It has been n early two months since you made those New Years resolutions…. So, how are you doing? Here are a few questions to ask yourself.
Physically: Have I been eating well, avoiding caffeine, alcohol, saturated fats, sugar and simple carbohydrates as often as possible and eating good amounts of protein every few hours? Have I packed healthy snacks to take along with me when I’m away from home, like cheese, nuts and fruit? Am I well hydrated, drinking at least 64 ounces of pure water each day? Have I been keeping regular bedtime hours, getting a sufficient amount of quality sleep? Am I keeping moderate exercise a priority in my life?
Emotionally: Have I been attending to my feelings and expressing myself appropriately; not holding in feelings or stuffing them down with unhealthy foods? Have I really been taking time to nurture myself? When was the last time I truly relaxed? Have I been writing in my journal to give myself a place to vent or explore my feelings?
Socially: Have I been spending time with positive people that I enjoy being with? Am I having fun? Am I paying enough attention to my relationships? Do I stay well connected so I don’t find myself isolated and lonely? Do I apportion my time with others with the alone time I need to stay balanced?
Spiritually: Have I been taking quiet time for myself? Do I spend time every day praying, meditating or just sitting and quietly breathing? Do I remind myself often to stay in the present rather than worry about the future or hang on to difficulties from the past?
Environmentally: Have I brought what I need to set up a comfortable environment in my home? Is my living space order or do I need to take a little bit of time to attend to that?
Whether on or off the road, it is essential to take gentle care of yourself. Please attend lovingly to your own needs. Only by doing so can you truly appreciate the precious time you spend with others. I wish you the happiest day today and radiant health! It may be two months into 2009 but it definitely not too late to recommit to your own care!
Denise Lamothe, international professional speaker and emotional eating expert, is a clinical psychologist and doctor of holistic health. She is the author of the popular book, The Taming of the Chew: A Holistic Guide to Stopping Compulsive Eating (Penguin 2002) and has been noted in many publications, including "O" the Oprah Magazine. She has appeared widely on television and radio and has spoken across the country and in Canada. Dr. Denise is the emotional eating expert for Ann Louise Gittleman, who is the author of the bestseller The Fat Flush. Dr Denise was instrumental in the development of the Bach Flower Emotional Eating Support Kit and is the professional, celebrity spokesperson for the renowned Bach Flower Essences of Nelsons’ USA.