I’m always on the hunt for practical ways to feel well and add good vibes to my day. Here are four things working for me now. Maybe they’ll speak to you, too!
1. For inspiration, I’m super into the Ten Percent Happier Podcast by Dan Harris. I loved his first book, by the same name, and this podcast is similarly informative, entertaining and insightful. It’s hands down my favorite audio program at the moment.
2. For physical activity, it’s all about the audio. To get motivated, consider switching up what you listen to. I’m so into the “Ten Percent Happier” podcast that I actually look forward to listening to it while running or walking. I’ve also been structuring home workouts around fun playlists. To really get into the flow, put together a pattern of four to six movements that you can do sequentially to the beat. Put a few songs together and, boom, you’ve got a private fitness class! Fun!
(Alternatively, I can do the work for you. Check out Cardio Core Galore, a new workout video on my website, marcisharif.com.)
3. For integrating mindfulness, pay attention to how you start and end each day. Outside of a formal meditation practice, what are the little things you can do to reconnect both first thing and right before bed? I’ve been trying to remember to consciously bless my day when I get up.
We’ll never get this day back. The people around us will never be quite the same as they are today. The sun won’t shine in the same way. Pausing to remember this just seems like a good idea.
At night, I’ve been doing a few minutes of deep breathing. I use a weighted lap pad on my belly to help me feel my lower abdomen rising and falling. It’s super calming.
We’ll all have our own methods, but any kind of mindful pause at the bookends of our days can feel really good.
4. For cooking, these two quick and easy recipes are my new favorites. They’re from “My Pinewood Kitchen: A Southern Culinary Cure,” by Mee Tracy McCormick. Both are simple, healthy and COVID-19 friendly, with easy-to-find ingredients.
I’m particularly smitten with the muffins. They’re not sweet, so it doesn’t feel like dessert for breakfast (to my husband’s chagrin). They’re delightful with a morning or midday hot drink.