With the end of the year coming up - our momentum starts to go down. December can be a blur -you have 10 deadlines due soon, it’s dark early, and the chilly temps start to creep in. We can - and we WILL overcome the end of the year slump. I have a few tips that are gonna train your brain to stay productive! As exercise makes our body stronger, these practices equip your mind to stay on track to finish the year like a Rockstar.
Multitask Myth
Multitasking sometimes can be seen as a strength. I want to let you in on a little secret, it can be in the biggest downfall when trying to reach all your deadlines. Your brain works best when we focus on one thing at a time & give a specific task all of your energy. Not only are you going to get more things done, you’ll also be able to provide a better quality product. Your thoughts might be all over the place - I promise that tackling them one step at a time is the best to finish everything on your list.
Breaks
Our brain is a muscle, and like every muscle, it needs time to recover. Once we finish a big task that takes a lot of mental power, make sure your brain takes a little break to refresh. Hounding loads of information will drain your energy & you’ll not get anything accomplished. Even if it’s a 5 to 10 minute grace period between tasks, you’ll be more energized to power through your long list of to do’s.
Get More Sleep
I don’t want to sound like your mum - but you should really set a bedtime for yourself! Sleep charges your brain to take on the next day. Research has said if you get less than 4 hours of sleep, it’s the equivalent of drinking and driving. Yikes - that’s dangerous and not going to serve any purpose. Sleep enables you to focus, remember, and improve decision-making skills. If you’re not sure if you’re getting enough sleep, then track it!
Positive Thinking
Changing our mindset to think of the bright side makes us happier - it also increases our productivity too! Try to start your day off by writing down three things you are grateful for. This helps our motivation because it's a reminder we’ve got so many things to work for. Also, it’ll help ease the stress around crunch time - so try to think about the bigger picture!
Reading
When was the last time you’ve read a book? This actually is a hard question for most people. Reading is actually proven to help reduce stress, help develops deeper focus, and boost creativity. Not a big reader and need some guidance on where to start? You’re in luck, because our monthly challenge guides includes a book of the month! Join our challenge now to see what we are reading.
Feeling Lazy? Let's Stay Productive!
Whether you’re drained, in a rut, feeling under the weather, or otherwise low-energy, there are plenty of ways to stay productive! It’s a good idea to take some kind of action when you’re starting to slip into the lazy zone, especially if you’re the type that might have a hard time coming out of that mindset!
- Make a Plan: Let’s be honest: binge-watching a tv show or playing a video game for hours on end can make your brain feel like mush. How rewarding is it to sloth out like this? Chances are, you’re not super rejuvenated after doing so. If you’re not inspired to engage in physical activities, you can sit down and work your mind by drafting a to-do list, writing up goals for the coming week/month, or plotting other ways to stay on track with positive intentions (like creating a budget to save money for a purpose).
- Find Motivation: Time to get fired up! Crack open an interesting book and learn something new, download an app for practicing a new language (don’t open up social media and get distracted), or start a craft - even if it’s a simple collage! If you need more stimulation, listen to a podcast while you create something. Check our the It Takes Grit Podcast now!
- Cook A Good Meal: Don't have skills in the kitchen? Sounds like an excuse to me! Whipping up a balanced dish will generate energy in more ways than one - practicing this skill will make you think more about what food goes into your body and how it makes you feel.
- Gentle Exercise: Get up and going! Moving around could be exactly what you need, even if you don’t initially feel like working out. Some light activity like stretching or yoga can get enough blood flowing to boost overall energy - even if you just do light exercises for ten minutes, that’s better than nothing at all!
Are you living in the cold this time of year? Check out these tips for Cold Weather Workouts!!
Try Exercise Activities:
Maybe the weather is too harsh for breaking a sweat outdoors, or maybe you just don’t feel like leaving the house when temperatures start to dip, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stay fit in other ways! There are different kinds of tools you can use for staying in shape without leaving your living room - for example: adding dumbbells, sliders, or resistance bands to your routine will amplify muscle tone without you having to brave the cold.
Warm Up Indoors:
Exercising outside can be super refreshing and give you an extra boost of energy, though it can also be a little difficult to acclimate to chilly weather at first. It’s especially important to warm up before working out if you’re hitting the cold, because stiff muscles & joints lead to greater risk of injury (which will not keep you on track with fitness goals through the winter). Try hydrating with a cup of hot tea before leaving the house, and do some stretching and light cardio to get limber before the real sweat session begins!
Find Alternate Activities
You’re not limited to jogging during the colder seasons! And in some parts of the world, going for a run in freezing weather is just not a safe option. Depending on where you’re at, there are different activities you can participate in that get your heart rate up and qualify as a good workout! Ice skating, hockey, skiing/snowboarding, and snowshoeing will keep your legs toned, and even dragging a sled up little hills can make for a good upper body workout. When it comes to arm exercises, building a snowman, making a fort, and having a snowball fight can really get your muscles moving. Ever try making snowman-building into a sport? I’m thinking deep squats and shoulder presses!
Ok - so is someone controlling the time? Because this year has gone by unusually fast! I can’t believe that we’re already making plans for the holidays. The “most wonderful time of the year” can cause some stress with all the plans that follow it. BOOM a million things to do at once and we feel like a chicken with its head cut off!
My goal is to help you get the most out of your holiday season so you can relax and spend quality time with loved ones.
Here are 3 tips to help you avoid the holiday burn out:
- Overbooking
We’ve got some days off work and start to say “yes” to everything and everyone. That’s great - until you realize that you’ve scheduled lunch with your grandma and coffee with an ex at the same time. Ooops (sorry grandma)! To avoid overbooking, we need a strong grasp of our schedule. Write everything down in a diary and check it twice before you commit to something. Once you start to manage your time, you’ll be able to catch up with everyone and spend quality time that you both deserve. Just remember to book in some alone time with yourself to charge your social batteries.
- Money
Ahh, this is one of the bigger stressors of the holidays! I know, you want to show everyone you love them by getting them a gift, or you don’t want to be that awkward person who shows up empty-handed. Let me tell you a little secret, you don’t have to BALL OUT on everyone’s gift this year! The saying is so true, “it’s the thought that counts.” Yes - that means you can get crafty for cheap and provide something meaningful. This way you’ll save some money and stress, the best of both worlds!
- Staying Active
Like I said earlier, you have to take some time for you! The holidays are not an excuse to completely throw away your results and put your healthy lifestyle on pause. I promise this is the time when next year's summer body is made. Make sure you download the BTES APP and we make it easy for you to schedule in your workout. Plus, we know how to make all of your holiday favorites guilt-free! We’ve got you covered when it comes to looking and feeling your best. You’ll get your endorphins pumping and that’ll clear your mind!
This is a special time of the year when we catch up with our loved ones. The BTES APP is here to help you ladies stay active during the holidays. We have lots of LIVE workouts this month so make sure to join us and let’s go!
Let's crush this months challenge and finish strong!
xoxo Rebecca
Lynsey oayne
December 08, 2021Love all the advice. Great blog. I feel December is the month of being overwhelmed, not enough time for ourselves to slow down so I love all the tips. Could we do a week in Dec of mindset lives like last December to help us FOCUS and let go of our busy lives x