My Soul Cycle

     My roommate is obsessed with Soul Cycle. I mean obsessed. She will come home the 45-minute pump-up cycling class and go on and on about how fabulous it was for longer than it took her to finish the class in the first place. Initially, I'll admit a little part of me wanted to smack her and tell her that no fitness routine was that exciting. But after a while, I realized that being that excited about exercise wasn't something to get annoyed over: it was something to strive for.
     It's hard to be excited about working out. I mean, the gym's fun and all but nothing to go crazy over. But that's when exercise gets hard. When working out is a chore, you're going to be less likely to do it. But when you find something that you can get excited about, you'll be more likely to follow through.

     Now, finding a workout that inspires you is more easily said than done. Start by trying something new with friends. My sorority sisters and I hit up Crunch for a fitness class last week. Struggling through a routine with friends can make it all the more fun. Maybe schedule a run with someone you haven't talked to in a while or plan a work-out then brunch date with your roommate. Make your workout something that you get excited about. Schedule it into your calendar and take some time to get yourself mentally psyched. Maybe one day, we can all find our soul cycle.

Just A Little Trick

     I hate to admit it but I’m all about the numbers. When it comes to weighing myself, sometimes I do it two or more times a day. It’s not because I’m a masochist who likes to remind myself how much I weigh. Sometimes, I use the scale to see if I’ve eaten too much that day. I use it to see how much weight I lost after a long run or, most often, to make myself feel better. When I know I’ve had a good day in regards to eating and exercising, seeing a low number is like a high.

     But if it’s a high number, it can be depressing. Seeing your number on the scale can be like a smack in the face. Constantly obsessing over a number rather than how I feel or how I look certainly can't be healthy for me. That’s why I’m trying a new tactic: Instead of getting on the scale and seeing how much I weight, I’m going to get on and see how much I want to weigh. I took a little scrap of paper, wrote down my goal weight, and every time I get on the scale, I’m going to put it right over the little screen.

            Is putting my goal weight over my actual weight going to make it magically happen? Probably not. But maybe it will force me to think thin. It will get rid of my obsession with weighing a little more after a big meal and the craving to weigh myself after a hard workout. It'll force me to focus on how thin I feel rather than how thin the scale tells me I am. And, if nothing else, it will make me smile.

Why a New Year Shouldn't Mean a New You

     I'd like to start off by saying that I'm all about resolutions. I'm the first one to write my weekly goal on a bright pink sticky note and stick it on my desk. There's something about physically writing down your goals that makes them more tangible and also holds you more accountable. After all, 45% of Americans take the time to write down their resolutions every New Year. 45% of America has got to be onto something, right?
     But here's my question: why wait until the changing of the calendars to make a change in your own life? Some of the most common New Year's Resolutions from 2012 included losing weight, spending less, and "enjoying life to the fullest." Why wait until January 1st to get started? It's not like after twelve months of chips and candy bars, one magical day is going to make your transition easier. I guess when it comes to a goal like spending less, if you wait until the next calendar year to start pinching pennies, spending less may be a requirement because of your bank balance rather than a lofty goal. And don't wait to start enjoying life: just do it.
     Instead of writing down resolutions once a year, do it once a week. Maybe once a month. Perhaps just write down a resolution whenever one comes to you. After all, individuals who write down their resolutions are ten times more likely to achieve them. When you think of something you want to change about your life or yourself, write it down, post it somewhere visible, and do it. Piling on a ton of goals once a year can be a lot of pressure, but focusing on one step at a time towards a new and improved you will be an easier journey.

Across the Street

     It's like crossing into a war zone. But the line is definite. On one side, you have normalcy, power, and everyday life. Maybe the sidewalk is a little wet or there are a few pieces of trash. But less than 20 feet away, nothing is recognizable. The stores are dark. Many are boarded up to ward off looters but a few are open, offering a bit of food and water to passing cops and marines. Just a few steps across the street and you're in a different place in the same city in New York. It's the normalcy everyone is headed towards.

     You can see the people leaving in hoards. They travel with their suitcases, bags of water and food, flagging down cabs, waiting for buses, or giving up on it all and walking. Common courtesy is out the window. Old women and little boys fight to get onto the few buses that are coming by. Parents come in fleets to collect their children from the powerless dorms. No one knows what's happening. There's no internet, no television, newspaper stands are knocked down and vandalized: all they know is they need to get out. They're leaving the darkness, the no running water, the cold and the dead air.

     The streetlights are broken. Some traffic guards direct the busiest sites, but most are left to their own devices. People run across the street in spaces between the mass exodus uptown. Some streets are lined with military trucks and cars. Cop cars race every which way and ambulances tear through the dangerous intersections. Sidewalks are littered with garbage bags and generators. The smell of rotting trash and dirty people permeates the walls and seems to stick with you wherever you go. Walking down the street with a cup of coffee is like holding the key to Atlantis because there's little supplies left. The water and food everyone has stocked up on is wearing down. They can walk uptown and fight their way through hundreds of people with the same thoughts to get whatever sustenance is left, but they'll have to come back eventually.

     Students here have been asked to pack what they can and leave. They arrive at the student center and are handed a yoga mat, sandwich, and water bottle and told to have fun. Young men and women who were friends are fighting for an available outlet. But where else are they going to go?
     It's two different worlds. All you have to do is cross the street.

My Favorite Season

     Yes, it’s that time of year. No not fall, election season. The presidential debates are over, but the war is far from complete. Voters are bombarded with ads, calls, promos, and everything in between, motivating them to get out and vote. With the change of the leaves comes a change in attitude. Here’s why I love election season:

-I get more phone calls in one day by pollers than I did all of last semester combined.

-Those Geico commercials are getting old. Candidates trashing each other on television is way more exciting. It’s like WWE, Washington Edition.

-Getting an email from Mitt Romney. It's really him, I know it is!

-Seeing how many variations of red and blue ties Romney and Obama can wear. Creativity is key.

-People who usually blow up my newsfeed with whiney statuses about their life switch to whiney statuses about candidates. At least it’s a refreshing change.

-Every time I can say something intelligent about politics, it makes me feel just a little bit awesome.

-I have to read so much less of the newspaper to stay informed: every one of their stories about Obama and Romney are the same.

-Who doesn’t love getting the free “I Voted” sticker?

     Oh election season, you keep my fall interesting. I can’t wait to see you again in 4 years. 

The Chronic Over-Committer

     If there’s anyone out there who follows this blog religiously, you’ll know it’s been a while since my last post. Why, you may ask, have I taken such a hiatus from writing about the trivial entities of my life? Because I’ve been stressin’. Pun intended.

     College students and full-time employees alike know a thing or two about biting off more than they can chew. Between classes, jobs, extracurricular, and a social life, it’s hard to juggle everything. But sometimes, when you take too big of a bite, you may choke.

      That’s why it’s crucial to take time to prioritize. For me, I love having a hand in an array of different activities, but how many of them am I actually enjoying? Sit down at your desk, write down everything you do, and write down what you like and what you don’t about each thing. Think of pro’s and con’s. Ask yourself honestly, what are you getting from this? Above all else, prioritize yourself first. If you need to quit something, quit something. You’ll have plenty of jobs in your lifetime, but only one you. Take time to take care of yourself. 

Making a Habit

      My parents run every day. Rain or shine, 100 degrees or negative twelve, they are out there every morning. By the time I’m rolling out of bed, they’ve already finished their workout for the day. I’m a fan of running too, but doing it every day? Kind of a struggle… But for them, it's just a habit.

     I decided that it's time for me to make some better habits. That’s why this week I’m going to try running every day. 7 days in a row? I think I can handle that.  I may not be rising with the sun to get in my run before speeding off to classes, but I’ll do it, one way or another. I like a challenge. Maybe by challenging myself to run more often, I’ll actually get out there and do it. 

     So starting tomorrow morning, I'll be up with the sun (meaning I'll be up at some point when the sun's out) and I'll be running. Maybe by forcing myself to do it every day for seven days will motivate me to be like my parents. At least, for a little while.