Four Quirky Wellness Ideas to Shape Your New Habits for the Year Ahead
Last week Beck kicked off ABG’s 2021 content with some thoughtful suggestions about how to put mindful drinking on your “new habits” plan for the year ahead.
This week I’d like to zoom out a bit and consider some new habits that fall outside the category of alcohol consumption while still inside the realm of wellness, mindfulness and health.
I started experimenting with these four new habits a few months ago. I’m still enjoying their place in my day-to-day life, so I know they’ve got some staying power. The general ideas will be familiar to you – exercise, goal setting, productivity and meditation – but my spin on each of them are, I hope, quirky enough to inspire some outside-the-norm ideas of your own.
The point is to personalize the big-picture goals so that they make sense for your reality. That’s what makes them sticky, and it’s always what helps them become new habits around wellness.
Exercise: The Golden Hour
Have you ever heard the phrase “the golden hour”? I hadn’t until a few months ago when I learned that it refers to the period of daylight that’s just after sunrise and just before sunset. This struck a chord with me. We’re given these two transitional, liminal periods of time every single day, perfect reminders to pause and reflect on the day before us and also the day that’s almost passed. Walks outside, whenever possible, in the evening golden hour have become a new exercise habit and they are easily and reliably a favorite daily moment of light.
Goal Setting: Pinterest Vision Boards
It feels old-fashioned somehow to use Pinterest but I haven’t yet found a better digital platform for visualizing my goals. I use Pinterest’s private setting to store my vision boards for each goal I’ve set for the year, in different parts of my life. As those goals evolve, so do the vision boards. The boards are also a few clicks away any time I’m ready for a refresh or reminder.
Productivity: Moonshot Emails
I’m a morning person, and the first things I do each day are usually the most clearly directed and productive. That’s why I’ve gotten used to sending at least one “moonshot” email first thing in the morning that is far-reaching in one way or another. Sometimes the “moonshot” is a person I want to contact, sometimes it’s an idea that I want to move forward, sometimes it’s quite frankly a shot in the dark. In every case, the moonshot email increases my productivity toward at least one goal on the vision board. If it’s in my mind first thing in the morning, and especially if I wake up thinking of it, then I’ve come to trust that it’s something worth developing further.
Meditation: Kundalini Rising
Meditation isn’t a new practice for me, but there is always something new to learn about meditation in our individual experience. These past few months my focus has been around Kundalini, a more esoteric practice that awakens the source of creativity that’s present in each of us. I find the practice both playful and powerful, a combination that beguiles me. It yields something different each time, which captures my interest and curiosity.
See? Quirky!
These practices are also fun. They shake things up. And they stick.
I hope they inspire you in some way. I’d love to know if they do, and what you make of them in your own lives.
Namaste,
Cathy
What We're Reading:
Here's what has piqued our interest this week in the world of wine and mindfulness.
A Liquor Store, Minus the Liquor – Joshua David Stein for PUNCH.com
New York's Spirited Away is a testament to the rapid ascension of the non-alcoholic category.
Why ‘Active Agers’ Could Help Drive Post-Pandemic Sales – SevenFiftyDaily.com
Consumers over 50 are drinking more, spending more, and embracing innovation more than past generations. The industry should stop ignoring them.
In Pandemic, People Are Turning to Nature, Especially Women – Neurosciencenews.com People report spending more time relaxing and enjoying nature as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Women, especially, report spending more time outdoors during the pandemic.
5 Mindful Ways to Approach Challenges at Work – Mindful.org
A steady dose of toxic energy in the workplace encourages valuable team members to update their resumes rather than their to-do lists.
Badass Bartender hopes to give hospitality staff a fresh start – Richard Siddle for The Buyer.net
Women of the Vine & Spirits Founder Deborah Brenner speaks to the new initiative launched to support hospitality workers in the wake of Covid-19.
This Week's Reminder:
Keep these short meditations and inspirations bookmarked for when you need them.
Meditation: Reconnecting to Silence and Presence – Tara Brach.com
In this 19-minute meditation, renowned meditation teacher Tara Brach shares how silence and presence can help to realign our ability to see what matters in our heart.
Meet the Community!
Here we meet some of the talented folks who make our community and profession so dynamic.
Marika Vida-Arnold, Founder Vida Et Fils Wine Consulting and @TheMomSomm (New York, USA)
Years in the Industry:
Since the age of 14, so 37 years!.
I got the ‘wine bug’ in Toronto when I was in University, working in restaurants to pay for school (my background was in media, broadcasting and Film & Television. I was working for a Film Director who was a big wine buff and we would drink ‘auction juice’. I didn’t really know what that was until I worked in Auctions, moving to New York, working for both Morrell & Company and Sotheby’s.
I actually became a sommelier after my children were born - initially it was part-time but when I became the Wine Director for the Ritz Central Park, it was full-time and I left in 2018 to pursue my own consulting company. Ideally I wanted to present and educate, but truth be known, I NEVER wanted to do inventory again! Today I’m the owner of Vida Et Fils Wine Consulting and TheMomSomm®️ with a focus on women and particularly Moms in the wine biz!
My Top 3 Challenges to Wellness:
1. A big one for me this past year has been to focus on being surrounded by people that ‘bring each other up’ ! There’s been a lot of desperation in our industry and while I keep reading ‘we’re in this together’ I’ve had some moments with people where it was all about THEM. I’m tired of it, it’s become ‘Lord of the Wine Flies’ so I’m now making a very exerted effort to be with people that inspire and support so I can equally inspire and support them!
2. Always trying to find balance between being a parent and work. I try to focus on quality because I can’t always do quantity!!
3. Our industry is very indulgent. We drink the best wine and have ridiculous dining experiences....giving our bodies a break is key...I have to constantly work on this!
How I keep it together to stay well!
1. EXERCISE I love to run (it’s my passion) but being sensitive to the fact that 51 isn’t 31 (and I would like to avoid knee surgery) I balance it out with HIIT workouts, yoga, Pilates and biking.
2. Meditation and guidance from my Guru Eknath Easwaren (who has since passed but whose books and quotes will touch me forever)
3. My DOG! One look in those ‘Thank you for rescuing me Pitbull eyes’ and I truly get unconditional love (particularly when I’m feeding him) but seriously animals are THE most therapeutic creatures...especially during a pandemic!
What Inspires Me:
My sons
Badass women
Amanda Gorman (yes I know I’m redundant but she’s needs her own line)
Great writing
Compassion and strength in leadership
Travel, travel, travel
Someone that can hold a room
Boots (sorry but if I’m being honest...)
My favorite quote:
“There is no good or bad but thinking makes it so” ~ Hamlet
You can connect with Marika on Instagram @themommsomm Twitter @Marika_Vida or online at marikavida.com
Let's Get Connected!
Sharing Events from our Global ABG Community.
Wednesday January 27th – A Nourished Spirt an IG Live Event
Join Pen2PaperProject and their favorite wine wizards from @Sommation_Live for a 30 minute scribble sesh. We’ll take pen to paper to fill up our cups.
Tuesday February 2nd –A Batonnage Forum Collaboration
A one hour creative journaling workshop with Pen2PaperProject designed to joyfully encourage pen to paper and a little healthy scribbling to benefit their amazing work for women in the industry.
Thursday February 18th – Art of the Toast Sponsored by Spiribam + Focus on Health
In this complimentary workshop, made possible by Spiribam and FOH Pen2PaperProject will lead a "pencil push" and raise a glass to what may be our most challenging times and why there is room to celebrate.
Have an event that our ABG community would love? Email to events@abalancedglass.com for consideration.
Shop ABG-Style!
Hydration, safety and style are important so pop via the ABG shop for our handy merchandise.
The offerings are a small list of high quality items that we have road-tested and reviewed, and hope they help support your self-care, while staying hydrated, safe, and stylish! << Check it out here >>
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