Tag: rest

Christine’s April Plans
fitness · habits · health · mindfulness · motivation · self care

Christine’s April Plans

Christine Hennebury

I’m starting April while on a school storytelling tour with my friend Catherine (not blogger Catherine, a whole other marvellous Catherine) so the month is truly off to a good start.

Storytelling is great for my mental health and the fact that I am taking a break from my usual routine AND hanging out with a dear friend compounds the positive effects.

And this tour has been good for my physical health too because Catherine is a big proponent of finding energy by getting outdoors. So there have already been several times when her choice to go for a walk has shifted me into a more active rest mode after a busy day instead of just sitting around.

(To be clear, there are times when sitting around would be the right thing to do but in this case the walk felt waaaaaaaay better.)

Since the month is starting on such a positive note I have decided to add more positive health elements.

1. I found out yesterday that April is Afternoon Tea Month which is definitely a made-up kind of commemoration but as an avid maker-up-of-things, I’m here for it.

I’m going to celebrate by taking an afternoon tea break every day.

I can hear my sisters’ voices as I write that, “Chris, don’t you already drink tea every afternoon?”

And the answer is “Of course I do!”

But my April plan to to focus on the ritual of it, the making of the tea, the clearing of mental space, the sitting down to drink it.

This isn’t going to be a ‘drink tea at my desk while working’ kind of thing, it’s going to be an actual break in my afternoon.

A cup of tea in an octopus mug
One of my favourite cups for tea (a gift from my friend Mary) Image description: a cup of tea sitting on a small mat on my table with my ebook slightly out of focus in the background. My cup has a blue octopus on the side (only part of it is visible) and it has an ice cream cone held in one of its tentacles.

So that’s a small April addition for my mental health, now on to my physical health.

2) I mentioned last week that I am following the Active April calendar so that is staying part of the plan but I am also going to really commit to evening yoga (again!) and I have made a YouTube playlist to choose from each day.

And since I know sometimes get stuck in the decision making process, I am giving myself the default that if I can’t pick one, I have to choose the video immediately after the one from the night before.

I have often done evening yoga before and I throughly enjoy it when I do but I have gotten out of the habit so this is as good a time as any to get started again.

What are *your* plans for April?

health · holiday fitness · meditation · mindfulness · yoga

Making Space 2024: December 1

Christine Hennebury

Hey Team,

It’s December 1st and we’re back with the another edition of Making Space, a series of (mostly) short posts designed to encourage you to make a little space for yourself this month.

No matter what you celebrate (or don’t celebrate!), December is one of those months of ambient stress and busy-ness. There are so many posts and articles full of lists and ideas about how to do more, more, more, and so much discussion of finishing things before the end of the year, or getting ‘the most’ out of the rest of 2024, that it is enough to make your head spin.

Now, I am NOT pretending that you aren’t busy.

And I am not going to be doing any vaguely condescending posts about how if you *just* change your attitude then all the hecticness will just melt away.

Instead, I am going to acknowledge that we all have a lot going on at this point in the year AND I am going to invite you to make a little space for yourself in your days.

Each day, I will post a short exercise/physical activity video and a short meditation/mindfulness video that you can do if you WANT to.

If the videos I post don’t appeal to you, I hope that you will still create some space for yourself and pick something *YOU* like to do.

(Taking a nap, texting a friend, drinking a very slow cup of tea, lying on the floor staring at the ceiling – those all count as making space.)

Giving yourself that space is worthwhile and important, even if you have to ditch something else from your to do list.

So, with all of that said, let’s start on the right foot (ha!) with this short video ‘Foot Stretch for Healthy Feet‘ from Yoga with Bird.

A YouTube video of foot yoga – the still image shows a woman sitting on a yoga mat with her legs crossed and she is massaging her left foot with both hands.

And here’s 1 minute of drawing meditation/mindfulness from Tamara Michael. If you don’t have a pen and paper handy, you could draw with your finger or just breath in and out along with her drawing.

A YouTube video of a drawing meditation that shows a person’s hands drawing lines and dots on a white coil-bound sketchpad. They draw a squiggly line downward for breathing in and a series of dots next to that line for breathing out.

I hope you are able to make the space you need in your day.

Wishing you ease today and always. 💚

A close-up photo of a dog against a white background National ‘Just Because’ Day
celebration · fitness · fun · self care

National ‘Just Because’ Day

Christine Hennebury

Apparently, today is National ‘Just Because’ Day so this is your official permission to do something you’ve been waiting for a good excuse to do.

For example, for my own amusement, I can post this picture of my nephew’s Guinea pig, Powder, in full drama mode.

A black and white Guinea pig looks through the bars of her cage.
Image description: my nephew’s white and black Guinea pig looking through the squares on the side of his cage. Powder has his front paws on a ledge and he is looking slightly to the side. His long hair is flipped back over his head so his large black eyes seem to be emphasized and he looks oddly dramatic and glamorous.

Maybe you can use today as a reason to eat your lunch outside.

Or as a reason to text a friend to join you for a walk/for a new class/for an afternoon on the beach.

Perhaps it’s an excuse for extra rest. (Not that *need* an excuse but it can sure as hell feel that way sometimes.)

Maybe you can spend extra time reading.

Perhaps you can challenge someone to a race or to a dance-off.

Maybe you can try a new-to-you meal or play your favourite music or watch a movie you love.

Or you could spend extra time playing with your dog (technically National Dog Day was yesterday but let’s be realistic here, every day is National Dog Day!)

You could say you’re going to meditate ‘just because.’

You could journal or draw ‘just because.’

Two monster drawings on index cards taped to a red box
On Saturday, my friend Mary and I represented our community arts organization and hosted a table at a local art crawl held by an artist-run gallery. A lot of people took us up on the invitation to try squiggle art…just because! Image description: two monster drawings on index cards taped to the side of a red box that contains markers. The box is sitting on a purple tablecloth in the sun.

Whatever you decide to do on Just Because Day, I hope you have a grand time with it.

Because you deserve some ease and some rest and to have the joy of moving your body and you deserve to enjoy a challenge and you deserve good things.

Why do you deserve those things?

Say it with me…

JUST BECAUSE!

💚💚💚

What Christine’s Sunday looked like…
ADHD · fitness · rest

What Christine’s Sunday looked like…

Christine Hennebury1 Comment

Because time can be a messy concept for me, I sometimes end up with a weird jumble of tasks to do on my weekend – loose bits and pieces from all kinds of projects, stuff that needs to be done around the house…you know the kind of stuff I mean.

This Sunday, though, I was determined that I wasn’t going to let that jumble take over my day.

Instead, I alternated between relaxing and puttering my way through my list for the day.

A photo my legs and feet while I lie in the hammock
Checking off ‘Read in hammock’ on my to-do list. image description: a photo I took of my POV while lying in the hammock. As the photo shows, I could see a corner of my ereader on my lap, my legs in green capri pants crossed at the ankles, my feet in sandals, part of the hammock, and in the background is my circular swing, trees, my backyard and my patio.

In order to get enough relaxing in, I actually put the following items on my list for the day;

  1. Read in hammock
  2. Read in chair on deck
  3. Read in chair under tree
  4. Stare at tree while lying in hammock

Is it a bit weird to put those things on a to-do list?

Maybe.

But I also know that if I don’t put stuff like that on my list, my brain won’t rest while I try to relax.

Instead, it will churn up all the things I *should* be doing and my rest will be ruined.

So if I put fun, relaxing things on my list, my brain is satisfied that my list isn’t being ignored and it lets me read, and putter, and enjoy a slow day.

(By the way, this isn’t about my brain insisting that I have to be productive. My brain just worries that I will forget about my tasks and end up having to scramble later. I guess it’s trying to protect me even as it gets on my nerves?)

Can you just choose rest?

Or do you have to coax your brain into the process like I do?

A selfie of me and my dog, she is standing next to me while I lie in the hammock
Here I am listening to a secret from Khalee. It must have been VERY serious business – I forgot to smirk. Image description: a selfie taken while I was lying in the hammock but only my head and part of my right arm are in the frame. Khalee, my light brown dog, is poking her snout up over the edge of the hammock and it looks like she is whispering in my ear.

intuitive eating · rest

Rest and Intuitive Eating

Diane Harper

Various bloggers have written about intuitive eating in the past, and the concept has been floating around in my brain ever since.

Another concept that has intrigued is the idea that lack of sleep can affect the production of appetite-regulating hormones. Google it for yourself. I’m not going to share links, not even those from reputable websites.

My normal eating pattern when I worked full time was a hearty breakfast, a mid-morning snack with some protein, a solid lunch, and then dinner. I ate healthy foods and didn’t have a lot of sweets, but I definitely made sure I wouldn’t go hungry should lunch or dinner be delayed due to work commitments (which they often were).

Lately I have been thinking a lot about how these two things might go together because my sleep patterns have been horrible. Then every once in a while I have a long night of amazing sleep.

I have noticed that when I have a great sleep, I don’t usually wake up hungry. Sometimes I am content with little snacks through the day; other times I have only a couple of meals.

I’m not a fully intuitive eater yet, but the habit is starting to build, at least on the days when I am sufficiently rested.

Now I need to start working on some sleep hygiene: get myself into bed on time, do my Duolingo earlier in the day, and read physical books or magazines instead of a screen. Wish me luck!

A woman with dark hair sleeps while surrounded by fresh fruits and veggies. Image from https://www.telegraph.co.uk
fitness · new year's resolutions · rest

Rest

Diane Harper1 Comment

Back when I was in sixth grade, I had a babysitting job one weekend but started to feel sick so I called my mom. She took over from me while I went home and slept – for over 24 hours. Turns out I wasn’t sick at all, just exhausted. It happened every few years after that for my entire adult life. Did I learn from this? No, I did not.

But maybe I’m finally starting to absorb the lessons.

Last weekend I went camping with friends and barely left our little area. I washed lots of dishes and helped with meals, but mostly I sat around the fire and puttered while talking to people I love spending time with. I came home feeling mentally refreshed and not too physically tired.

This week, I’m ordering a “cottage”, more of a pre-fab shed for my lakeside property. I have owned the land for many years but didn’t go there at all for the first 15 because it was too much effort. More recently, I got myself set up so most of my camping gear stays there and I have a tent already up.

There’s still a fair bit of work involved in final set-up and take-down each visit, plus the worry about who will care for my cats while I’m away. Hence the cottage, where I can unlock the door and have a bed ready to go, and the cats can come with me.

In between those two events, I spent a weekend reading books and magazines, skipping a swim, not riding my bike, and reaching a level of rest that I actually felt the desire to do some house cleaning, a job I loathe (but I do it, to be clear).

Why don’t I do this more often? I have no idea. Work has been a giant constraint, especially as I pushed myself to be a physically active role model for my two kids. Plus I needed the intellectual stimulation of my hobbies.

I suspect I fell into the whole supermom fallacy, wanting to believe that I could have a fulfilling career, raise perfect kids, have a beautiful home, and look fabulous while doing it all. That belief started back in elementary school, when I was anxious to make friends and excel at all the things, while changing schools every couple of years.

Even in retirement, it’s hard to let go of all the activities. I track everything: workouts, chores, craft and research projects, blog posts written, recipes tried.

I have a goal of reading 52 magazines and 12 books this year. I’m well behind schedule, but my pile of back issues is starting to look a little more manageable after last weekend.

But genuinely taking a day off to do nothing in particular, and not worrying about whether I’m ticking off some box on a mental checklist? That is going to take a little more effort. Or less effort? I’m not sure how to describe working at doing nothing. All I know is that I need to work on building rest into my routine

I am amused by this image promoting rest and relaxation, from the Asian American Organizing Project. They sound as conflicted as me about how to rest.
Khalee has a question for you. (Actually, several questions…)
dogs · fitness · rest

Khalee has a question for you. (Actually, several questions…)

Christine Hennebury4 Comments
A dog standing on a sunny patio looking intently toward the camera.
Image description: Khalee, a medium-sized, short-haired dog is standing on a sunny wooden patio looking intently toward the camera.

When I took this picture on Sunday, her question for me was ‘Are you gonna share that banana?’

But, now that I see the photo again, I think her look is actually more intense and her questions are even more important than I realized at the time.

I think the banana was just the surface thought, I think, deep down, she wants to know if you are making time to rest this summer?

She’s wondering if your plans include downtime?

She’s wondering if you make the same mistake I do – subconsciously trying to get all the ‘work’ done before I relax when what I need to do is include rest as part of the overall plan – and how you might start to switch that up a little?

She’s wondering if you are trying to do things ‘right’ when good enough is, well, good enough?

She’s wondering if you are taking time to lie down in the shade and just sniff the air?

And, of course, she’s wondering if you know that any and all patio snacks should be shared with your dog?

This message has been brought to you by Khalee, Encourager of Rest, Ambassadog for Mental Health, Sharer of Snacks and is fully endorsed by me, Christine Hennebury, Proponent of Self-Kindness and Fetcher of Snacks.

advice · fitness · rest

Go Team 2024: Take a teeny break

Christine Hennebury

Hey Team!

Today, I’d like to invite you to pause for a little bit.

Yes, even in the midst of AllOfTheThings, I’m hoping you can let your body and your brain refresh a little.

Maybe that means taking a break away from your desk.

Maybe that means giving yourself a few minutes to exercise.

Maybe it means meditating, or colouring, or calling a friend.

Maybe it means taking your time with your tea/coffee/glass of water.

Maybe it means deciding not to participate in that argument someone is trying to drag you into.

Maybe it means giving yourself time away from being hard on yourself (tell your inner critic that I said you get AT LEAST 5 minutes of quiet right now.)

Whatever ‘taking a break’ means for you right now, I hope you can find some space to pause in a way that serves you well.

It’s hard to decide to take a break and it’s even harder to actually take one.

Just do what you can, even if you can only stop for a few seconds right now.

As always, here’s your gold star for your efforts.

A drawing of a cartoonish gold star with a happy expression, surrounded by small black circles and dots.​
A drawing of a cartoonish gold star with a happy expression, surrounded by small black circles and dots.

PS – I wish you ease.

Christine and the pain in the neck
fitness · stretching

Christine and the pain in the neck

Christine Hennebury

No, don’t worry, I’m not referring to any of my friends, family, or coworkers, I literally have a pain in my neck.

Ok, so it’s more of a muscle knot than anything else and it’s right where my neck meets my shoulder so it could technically be a pain in my shoulder but that doesn’t make for a fun title.

Anyway, one day last week, I managed to crunch up my shoulder in exactly the wrong way and I deeply offended one part of my trapezius muscle on my left side.

It’s putting a serious cramp (ha!) in some of my ‘Feb 5’ plans since I can’t do my core exercises or any rowing.

And during my patterns class at Taekwondo last week I had to tuck my left hand into my belt and only do the right-side hand movements of each pattern. (Just so you know, that makes it REALLY hard to let muscle memory take you through the movements.) Also, I’m pretty sure it looked as funny as it sounds.

I’ve tried heat, cold, muscle relaxants, leaning on a massage ball, and complaining about it and none of those things have really worked. Although that last one made me feel better for a few minutes. 😉

And, of course, I have been doing some gentle stretches and some yoga to try and get the knot to release.

I’ve found some relief that way but mostly this feels like one of those things that just has to work itself out.

Hopefully next week I’ll be able to report that my neck is less grumpy and the Feb 5 plan is going marvellously.

In the meantime, I’ll be taking good care of myself, doing some stretching, and enacting this protocol:

A small square drawing that reads ‘Maybe Swearing Will Help’ in black and gold letters.
I have a tank top with this saying on it but it’s stored with my summer clothes so I had fun making myself a little drawing. Image description: a small square sign that with gold and black letters that read ‘Maybe Swearing Will Help’

A fire in an outdoor firepit surrounded by snow. More Planuary, More Rest
ADHD · fitness · habits · planning

More Planuary, More Rest

Christine Hennebury

I think this is the best Planuary I have ever had.

The change I made last year from trying to plan for the year ahead to just planning one month at a time – with a general idea of where I might want to end up – made a big difference.

Finishing last year soft also made it a lot easier to think clearly about things this month.

And finding a good dosage for my ADHD meds is definitely a factor – it’s a lot easier for me to see tasks and projects as separate entities these days. And it’s easier for me to pause one thing and start another. And knowing I can pause at a specific point makes it easier to start in the first place and…other ADHD things.

I’m moving forward with various things but at a sensible pace, not feeling like I have a lot to catch up on nor like I have to get them done before I forget.

That’s not to say that every day has been perfect or easy but bad days feel more isolated, less like they are part of a big old mess of challenges.

My routines and schedules and plans are a little more closely matched to my capacity and to reality.

I have put a few fixed points into my days, as I said I would last week. I have a few sections of dedicated time for specific projects and I have been figuring out which days make sense for different types of exercise.

I’ve seen lots of social media posts complaining about how long January has been this year and that’s totally fair but I have been noticing something different.

Usually, my Januarys, even my Planuarys, have been hectic. A mix of super-slow and super-fast time that simultaneously gave me time to plan AND dumped me into February feeling behind and disoriented.

This year, January/Planuary feels like it is moving at a good pace. It feels clear and even. I feel like I am in charge of what I am doing instead of being reactive while being dragged along behind a relentless month.

I don’t know if I am getting more done, less done, or if things are about the same, but I do know that I feel better about my work, my plans, and about Planuary.

I’ll take it.