Wordless Wednesday

Picnic season is here & we LOVE it.

The Fresh Perspective...

Race season is upon us. If you are a runner, you may be thinking of doing a race. Whether you’re a seasoned vet or a beginner, it can be very intimidating to get started. One thing you can always remind yourself is that running is a solo sport. You get to set your own pace, goals and you don’t have to worry about anyone else. There’s no outside pressure so don’t be hard on yourself and enjoy the process.

If you’ve never run a day in your life, my advice is download the “Couch to 5k” app. It’s a perfectly paced 9 week program to ease you into running at a very realistic, comfortable pace. You’ll be so proud when you get to that 30 minute run at the end that you may even want to move on to the 5k-10k program. But one thing at a time. ;)

If you’re already a runner but are looking to try out a race you’ve never done before, good for you! It’s great to push yourself outside your comfort zone. Here are my top tips for race training:

-Talk to other runners who’ve run the race you’re looking to do. Ask what they struggled with during training and during the race. What helped them? You’ll save yourself a lot of grief and googling.

-Get good runners! I cannot stress this enough. It is not worth running long distances in uncomfortable shoes that lack support. Go to a running store, not the mall. Talk to the people who work there and try on 20 pairs. Don’t skimp on price if the fit is right. This is so important.

-Listen to your body. Trust your body. Honor your body. Every body is different and we all run differently. If something doesn’t feel right, give yourself a break. Don’t push yourself too hard. Don’t compare yourself to others. Practice gratitude with every run. You are very privileged to have a healthy body, don’t take that for granted.

Good luck and have fun!

-the fresh perspective…

Wordless Wednesday

Plants make us smile!

Book Club with Olivia

Welcome to the first entry of Olivia’s book club! Here you will find suggestions for great reads, reviews on some past reads & possibly some book bashing. Here we go!

Follow Me Down - Sherri Smith

Written by a Winnipegger, this is a thriller that will lock you in instantly. Every time you think you’ve figured something out, you’ll end up with 3 more questions. Just trust me on this one.

The Girls-Emma Cline

Initially you think this book is about a cult set in the 60’s and that was enough for me to pick it up. But it’s really about a teenage girl navigating her insecurities, trying to figure out who she is and where she belongs. Sometimes you’ll want to shake her but if you’ve ever been a teenage girl, you can definitely empathize with her as well. Easy, quick read.

Happy reading!

-O

The Fresh Perspective...

You wake up, it’s dark. You get off work, it’s dark. If it’s sunny out, it’s dangerously cold. Winnipeg winter’s are challenging in so many ways. When the elements are literally working against you, it can seem inevitable that many of us start to feel the winter blues.

It can feel like such a chore to even leave the house in winter. Between bundling up, warming up your car and the slow, dangerous driving, we spend a lot of extra time getting from point A to point B. This can make it that much harder to leave your home if you don’t absolutely have to. It can feel comforting to just stay home and be cozy with Netflix but after a few months of this, it’s hard not to feel lonely and claustrophobic.

Some things that can help lift your spirits and keep you sane through the rest of the season are:

• Start to pay attention to how many more minutes of sun we are getting each day. We forget that the shortest day is long behind us. It can make you feel more hopeful when you notice that we are getting more daylight already!

• Start a list of things you want to do once the snow starts to melt or we get warmer temperatures. Having something to focus on and look forward to can keep your spirits up.

• Try to do one activity or task that gets you out of your house and PJs to break up your day. It doesn’t have to be anything adventurous. Grab a coffee or visit a friend. It can feel good to get out and accomplish something before you have a lazy evening doing nothing.

It can seem like winter will never end but it always does. If we’re always wishing away half the year, then we can’t complain when summer seems to fly by as well. This is just a part of living where we do. All we can control is our attitude, so try to stay positive and embrace the season!

-the fresh perspective…

The Fresh Perspective...

When was the last time you stepped out of your daily routines and picked up a new skill? Whether it's knitting your first scarf, learning a new language or honing in on your makeup skills. Many people get caught up in their day to day hustle and bustle that we forget to keep things exciting and ever changing! Get inspired! 

There are so many benefits to keeping your brain stimulated and creating new challenges for yourself. Not only will you fight boredom, but you will have a bigger sense of pride. Why not pick up a new skill? Learn a new language, start painting or crafting, learn how to play an instrument... the ideas are limitless.

What's in it for you?

• a sense of accomplishment & pride

• fun

• keep things exciting

• become more interesting

• challenge yourself

• DIY gifts - potentially...depending on how successful ;)

What are some new skills you've taught yourself recently? We're looking for suggestions!

-the fresh perspective…