Strangers Drowning by Larissa MacFarquhar

If you had to choose between saving two people you didn’t know or one of your close relatives from drowning, what would you do? What if there were ten strangers who needed to be rescued? Or one thousand? Would you … Continue reading →

from A Little Blog of Books https://ift.tt/2LtTP2W

The ONE thing that stresses me out the most…

Hey guys!

Before I tell you the ONE thing that stresses me out the most, I’m gonna tell you that I’m running a giveaway for the 2018-2019 Focus Journal right now on my latest YouTube video!

The Focus Journal is the academic version (August 2018 – July 2019) of the yearly Blogilates Fit Planner. Basically, it’s a life planner and a fitness planner all in one!

As you can see, your daily to-do list is right next to your water tracker, sleep tracker, food logger, and workout scheduler! Personally this is the planner that I use everyday. Even though I’ve been out of school for a while, my brain still works on the academic calendar for some reason! Haha.

Anyway, back to the blog…

You wanna know the NUMBER ONE thing that stresses me out??? I don’t know if I’ve actually told you guys this before. No, it’s not wedding planning! (That’s been quite fun believe it or not!) It’s people with HUGE egos who have no consideration for anyone else but themselves. People who think they’re always right. People who don’t listen. People who won’t open their minds. Trying to argue with these people is a hopeless battle for me because logic doesn’t win with them, and THAT STRESSES ME OUT!

Okay now you’re probably feeling a little stressed thinking about the people who stress you out! Sorry. The good news is there are soooo many ways to get yourself out of your little stress funks. I know when I’m stressed, it’s no bueno. I tend to snack more on junk food, I want to skip workouts, and do things that are anti-normal Cassey because I’m feeling imbalanced. So I came up with 7 ways to help you stay fit and destress when things are crazy with school, work and life in general!

#1. BREATHE

When you are upset, anxious, uneasy and can feel your heart start to beat like it’s in a race, stop what you are doing, close your eyes, and take as many deep breaths as you need to feel calm. Remember to SLOWLY inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth and you will begin to feel the tension exit your body.

#2. WRITE IT DOWN

Too much to do? Feeling overwhelmed? Write it down and check things off as you go, even the tiny little things. You will feel SO much better once you begin checking things off! I like to write down my workouts like it’s an appointment, meaning – I can’t miss it!

#3. SET SPECIFIC GOALS

Vague goals, like “I will try to work out this week” can be intimidating and won’t really motivate you. Like, what does that even mean? Does that mean 1 workout or does that mean 7? How will you know if you accomplished it? Specific goals, like “I will take a POP Pilates class two times this week” are specific and cross-offable if you do it!

#4. DRINK MORE WATER

When I’m stressed out, I tend to snack. A lot. I get “hungry” when I am bored or stressed. So one way to keep my fake hunger in check is to make sure I am not thirsty. Sometimes thirst can disguise itself like hunger, but really, your body just needs a little hydration. So keep a water bottle with you at all times!

#5.DON’T EAT DISTRACTED

Don’t eat in front of your phone, TV, or computer! Distracted eating prevents you from actually enjoying your food, so you won’t realize how much you are eating! Take the time to really savor your meals.

#6. DECLUTTER YOUR WORKSPACE

Clean your desk! Clean your room! Holding onto junk around you may contribute to holding onto extra weight on your body. A clean environment outside contributes to a clean state of mind and clean body inside.

#7. START OFF WITH A MORNING STRETCH

Start your day off on a positive, productive note by doing a morning stretch routine! You don’t need anything strenuous or intimidating. Just a little movement to ease your body and mind into a good place. Try my “Wake Up with Me Workout“.

You can get all these tips in my latest YouTube video (below) AND enter to win a brand new Focus Journal! All you need to do is comment on the video the number one thing that makes you stressed. I’m giving away 3! And the contest is international! Good luck!!

The post The ONE thing that stresses me out the most… appeared first on Blogilates.

from Blogilates https://ift.tt/2P69CHk

Stretches for when you need to wind down! Virgo inspired.

HAPPY VIRGO SEASON!!!

I can’t believe these months are flying by so quickly! We’re at the end of August, we’re wrapping up summer, and you know what that calls for? A nice way to wind down from all of the summer crazies. Ha. But I don’t know if I can wind down for another few months because WEDDING.

Anyway! Virgos, I got something for ya!

Your Sweat Horoscope:

You know that exercise is necessary for a healthy body, but that doesn’t mean you necessarily like killing yourself with burpees and box jumps all day. You know the importance of a solid stretch routine that will put your body back in balance.

Your stretch routine: Play some relaxing music and hold each of these moves for at least 1 minute on each side! Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth as you slowly slide deeper and deeper into each stretch. This routine will open up the tightness in your muscles – especially the back, the hamstrings, the hips, and the chest!

#1. Pike x 1 min hold

The pike will stretch out your hamstrings and lower back! Think about reaching the crown of your head as far forward toward your toes as possible instead of just trying to touch your face to your legs.

#2. Straddle x 1 min hold

This will stretch out your inner thighs and hips! Try to flatten your back and reach your chest towards the floor.

#3. King Pigeon Stretch x 1 min hold ea side

This stretches the hip flexors, quads, and total back. If you’re not able to hook your foot into your elbow, start slow by simply holding your toes with your hand.

#4. Low Lunge x 1 min hold ea side

Stretches your hip flexors. Make sure to create space between your belly and your upper thigh! Really push with your hand and open up your heart!

#5. Camel x 1 min hold

Opens up your chest like crazy! If it’s too much to lean all the way back, place your hands behind your back and support yourself as your lean backwards a little at a time.

#6. I.T. Band Stretch x 1 min hold ea side

Stretches your lower back and your IT band. If grabbing onto the outer part of your foot is crazy, then simply grab onto your calf. A slight knee bend is ok as you begin to work on your flexibility.

#7. Flying Pretzel x 1 min hold ea side

Stretches your back and hamstrings. If holding onto the outer foot is too intense, hold the calf with a slight bend.

#7. Single Leg Forward Bend x 1 min ea side

Feels so good for the hamstrings! Make sure both of your feet are facing forward and really push your hips back!

I hope you find this relaxing! Allow yourself some time and space to practice this routine. Don’t rush. Ease yourself slowly into every pose. Hold. Breathe. Find the comfort in the discomfort.

If you want to see the entire printable, check out my Pinterest! Do you like stretching or is it something you often neglect because you don’t have time?

The post Stretches for when you need to wind down! Virgo inspired. appeared first on Blogilates.

from Blogilates https://ift.tt/2MOT6OA

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

I enjoyed reading The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson last year and her final novel ‘We Have Always Lived in the Castle’ published in 1962 three years before Jackson’s death tells the story of eighteen-year-old Mary Katherine “Merricat” … Continue reading →

from A Little Blog of Books https://ift.tt/2nQNghs

Snap by Belinda Bauer

The opening chapter of ‘Snap’ by Belinda Bauer presents a chilling premise based on the unsolved murder of Marie Wilks. On a hot day in the summer of 1998, eleven-year-old Jack Bright is left in a broken-down car by the … Continue reading →

from A Little Blog of Books https://ift.tt/2OJBd0Z

Flights by Olga Tokarczuk

I have recently read this year’s winner of the Man Booker International Prize ‘Flights’ by Olga Tokarczuk which was first published in Poland back in 2007 and has been translated by Jennifer Croft. I didn’t have time to shadow the … Continue reading →

from A Little Blog of Books https://ift.tt/2nvJiL1

Celebrating 100 Years of Muriel Spark

2018 marks the centenary of Muriel Spark’s birth and I have recently read her autobiography ‘Curriculum Vitae’ and one of her most famous novels ‘The Driver’s Seat’ which was first published in 1970. The main protagonist, Lise, is in her … Continue reading →

from A Little Blog of Books https://ift.tt/2vGoe8a