5 WAYS TO HONOR YOUR BODY
Originally posted on the FIT4MOM blog.
Written by: Jess Kilbane & Tanetta Carter
In today's society, it can be easy to get swallowed up in narrative of "not enough". Not thin enough, not smart enough, not productive enough, not strong enough... not *good* enough. But you know what, Mama? Your your worth goes beyond a body size, an Instagram photo, or any number on a scale. Stop preoccupying your mind with negativity, and begin to love yourself the way you deserve.
... Easier said than done, am I right? But when you set your intention to give your body and your mind a daily gift, no matter how small, you create new ways of thinking about your body. After all, that body has done (and will continue to do) INCREDIBLE things for you, Mama.
When you commit to making small changes and delivering simple, meaningful gifts to your mind and body, your thoughts begin to shift away from the things you don't like and towards the ways you can honor and serve your body better.
In honor of National Women's Health Week, we've teamed up with Tanetta Carter, who is a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor and National Board Certified Counselor specializing in self-esteem, self-love, relationship issues, and life adjustments, to provide 5 simple ways you can honor your body this week! Tanetta is also the founder and head coach of Precision Auxiliary Corps, an award-winning athletic performing arts training company in Atlanta, Georgia. She focuses heavily on self-esteem and positive self-talk, which makes her the perfect person to help us honor our amazing #mombods.
5 WAYS TO HONOR YOUR BODY THIS WEEK
- Show yourself self-love Write at least one thing that you love about yourself physically and one thing you love about yourself that has absolutely nothing to do with your looks! Are you a great gift-giver? A good listener? Do you have incredible patience? Once you write these down, stick them somewhere you will see them everyday, like your bathroom mirror. Having a positive self-image is very important for your overall self-esteem!
- Practice self-care Spend at least 10 minutes a day in devotion/meditation. This can be directed with your devotional or a guided meditation (like one of these from FIT4MOM On Demand!) or as simple as sitting in silence. Take time out of your day to be intentional and mindful. Bonus: write 3 things that you are grateful for and hang it up where you'll see it each morning!
- Get in some physical activity Go for a walk or a workout activity of choice (ah-hem find your local FIT4MOM) – something to clear your mind, because it FEELS GOOD and for no other reason. Not feeling like a workout class fits into your schedule? Dance to your favorite song(s) for 10 minutes! Turn up the volume, turn off the judgement, and just let loose!
- Take care of your insides Hydrate and eat foods that treat your body well, like a piece of fresh fruit or a colorful salad. Fueling your body appropriately makes you feel good from the inside out! If you're looking for support here, check out Gather: our 30-Day Family Nutrition Plan.
- Rest Ensure that you are getting adequate rest each night! The average adult needs between 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Turn off the TV, put your phone on the charger, and climb into bed at a reasonable hour, mama. And for what it's worth, it's equally important to manage your time throughout the day and be intentional with setting boundaries. Nothing good comes from a mama who's feeling burnt out and overworked!
Don't overcomplicate things, Mama. You (and that beautiful body of yours) are perfect just the way you are.