Category: rest

fitness · habits · holiday fitness · holidays · meditation · rest · self care

Making Space 2023: Day 27

Christine Hennebury

Since we are getting to the end of the year, I’m seeing a lot of social media ‘accomplishment’ posts where everyone who had tangible projects this year is listing the things they got done.

If your year didn’t play out like that, please don’t take those to heart.

I’m happy for people who can quantify their experiences like that – or at least can spin things that way- but I’m also proud of those of us who had less tangible, visible accomplishments.

Lots of us, including me, might have spent the year just putting one foot in front of the other. Or learning to stay a little calmer in times of stress. Or stretching just a little before bed. Or helping a friend through difficulties. Or any of a million different things that can’t be measured or that you can’t or don’t want to talk about online.

Your focus on those things doesn’t make you lesser than those with a tangible list. The work you did – for yourself, for your family, for your community – is incredibly valuable and I am proud of you for doing it.

Please continue doing what you can with the resources you have and resting whenever you need or want to.

And here’s a gold star for your efforts- visible, invisible, tangible, intangible, it all matters and you matter.

A gold star made of yellow Christmas lights
This is a photo my husband took a few years back of a gold star made of lights, with strings of coloured lights surrounding it, on a boat in Port de Grave, Newfoundland and Labrador, where they host a Christmas Boat Lighting every year.

In the spirit of putting one foot in front of the other, I’m suggesting a short walking workout to help you make space for yourself today.

This is a 10 Minute High Intensity Walk with Jordan from Bob and Brad. You don’t have to match her intensity unless you want to but I felt like she was good company!

Still image shows a person in exercise clothes mid-step superimposed over a background of purple, pink, and yellow. The title of the video is in white text on the right side of the image.

For our meditation today, I thought we could try another walking meditation. I like how this one A Walking Meditation That Reduces Anxiety from HealthyPlace Mental Health combines the instructions for walking meditations with a bit of practice.

You can just practice with the video or start with the instructions and then do your own waking meditation. (And, of course, you can always do something else entirely. Do what works for you, please!)

Still image shows the instructor sitting at an office desk facing the camera, behind her on her left is a book shelf with a plant and a book called ‘Stop Anxiety’ on a stand.

About Making Space 2023:
In December 2020, Fit is a Feminist Issue blogger Martha created a tradition – a series of reminder posts to take good care of ourselves during this last month of the year when it is far too easy to get swept up in your to do list, no matter what you are celebrating or not celebrating. 


In 2021, I started doing daily December reminders with a post called Give Yourself Some Space,  and that’s how the ‘Making Space‘ December tradition began. Throughout December 2021 and 2022, I wrote a short post that included two videos – one for exercise and one for meditation – and a bit of encouragement for you to make space for yourself at this busy time of year. 


These posts are not about cramming more things into your month, they reminding you that there IS a *YOU* who is doing all of the things and that you are worth taking good care of.


Perhaps the things I suggest aren’t what you need at the moment. That’s totally ok. Perhaps you can use something else to create some space, something that will help you feel more relaxed or more in charge of your day. Just do whatever you can to give yourself a little more breathing room.


Personally, I am trying to Finish 2023 Soft so I am putting conscious effort into resting whenever I can. My overjangled nervous system needs a chance to unjangle and that process may look different every day. 


So, some of these posts may be long and some may be short but please know that every single one of them is written with the hope that you can find a little ease in your day, whatever that looks like for you.

fitness · habits · holiday fitness · holidays · rest · self care

Making Space 2023: Day 26

Christine Hennebury

As we count down the last few days of 2023, , it might seem like it would be easier to slide along and just hope for the best from the new year.

And maybe that’s what you need right now.

If so, have at it! That might be the best way for you to make space for yourself in your life right now.

But, if you are thinking about sliding along just because it’s easier than trying to carve out some time for you, I hope you’ll reconsider.

I hope you take a few minutes and think about what would feel good for your minds and for your body and do a little bit of that.

I have two suggestions below but really I just want you to find something that works for you.

I just want you to have a little extra space in your life.

With that reminder in place, here are today’s videos:

This Chair Stretch Workout from Caroline Jordan felt pretty good for me and I hope it helps you, too.

Still image shows text reading Chair Stretch Workout on the left and on the right is an image of the instructor in exercise clothing sitting on a chair and doing a leaning stretch with her upper body.

And speaking of feeling pretty good, I enjoyed this cozy 7 minute meditation from K.A.Emmons so hopefully you will too.

About Making Space 2023:


In December 2020, Fit is a Feminist Issue blogger Martha created a tradition – a series of reminder posts to take good care of ourselves during this last month of the year when it is far too easy to get swept up in your to do list, no matter what you are celebrating or not celebrating.


In 2021, I started doing daily December reminders with a post called Give Yourself Some Space,  and that’s how the ‘Making Space‘ December tradition began. Throughout December 2021 and 2022, I wrote a short post that included two videos – one for exercise and one for meditation – and a bit of encouragement for you to make space for yourself at this busy time of year. 


These posts are not about cramming more things into your month, they reminding you that there IS a *YOU* who is doing all of the things and that you are worth taking good care of.


Perhaps the things I suggest aren’t what you need at the moment. That’s totally ok. Perhaps you can use something else to create some space, something that will help you feel more relaxed or more in charge of your day. Just do whatever you can to give yourself a little more breathing room.


Personally, I am trying to Finish 2023 Soft so I am putting conscious effort into resting whenever I can. My overjangled nervous system needs a chance to unjangle and that process may look different every day. 


So, some of these posts may be long and some may be short but please know that every single one of them is written with the hope that you can find a little ease in your day, whatever that looks like for you.

ADHD · fitness · goals · habits · rest · self care

Finishing Soft and Continuing Soft – Christine and the ongoing plan

Christine Hennebury

As I write this, I am sitting on my bed on Christmas night. The last 24 hours have been a flurry of activity and I’m tired. BUT I am not worn out because the weeks leading up to now were soft instead of hectic.

I don’t mean to suggest that every day was an oasis of calm relaxation – I had plenty of busy days in there – but I did operate from a softness plan.

Whenever possible, I made my decisions based on how I wanted to feel and I chose rest way more often than I usually would have.

And, instead of pushing to finish things, I sought ways to pause them. I wasn’t always successful but I did pretty well.

And I did a bit of work to figure out what times made my usual tasks feel easiest, so they were less like chores and more part of the flow of my day.

I know I have celebrated many of these things over the past few weeks of finishing soft but I am coming back to them again because I have come to a realization…

I want to continue soft.

I don’t know what that looks like but all I know so far is that I like this feeling and I want to keep inviting it into my life.

It may be trickier to continue soft than it was to finish soft but I am pretty damn determined so I will figure it out.

A row of house a with holiday lights on some of them, in one front yard, a tree resembles the neck and head of a giraffe.
I took this photo on my way to my car from a Christmas Eve party. I was deliberately strolling back to my car instead of hurrying and my reward was noticing that the lights on that tree at the centre look kind of like a giraffe’s head and neck are sticking out of the ground and looking at the house. Image description: an evening photo taken across the street and down an incline toward a row of joined houses. Several houses are decorated with holiday lights and one house has a deciduous tree in front. As I mentioned above, the lights on that tree look a bit like the head and neck of a giraffe sticking out of the ground.
fitness · holiday fitness · holidays · rest · self care

Making Space 2023: Day 25

Christine Hennebury

If you are celebrating Christmas today – Merry Christmas!

If you are just having a Monday – Merry Monday!

No matter what you are doing or not doing today, I wish you ease and a feeling of spaciousness.

Since days like this are often fraught with emotion – good and bad – I thought this Morning Yoga for Calm Connection from Yoga with Kassandra would be a good choice.

Whether you are seeking calm connection with others or with yourself, I hope it helps.

Still image shows the instructor leaning toward the floor in a wide-legged forward fold.

And for our meditation today, I thought a centring practice would come in handy so here’s a 5 minute mindfulness meditation | ground and centre from Yoga in Melbourne

Still image is of a silhouette of person on a beach at sunset. They are standing with their arms above their head and their hands are clasped.

About Making Space 2023:
In December 2020, Fit is a Feminist Issue blogger Martha created a tradition – a series of reminder posts to take good care of ourselves during this last month of the year when it is far too easy to get swept up in your to do list, no matter what you are celebrating or not celebrating. 


In 2021, I started doing daily December reminders with a post called Give Yourself Some Space,  and that’s how the ‘Making Space‘ December tradition began. Throughout December 2021 and 2022, I wrote a short post that included two videos – one for exercise and one for meditation – and a bit of encouragement for you to make space for yourself at this busy time of year. 


These posts are not about cramming more things into your month, they reminding you that there IS a *YOU* who is doing all of the things and that you are worth taking good care of.


Perhaps the things I suggest aren’t what you need at the moment. That’s totally ok. Perhaps you can use something else to create some space, something that will help you feel more relaxed or more in charge of your day. Just do whatever you can to give yourself a little more breathing room.


Personally, I am trying to Finish 2023 Soft so I am putting conscious effort into resting whenever I can. My overjangled nervous system needs a chance to unjangle and that process may look different every day. 


So, some of these posts may be long and some may be short but please know that every single one of them is written with the hope that you can find a little ease in your day, whatever that looks like for you.

fitness · holiday fitness · holidays · meditation · rest · self care

Making Space 2023: Day 24

Christine Hennebury

Hey Team,

Whether you are celebrating Christmas Eve, celebrating Sunday, or just ambling through an ordinary day, I hope you can find some ease, rest, and space in there somewhere.

And, no matter what, please remember that you are doing the best you can with the resources you have. Try not to be hard on yourself about things left undone.

If you are looking for a way to get out of your head and take a break from your to do list, here are two videos to try:

Our exercise video for today is a 5 minute Energizing ‘Wake Me Up’ video from Senior Fitness with Meredith

Still image shows the instructor in an exercise studio, the video title is superimposed over the middle of the image.

And for our meditation today, here’s a Midday Recharge from Mindful Peace

Still image shows a clear glass cup of coffee on a white table with a laptop computer next to it. The title of the video ‘Midday Recharge: Guided Mindfulness Meditation is in white text at the top of the image.

About Making Space 2023:
In December 2020, Fit is a Feminist Issue blogger Martha created a tradition – a series of reminder posts to take good care of ourselves during this last month of the year when it is far too easy to get swept up in your to do list, no matter what you are celebrating or not celebrating. 


In 2021, I started doing daily December reminders with a post called Give Yourself Some Space,  and that’s how the ‘Making Space‘ December tradition began. Throughout December 2021 and 2022, I wrote a short post that included two videos – one for exercise and one for meditation – and a bit of encouragement for you to make space for yourself at this busy time of year. 


These posts are not about cramming more things into your month, they reminding you that there IS a *YOU* who is doing all of the things and that you are worth taking good care of.


Perhaps the things I suggest aren’t what you need at the moment. That’s totally ok. Perhaps you can use something else to create some space, something that will help you feel more relaxed or more in charge of your day. Just do whatever you can to give yourself a little more breathing room.


Personally, I am trying to Finish 2023 Soft so I am putting conscious effort into resting whenever I can. My overjangled nervous system needs a chance to unjangle and that process may look different every day. 


So, some of these posts may be long and some may be short but please know that every single one of them is written with the hope that you can find a little ease in your day, whatever that looks like for you.

fitness · holiday fitness · holidays · meditation · mindfulness · rest · self care

Making Space 2023: Day 23

Christine Hennebury

Hey Team,

If you’re pressed for time and space today, I have just the thing…

Two coffee break-themed videos to help you make a little room for you in your day.

First up is a 5 minute stretch break with Studio Jibby

Still image shows the instructor, a woman with dark brown skin in exercise clothes, standing on a yoga mat. She is facing away from the camera and there are plants on either end of her mat. The title of the video ‘5 Min Stretch Break at home workouts’ are on title cards superimposed on the upper right side of the image.

And then we have The Coffee Meditation from The Mindful Living Show Pep Farley – you can drink tea, of course. I did!

Still image shows the title of the video ‘The Coffee Meditation a 5 Minute Meditation by Vidyamala Burch’ super imposed over a photo of three cups of coffee on the left and a cup of coffee amidst a heart made of coffee beans on the right

I actually hope you have way more than 5 minutes to spend doing your own thing today but even if this day is a whirlwind, perhaps you have time to linger over your coffee/tea or to do a few stretches while it brews.

Wishing you ease and rest, whatever that looks like for you.

About Making Space 2023:
In December 2020, Fit is a Feminist Issue blogger Martha created a tradition – a series of reminder posts to take good care of ourselves during this last month of the year when it is far too easy to get swept up in your to do list, no matter what you are celebrating or not celebrating. 


In 2021, I started doing daily December reminders with a post called Give Yourself Some Space,  and that’s how the ‘Making Space‘ December tradition began. Throughout December 2021 and 2022, I wrote a short post that included two videos – one for exercise and one for meditation – and a bit of encouragement for you to make space for yourself at this busy time of year. 


These posts are not about cramming more things into your month, they reminding you that there IS a *YOU* who is doing all of the things and that you are worth taking good care of.


Perhaps the things I suggest aren’t what you need at the moment. That’s totally ok. Perhaps you can use something else to create some space, something that will help you feel more relaxed or more in charge of your day. Just do whatever you can to give yourself a little more breathing room.


Personally, I am trying to Finish 2023 Soft so I am putting conscious effort into resting whenever I can. My overjangled nervous system needs a chance to unjangle and that process may look different every day. 


So, some of these posts may be long and some may be short but please know that every single one of them is written with the hope that you can find a little ease in your day, whatever that looks like for you.

fitness · holiday fitness · holidays · rest · self care

Making Space 2023: Day 22

Christine Hennebury

Ever heard that proverb/saying/quote “You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day but if you don’t have time, sit in meditation for an hour”?

Well, don’t worry! I am not about to suggest that you exercise and meditate for an hour each and I would never start throwing the word should around like that.

But…

BUT…

I’m wondering if you will accept a challenge on this 22nd day of December…

I DARE you to take twice as long as you think you can spare and do something that helps you feel most like yourself today.

Yes, this *may* mean that you run out of time to do something on your to do list but it’s more likely that you’ll fit in your fun AND get the most important stuff done.

(To do lists are tricky that way, They try to take over your whole brain and make you feel like you don’t have time for anything else. Please don’t let the list win!)

In the spirit of taking twice as much time on this 22 day, I have two exercise videos and two meditation videos for you.

For today’s first exercise video, let’s get everything moving with this Total Body Circuit from Silver Sneakers

Still image – the left side of the image is blue with the video title in white text, the right side of the image shows a person in exercise clothes in a room with green walls. Their arms are raised to shoulder height as of they are in the middle of a movement.

Our second video is a great Full Body Stretch from Yoga with Bird.

Still image shows the instructor in exercise clothes on a yoga mat. She is doing the ‘thread the needle’ stretch where you start in your hands and knees, then extend one arm forward on the mat while ‘threading’ the other arm underneath it and out to the opposite side.

If you’re feeling a bit frazzled today OR if you feel pretty good and would like to feel even better, give this Centering Meditation from Generation Calm a try.

Still image features the video title on the left, in the centre is a picture of a person wearing headphones and that picture dissolves into a pattern of different shades of light.

Our second video is an exercise called ‘take a deep breath’ from Calm

Still image is a picture of a rippling mountain lake with trees and mountains at the edge. I’m the centre of the image is a blue circle that expands and contracts in the video to help guide the breath.

About Making Space 2023:
In December 2020, Fit is a Feminist Issue blogger Martha created a tradition – a series of reminder posts to take good care of ourselves during this last month of the year when it is far too easy to get swept up in your to do list, no matter what you are celebrating or not celebrating. 


In 2021, I started doing daily December reminders with a post called Give Yourself Some Space,  and that’s how the ‘Making Space‘ December tradition began. Throughout December 2021 and 2022, I wrote a short post that included two videos – one for exercise and one for meditation – and a bit of encouragement for you to make space for yourself at this busy time of year. 


These posts are not about cramming more things into your month, they reminding you that there IS a *YOU* who is doing all of the things and that you are worth taking good care of.


Perhaps the things I suggest aren’t what you need at the moment. That’s totally ok. Perhaps you can use something else to create some space, something that will help you feel more relaxed or more in charge of your day. Just do whatever you can to give yourself a little more breathing room.


Personally, I am trying to Finish 2023 Soft so I am putting conscious effort into resting whenever I can. My overjangled nervous system needs a chance to unjangle and that process may look different every day. 


So, some of these posts may be long and some may be short but please know that every single one of them is written with the hope that you can find a little ease in your day, whatever that looks like for you.

Going More Slowly
fitness · mindfulness · rest · self care

Going More Slowly

elan.paulson1 Comment

In some recent conversations, friends have remarked how busy the Christmas holiday season has felt this year. Although the Pandemic Times were awful, stressful, and difficult, with far fewer social events it was, for some, at least a quieter and slower time.

Lately I’ve also been noticing stories friends have shared about slowness: “slow living” ideas, a slow AF run club online community, a “monk class” where students live an ascetic life for 30 days.

Sam, Christine, and Susan have long been encouraging and celebrating slowness on the FIFI blog. They have described helpful strategies they have used to slow down, including journaling, drawing, practicing yoga, and doing things alone.

I am grateful for these ideas. I also think it is tough for me to “slow down” by adding to my life more activities that promote slowness. Do I need more slower things, or just fewer things?

Doing fewer things is hard for me. I was raised to value efficiency and productivity, and I’ve always wanted plenty of people and fun new challenges in my life. I have amazing ppl in my life who are active, and I want to keep up. Though I’ve had plenty of FOMO, I’ve never really experienced JOMO, the “joy of missing out.”

However, a recent series of calendar mistakes, being sick with a cold that won’t go away, and a fender bender accident I caused when I was rushing and stressed have all been reminders (in the case of my car, an expensive one) that I need to take slowing down more seriously. It’s affecting my life in ways I don’t want.

During the Pandemic Times, Susan wrote about acknowledging the privilege she has to be able to slow down (when others can’t), yet at the same time note, as she writes, “[i]t doesn’t slow anything down at all for me to shamefully, gratefully cling to my privilege and watch the world spiral.” I feel this way too.

As I look to the new calendar year, I see my world is set to wind back up into the constant busy-ness that I crave but can also get overwhelmed by. I intend to be more mindful about doing less, go more slowly, and think about doing so as a privilege rather than a loss.

fitness · habits · holiday fitness · holidays · rest · self care

Making Space 2023: Day 21

Christine Hennebury

Hello hello Team Making Space!

I hope that you are feeling a little wiggle room in your day and/or you can give yourself a little wiggle room later.

This may be a good time to revamp your list of tasks and activities that you have planned for the next while and see if anything can be shifted, changed, discarded, or resized.

It may also be a good time to check if you have included enough fun or soothing or restful activities over the days ahead.

And, yes, I know it can be tricky to undertake both of those processes but even a five minute look at your list might be enough to make a difference.

Personally, I always find that deciding NOT to do something from the ‘if I have time’ part of my list or doing anything that closes an open loop creates a lot of mental space.I hope you can have the same result.

So, on to our videos for today!

I just loved the friendly energy from the instructor, Panida Klintong, in this Energy Boost Routine from Brain Education TV and I hope you will, too.

Still image features the instructor in comfy clothing standing on an orange mat in an exercise studio, reaching their right arm overhead and leaning slightly to the left. They look happy and engaged. On the right side of the image is the title of the video 10 Minute Routine Energy Boost in white text.

If your brain feels a bit too crowded to try the process I suggest above, perhaps this 5 minute Declutter Your Mind Meditation from Mindly will help.

Still image is a cartoon drawing of a person with long hair wearing clothes in soothing shades of sitting cross-legged on grass. There are small plants in the far corners on either side, hills in shades of white and beige in the background, and the sky is a pale peach colour. The overall effect is restful.

About Making Space 2023:
In December 2020, Fit is a Feminist Issue blogger Martha created a tradition – a series of reminder posts to take good care of ourselves during this last month of the year when it is far too easy to get swept up in your to do list, no matter what you are celebrating or not celebrating. 


In 2021, I started doing daily December reminders with a post called Give Yourself Some Space,  and that’s how the ‘Making Space‘ December tradition began. Throughout December 2021 and 2022, I wrote a short post that included two videos – one for exercise and one for meditation – and a bit of encouragement for you to make space for yourself at this busy time of year. 


These posts are not about cramming more things into your month, they reminding you that there IS a *YOU* who is doing all of the things and that you are worth taking good care of.


Perhaps the things I suggest aren’t what you need at the moment. That’s totally ok. Perhaps you can use something else to create some space, something that will help you feel more relaxed or more in charge of your day. Just do whatever you can to give yourself a little more breathing room.


Personally, I am trying to Finish 2023 Soft so I am putting conscious effort into resting whenever I can. My overjangled nervous system needs a chance to unjangle and that process may look different every day. 


So, some of these posts may be long and some may be short but please know that every single one of them is written with the hope that you can find a little ease in your day, whatever that looks like for you.

fitness · holiday fitness · holidays · meditation · rest · self care · stretching

Making Space 2023: Day 20

Christine Hennebury

I really need an extra soft day about now and I hope you’ll join me in going extra easy today.

Let’s start by making space for this 5 Minute Gentle Couch Yoga Stretch from Santosha Spirit.

Still image shows the instructor in comfy clothes seated on a couch with one hand on their heart and one hand on their belly.

And let’s follow up with this meditation for encouragement that’s called ‘Slow Down You’re Doin’ Fine’ from Katie McLaughlin

Still image is of a cartoon person with long dark hair sitting crossed-legged on a sand dune with other sand dunes in the background.

Whether you spend today slowing down or speeding up, I hope you find a pace that works for you and that let’s you have the space you need. 💚

About Making Space 2023:
In December 2020, Fit is a Feminist Issue blogger Martha created a tradition – a series of reminder posts to take good care of ourselves during this last month of the year when it is far too easy to get swept up in your to do list, no matter what you are celebrating or not celebrating. 


In 2021, I started doing daily December reminders with a post called Give Yourself Some Space,  and that’s how the ‘Making Space‘ December tradition began. Throughout December 2021 and 2022, I wrote a short post that included two videos – one for exercise and one for meditation – and a bit of encouragement for you to make space for yourself at this busy time of year. 


These posts are not about cramming more things into your month, they reminding you that there IS a *YOU* who is doing all of the things and that you are worth taking good care of.


Perhaps the things I suggest aren’t what you need at the moment. That’s totally ok. Perhaps you can use something else to create some space, something that will help you feel more relaxed or more in charge of your day. Just do whatever you can to give yourself a little more breathing room.


Personally, I am trying to Finish 2023 Soft so I am putting conscious effort into resting whenever I can. My overjangled nervous system needs a chance to unjangle and that process may look different every day. 


So, some of these posts may be long and some may be short but please know that every single one of them is written with the hope that you can find a little ease in your day, whatever that looks like for you.