:extract_cover():upscale()/2016/11/28/887/n/1922729/4f37a489583c90f6323632.33255966_edit_img_cover_file_16440037_1480363069.jpg)
If I had to decide right now whether I was a healthy person or not, I'd take my pen and circle the word healthy. I work out, I scrutinize everything I buy in the market, and I elect to remain calm when I'm overwhelmed . . . even when what I want to do is scream. But when I was tasked to spend the first 30 days of 2017 really being healthy, I blinked. Aren't I already?
Being healthy is subjective, sure, but it's something I can half do. Meaning, I can commit to being healthy when it's convenient and decide not to be when I just want to scarf down a burger loaded with cheese and bacon (no bun, because: healthy). But I don't want to be a half-healthy person. So after considering what spending 30 days being truly healthy might entail, I nodded. I was game.
Follow me to see what I learned after spending an entire month fully committing to a balanced lifestyle. Through yoga, meditation, and clean eating, I learned three key takeaways that made the experience worth trying.
Planning the week ahead every Sunday made it manageable
Ordinarily I don't put structured thought into the hows and whens of my workouts. When I'm lucky, I plan, otherwise, I just find time to squeeze something in. But that results in a lot of half-assed late-night runs. I knew I needed to try a new approach. For this experiment, at the end of every weekend, I spent 10 minutes mapping out my upcoming week. I figured out which days would be my rest days and what workout I'd do when. This alleviated a lot of the usual planning concern I experience when trying to solve this same day, and it also helped me pack for work, as I often went to meditation or class immediately after.
Tip: Regardless of your wellness goals, use Sunday to think about the next 7 days ahead.
Trying something new kept it fun
I work out regularly. Usually five to six days a week, I run, Spin, or take boot camp classes. But I NEVER do yoga. I knew that if I really wanted to create something balanced, I’d have to find a way to integrate yoga techniques into my routine. All healthy workout routines require yin and yang; muscle strengthening and stretching.
If I couldn't get to a class, I'd tell myself that I could cut a run short if I promised to come back and do 10 minutes of yoga stretches. And if I didn't want to do yoga because I was sore, I'd switch things up and practice mindfulness. By closing my eyes and turning my awareness to myself, I was able to calm my mind and focus on my 30-day goal.
The idea was that I was not only focusing on fitness but on my wellness as a whole. By having new activities like yoga and mindfulness to practice, I stayed on my toes.
Tip: We know January is a busy month, so don't worry about the number of days you work out. Just challenge yourself to try something new.
Making it easy to eat well was critical
I decided that in order to ensure I ate clean, I'd kick-start this adventure by signing up for a no-hassle meal-delivery service. I spent the first week relying on a program that would send me low-carb, high-protein meals then spent the remaining weeks mirroring those dishes. This helped me visualize proportions and come up with creative dinners that would keep me on track so that I didn't overload my plate.
Tip: Food-delivery services aren't a must. Just put in some careful thought about what you're purchasing at the grocery store.
What I learned
Committing to a balanced lifestyle required a lot of focus. And it wasn't something I could just do all at once, either. But by breaking everything up into a small area of focus — fitness, mindfulness, and clean eating — everything felt more manageable.
More From Macerich
Macerich caters to you, the #ModernMuse. With over 45 locations nationwide, its malls offer a premier shopping experience and are home to your favorite stores, making it a must-shop to kick-start your 2017 goals. Nothing is more motivating than a new workout outfit, right? Or how about beautiful kitchenware to prepare and eat those healthy meals? Find a location near you.