Fit Fare

The time has come (and I think I’m going a little crazy)!

I am officially less than one month away from becoming a Mrs.

Over the last couple of months, I have spent a lot of time and energy focusing on my physical fitness. Just like many other brides before me, I want to look happy and healthy on my big day. But, I spent so much time focusing on the physical (and by physical, I mean all the things surrounding me on the outside), I went a little “mental.”

While maintaining your physical fitness does help reduce stress, sometimes you just need to slow down and take a mental inventory. Obviously, part of being healthy is being able to manage stress. I read an article on WebMD that made a lot of sense to me. It said:

“Centuries ago, Western culture lost its focus on the interconnectedness between the body and the mind or spirit, and how each has the power to affect the other. Cultivating a love of movement can help you get beyond the concept of physical fitness as separate from mental fitness – and toward a lifelong program of good health through mind and body fitness… Remember that fitness of mind and body belong together, and that exercise is very narrowly defined in our society. So redefine exercise as any activity that reduces stress and connects your mind and body.”

So, I decided to take a mental health day earlier this week and it made all the difference in the world. I left behind my job, the wedding planning, the room full of gifts I haven’t tackled yet, and the gym. I went shopping with my soon-to-be sister-in-law and had a great time focusing on someone else for a change. I was able to ease back into my routine the following day, ready to tackle all of the things that made me cringe just days earlier. Since then, I’ve felt calm and fit in both body and spirit.

So, what’s my advice if you find yourself in a fitness rut? Take one day off from all those things you “have to” do, and you’ll be surprised at how good you’ll feel the next day.