Can’t believe I’ve written 7 of these!
Each month I still get butterflies, and I still get really nervous sharing my journey with everything one. But I love it. To me i feel like i’m sharing a part of myself that I can’t always express by saying out loud.
This month I wanted to talk about rest, and how important it is and how I don’t think we do it very well – myself included in this one!
There’s so much fitspo around Winter – How Summer bodies are made in Winter and sometimes I think unrealistic expectations on what you “Should” look like when winter is over.While I’m all for being consistent. I think that we don’t actually rest enough. We lead such busy life styles, that we never really stop. Or we get sucked in to fad diets where we are being pressured to try something for 30 days to get you bikini ready. I used to be this way, and for some people its the kick they need. But I also think we need to be realistic about if we are going to do things in Winter – how we do them, and the reasons why.
Here in Queensland, it very rarely gets that winter combination of cold and rainy. So most weekends, I feel bad, if I just laze around reading or watching Netflix. When in reality, warm weather or not. Everyone needs some down time.
I recently went to home to New Zealand, and while I’m no longer OK with the cold. It was nice to layer up and i spent one whole day on the couch watching TV and reading and not doing bugger all else!
I lead a busy lifestyle. I’m always on the go and spending time with my friends and family. Running from one thing to the next. I get up at least two mornings a week to train at the gym before work – of which one of those sessions is at 4:15AM. It was safe to say that before my trip home I was tired, and by the time i got home even more so. I’m lucky I have my aunty and uncle who still spoil me to this day, and this round they really looked out and cared for me. Because sometimes, even miss stoic independent me needs looking after. Sometimes I need someone to look out for me.
So going home, with no real commitments or schedules meant that i could just stop. I’m really bad at just stopping and doing nothing, especially without feeling guilty and I’m really good at telling others to stop and take time for themselves. But its not something I’m overly good at doing for myself.However this time I needed too. I needed to rest and take some time for me. Resting for me, meant I got to fill my wairua with some much needed healing and i got to sleep, with no kind of life alarm telling me where I needed to be.
I think rest is one of the most important components when you are on a journey to becoming the better version of yourself. Whether it means rest days from the gym, or days where you stay home. I think its important to do so. I have stay at home days and mine is normally a Sunday. I’ll do gym and breakfast. But I very rarely go anywhere else. Those close to me know not to ask me to do much and I am a big believer in #selfcaresunday I mean whats better than a bath, with a good book, candles and a wine?!
If we get to the nitty gritty of it, rest and winter, don’t mean being lazy and eating all the foods…. i think that’s where we get confused. I LOVE slow cooker meals and warm comforting foods like the next person. However I still think we need to look at everything in moderation.
Having a nice and resting day, doesn’t mean that those “sometimes food‘ hit the box office big time – and get a world record for how much of it can be eaten – if you’ve been consistent and making small and manageable changes – Its more like you’ve got a Netflix subscription without the binge – its continually there, year round and you can just take it episode at a time….
I made a list of what I think helps out in winter, and doesn’t mean voiding yourself of carbs or the odd steam pudding or feeling guilty about having a lazy Sunday. These are things I do or think myself.
- Making conscious decisions regarding your food
- Keeping your small plates and bowls handy
- Keeping your water game strong
- Stay accountable – get a buddy or use social media
- Have a “fuck it” day – yeah you read right – a day where you just decide to do you, nothing else. A day where if you don’t do something – you don’t feel guilty. You just say “fuck it”
- Make a date with yourself – for reading or a bath – or even a walk. Something that won’t cost anything. But will help make your emotional and mental game strong.
- Get some early nights. Its dark and often cold out. Get to bed early, snuggle down and sleep!
Just remember – you can’t expect a different result, if you keep doing the same thing.
Your body is your body. Regardless of the season. Make sure you rest it and take care of it.
Them Thighs 