By Caroline Poirier
Have you ever felt like everything around you is moving too fast? That you are buried and losing control? I believe that one day or another, we can all feel this feeling. The important thing is to refocus and find balance. Easier said than done !
It is with complete humility that I share with you a moment of my life. Let me introduce myself to Caroline, a sporty girl who has always loved moving. Mother of 2 equally athletic boys whom I support in achieving their goals and to fill my weeks, I also work full time in an organization that is constantly changing for over 15 years.
Little by little, I began to replace my walking breaks with "I'm going to finish my email", my workout with "I have groceries to do" and finally my weekend sports with "my son has two games on Saturday. Without seeing it coming, I abandoned physical activity in order to invest this time in any other project. Was this the right solution? Definitely, no!
In November 2016, without warning, I panicked, literally panicked! For the first time, I felt overwhelmed by all kinds of emotions. But what is happening to me? Why was everything okay yesterday and today nothing is okay? Lots of questions, but no answers.
In fact, I had lost my balance, my time was invested in work, children, activities, all of my responsibilities and then what happened to me? It was at this moment that I realized the importance of giving myself periods to move. We should not underestimate the benefits of practicing physical activity on physical and especially psychological health.
For my part, resuming an exercise allowed me to find balance. Training between 20 and 30 minutes a day in the evening allows me to clear my brain. Why in the evening, firstly, because it's impossible for me to get up at 5:30 in the morning! But also because exercising at the end of the day allows you to empty the hard drive. I exhaust my mental hamster, which makes it easier to go to bed, thus avoiding the ideas of the day rushing through my mind. For weekends, when the weather allows for greater activity, I opt for a mountain hike. This 4-season activity allows you to perform both cardio and muscular exercise. Discovering all the landscapes is an incredible motivation and the accomplishment of being at the top can be very rewarding.
I now share with you my tips for getting started and staying motivated. After a while, activity will become essential and you will need to do it for all the well-being it provides.
Have realistic goals
We all have hectic lives, so it is important to set a duration and number of times per week that can easily fit into the schedule. Changes should be made gradually and integrated into the existing routine. Changes that are too drastic will not last over time.
Respect your rhythm
The important thing is to compare yourself to yourself and not to others. You have to keep in mind that every minute spent moving is a minute more that you would not have done. Every mountain can be climbed, you just have to take it one step at a time.
During a race, tell yourself that no matter your speed you will always be faster than the person who is sitting still.
Finding and planning time for exercise
Time is often a challenge for pursuing physical activity. Why not use your break periods: a 15-minute walk in the morning and 15 minutes in the afternoon will add 30 minutes of activity per day without modification to your schedule. However, you will have to plan and respect it. Take the time to evaluate what could save you time. In my case, I started doing my grocery shopping online, my life changed 😉
Have interest
Find an activity that interests you, so you'll look forward to your exercise and won't view it as a task. There are different platforms offering you a variety of workouts that allow you to diversify the types of exercise. You like nature why not opt for hiking, walking in the forest or cycling. You like photography, outdoor activities will allow you to combine business with pleasure.
Surround yourself
A good way to stay motivated is to do an activity with friends. In addition to socializing, you will be able to motivate each other. There are also groups on social networks allowing training and motivation even virtually. And why not challenge yourself with friends by having a small group to share your exercises and thus positively influence your classmates.
Dress well
Unsurprisingly, good and beautiful clothing encourages the practice of physical activity. With KSL clothing, we can be assured of absolute comfort when practicing our sport, while being beautiful and feminine. A classic , Angelina or Sandrine leggings can allow you to go from work to cycling or hiking without any changes. For cooler days, the Bianca sweater offers warmth while wicking away moisture. Finally, don't forget to hydrate yourself with the magnificent KSL insulated bottle which keeps you cold or hot, depending on your needs.
In closing, I encourage you to dare to change in order to find balance. Be the tightrope walker of your life.
Hoping to meet you at the top of a mountain,
Caroline