When I decided to start writing a monthly favorite things list I made a commitment to follow the Zaxxon rule. If you’re a listener of the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast you are familiar with the Zaxxon rule. In case you haven’t stumbled on this gem and have no idea what I am talking about here is the rule, as defined by the PCHH team:
The Zaxxon Rule states that one will not talk about some thing, event, situation, etc. that the other people in the conversation cannot relate to, easily participate in, or enjoy. For instance, it is against the Zaxxon rule to brag about buying a Zaxxon and playing it. However, it is acceptable to talk about a funny YouTube video you recently watched because the other people could easily go home and watch it.
This month it is really hard to abide by the rule. I’ve had a lot of cool experiences this month. I attended an amazing wellness conference hosted by the company I office with, Ollis & Company. I cheered on BetterU team member, Angela, as she ran a half marathon. I just got back from a lovely vacation in Oahu. (In theory you could enjoy a Hawaiian vacation too but I understand it’s not readily accessible.) The last few weeks have been great for ME but this isn’t about me. It’s about YOU. It’s about things that I find valuable and helpful not just for me but for ANYONE on a fitness journey.
And what makes any fitness journey successful? The little things. While I’ve had some big moments recently, it’s the little things that bring daily joy and help someone stay committed to their path. Here are the little things that have made a big difference in my day this month.
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I think the barrier for many people to enjoying yoga is time.
A traditional yoga class is 90 minutes long. Most people can’t find time for the recommended 30 minutes of daily physical activity, much less an hour and a half. That’s why I am loving the recently revamped Yoga Journal and their monthly yoga sequence. Their feature sequence is now broken down into 10, 20 and 30 minute segments. The November issue has a wonderful soothing sequence that I can easily do for 10 minutes at the end of the day. It helps me down shift almost better than a cup of Bedtime tea.
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Books always bring me happiness.
I read plenty of fiction on my trip but it was the book I started before I left that has me really excited. It’s called Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion. People often think my job is teaching exercise. That’s a small part of it but my real job is change. It’s helping people figure out how to do things that maybe they don’t want to do. It’s helping make the change process easier for people. Learning small ways to stack the deck in their favor is HUGE! If you need to influence others in your life (or just want to understand how others might be influencing you) this is a great read.
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Have you seen the Clif Builder’s Bar?
Full disclosure: I was sent a box (by surprise) of Clif Builder’s Bars to sample. I have tried Builder’s Bar Max bars before and enjoyed the flavors but it was just too big for me. The mini Builder’s bars are okay for a snack. The “midsized” version with 270-280 calories and 20 g of protein is the perfect size to eat with an apple before my evening training sessions. I adore the Smores flavor. If you crave a Thin Mint cookie, try the Chocolate Mint flavor. If you want to try them too the Clif team has graciously agreed to do a giveaway! It will happen on Instagram in the near future so be sure to follow me!
Can I end with something I am NOT enjoying this month? Starbucks is phasing out the Tazo teas in place of Teavana (even thought they own both brands?). So far I am not a fan of the Teavana teas sold in Starbucks stores – the tea lemonades to drink and the cans of loose teas – because they have so much added sugar in the drinks and added flavors in the loose tea. My only hope is they bring in a simple green tea to match my favorite Zen tea.
What little thing are you loving this month? How do you deal with it when something you love and enjoy on a regular basis is suddenly replaced?
