Posts tagged Trepidation
Have You Tried Zumba?
Sep 28th
Zumba is one of the fastest growing exercise classes in the world today, cropping up in village and town halls, health clubs, in leisure centres and even colleges across the UK. Originating from South America, Zumba is a cardio based dance work out designed to tone and sculpt the body. Containing a huge serving of Latin flavour and includes moves from Salsa, Merengue and Samba, there are over 7.5 million people across the world jumping on the Zumba bandwagon. It looks set to be the next great fitness trend.
To find out what all the fuss was about, I decided to take myself down to a Leisure Centre nearby where a new class was starting. Although my first love is running I’ve been through most of the exercise classes available. I’ve tried my hand at Step’n'Pump, have been bored in Bodypump, yawned my way through Yoga but absolutely loved Circuits. Analysing this I now believe that anything slow or with any form of a routine doesn’t really float my boat, but this could be down to me not being issued with my full quota of coordination at the time of conception. With this in mind I entered the class with nervous in trepidation.
Obviously word had got around and it wasn’t the poorly attended session I’d had in mind. There must have been 16 to 20 ladies of all ages, shapes and sizes. The instructor was really lovely and was obviously lulling me into a false sense of security. I had a chat with her beforehand and made my way to the back of the room to hide. In hindsight, I really should have been at the front but never mind, at least if I were to vomit, nobody would see me.
The class started relatively slowly with basic steps being introduced. There wasn’t an awful lot of verbal instruction but to be honest, it wasn’t needed as we all eagerly copied the instructors every move.
The slow moves at the start gradually increased and before I knew it, was partying away the pounds to awe inspiring Latin vibes and rhythms.Now I consider myself to be fairly fit, and at the start was sure that the 65 year old lady to my left would do nothing but make me feel even better about myself. Unfortunately, I now believe that she was in disguise and was actually an ex-professional athlete, possibly mid 30′s and obviously on something. She was amazing.
The class was absolutely exhilarating, the vivacious moves, the mix of fast, slow and resistance left you dripping in sweat and feeling like you’ve had the best workout in years; you could feel the calories being burnt away. It was fun, energising and captivating. The instructor wasn’t lulling me in to a false sense of security, she was genuinely nice and her enthusiasm was infectious.
In conclusion, anybody can join a Zumba class and enjoy it. The 65 year old lady in disguise was inspirational and who needs coordination to enjoy yourself. I didn’t vomit. I left and wanted more. I was completely knackered.
How to Reduce Work Related Stress As a Working Mum
Aug 18th
Working mums are aware of the importance of having a career besides that of a domestic goddess. Putting income aside, a career gives a woman a purpose, sense of identity and zeal that are separate from what our wifely and motherly roles provide. The downside is that working mums often suffer from “second-shift” work or the exhaustion and possibility of overextending oneself. Stress can be good sometimes because it motivates a person to do better but overexertion can be risky as it can leave a woman overwhelmed or put her on the verge of insanity. Are there ways to diminish stress and escape burnout? Professional coaching can provide assistance in taking guilt away and busting burnout. In the meantime, make use of the following tips to let go of stress and lighten up your mood.
Practice good task management. Prioritise, delegate, and break down into manageable bits. Repeat as needed. These three keys to work-related stress relief will help reduce your workload and tame what may seem like the impossible. Set no more than two to three priorities per day and before punching out, revise accordingly. Sticking to a few will keep you focused and confident—yet, be careful of becoming overly confident! No matter how much we want to maintain a superwoman image, sometimes we simply can’t do it all ourselves. If your tasks has accumulated, it’s time to designate. Hand over some of your workload and excel in the projects that matter. And, if large projects still inspire trepidation, break them down into bite-sized chunks. Not only does this cut the fear factor, but dividing tasks leaves you feeling you’ve accomplished more and in less time.
Be nice. Don’t be a pushover. In striving to make a good impression at the office, we often want to come across as nice. But beware! The way we choose to define “nice” may get us the exact opposite of what we had desired. One of the traps many working mums fall into is the red zone of extreme niceness, also known as pushover territory. The trick is to learn how to be pleasant and accommodating without being a doormat. Stress your freedom to say “no.” If guilt plagues your worried conscience, invoke the cause of your good health and sanity to remind you that saying no is not a negative!
Take a cue from your kids, and play! When you punch out, make sure to leave your work at the office and make time for play each evening. Take up a new hobby, read your favourite magazine, or take the family and dog for a walk. Play time reinvigorates the soul, gets the creative juices flowing, and beats the boredom of your work routine.
See a professional. True to the saying, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure. Watch for the signs of stress, and keep them in check before they get out of hand. Being proactive will maintain balance and calm in your busy lives and can minimize the effects of office-related stress. Symptoms range from the emotional to the physical and can include insomnia, digestive problems, loss of focus, pain or illness, and moodiness. Have regular physicals to check up your cardio and inform your physician of any pain or discomfort.
But help doesn’t have to stop at your G.P’s office. Why not sign up for some online coaching? If you’re finding the stress is too much to handle, professional coaching can support working mums who finds themselves constantly torn between work and home life.
