest desires and feeling like you are on your true path,” says foam-rolling guru and best-selling author Lauren Roxburgh. “Over the years as I was so deeply studying the body, I realized many other things in my life and self were also coming into ‘alignment.’ I’ve seen it with hundreds of my clients too.” Read more. 3. Sip on water and tea as often as possible. Nearly all of the experts mention hydration as incredibly important, and Nutrition Stripped founder and RD McKel Hill swears by supplementing plenty of lemon-spiked H2O with matcha lattes and all kinds of other teas. “I’m a huge tea drinker all day long, whether it’s green tea, liver supportive tea, peppermint, or ginger. #gimmiealltheteas” Read more. 4. Give back. Sure, wellness is about your life, but focusing on others may also be essential to finding balance. “I try to pour my energy into causes that I am passionate about, like eating disorder recovery, animal rescue and raising awareness of cyberbullying,” says The Balanced Blonde blogger Jordan Younger. “I host a lot of events that give back to some of my favorite local LA organizations that raise funds/awareness for those causes.” Read more. 5. Design your space for great sleep. Chef, author, and all-around wellness star Candice Kumai details how getting a solid night’s sleep starts with how you design your space. “No electronic devices in the bedroom, no TV in the house—only reading, art, vision boards, and photography on our walls. Plus, lots of plants in the house for oxygen.” Read more. 6. Surround yourself with happy people. “I collect loving people in my life every day,” explains fitness celeb extraordinaire Natalie Jill. “When I meet positive, goal oriented, successful, happy, loving, and energetic people…I want them in my life. I find ways to be around them. They energize me, inspire me, and help me want to better myself! And when I am my better self, I am able to love more.” Read more. 7. Ask yourself, “How important is it?” When your clients include Jennifers with the last names Aniston and Lawrence, life can be pretty busy. To make it through tough situations, yoga teacher-to-the-stars Mandy Ingber asks herself this simple question. “The phrase ‘How important is it?’ reminds me that there are no big deals. When my behavior and actions are aligned with my own moral compass, I can handle life’s twists and turns,” she says. “Although a learned skill, relaxing into what comes is the discipline I practice. Everything is as it should be, and I can trust that my life is unfolding before me in perfect order.” Read more. 8. Make time for real meals. Maintaining a healthy diet is easier when you’re organized about your eating and in control of your meals says Deliciously Ella blogger Ella Woodward. “It’s easy to snack, snack, snack, but I like to sit down to proper meals, and I like to cook my meals,” she says. Read more. 9. Move, at least a little bit, every. single. day. “Trying to move a little every day is a big part of my life. It doesn’t always happen, but I feel the best when I’m more active. Every little bit adds up,” says Michele Promaulayko, author of 20 Pounds Younger and the Editor-in-Chief at Cosmopolitan magazine. “You don’t have to run for hours on a treadmill to burn fat.” Read more. 10. Don’t discount the power of me-time. If you’ve got a hobby that makes you happy or feel refreshed whenever you take a hot bath, those things have real value, even if they feel indulgent. Celebrity yoga teacher Kathryn Budig nurtures herself regularly with “epsom salt baths, reading juicy fiction novels, taking time to write for myself, and experimenting in the kitchen.” Read more.