Staying In Shape During the Holidays

 The holiday season is a time of joy and celebration, but it can also be when people tend to gain weight. This happens for several reasons, including increased food intake, decreased physical activity, hormonal changes, alcohol consumption, a lack of sleep, and others. 

Here are some tips for staying in shape during the Christmas holidays:

1. Make a plan: Determine how you will fit physical activity into your holiday schedule. This might involve setting aside specific times each day to exercise or finding ways to incorporate physical activity into your holiday activities.
2. Stay active: Look for opportunities to stay active during the holiday season. This could include going for a walk or run, doing a home workout, or participating in holiday activities such as ice skating or skiing.
3. Watch what you eat: It's easy to overindulge during the holidays, but try to balance your meals with healthy options. Choose vegetables and fruits as snacks, and lean proteins and whole grains over high-fat and high-sugar foods.
4. Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water to help flush out any excess sodium and keep your body hydrated.
5. Get enough sleep: During the holidays, it is crucial to maintain a healthy weight and support overall health.
6. Seek support: If you're struggling to stay on track, consider enlisting the help of a friend or family member to keep you motivated and accountable.

While it's normal to gain a few pounds during the holiday season, it's important to be mindful of your eating and activity habits to prevent excessive weight gain. By making a plan and staying active, you can enjoy the holidays without overindulging or neglecting your health. So, it's better to be cautious about our habits and do some physical activity to stay fit and healthy during the holidays.

Christmas and the Educator

As the holiday season approaches, it can be a time for educators to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. Regardless of spiritual or religious beliefs, the values of love, compassion, and forgiveness, may resonate.

For educators, Christmas can also be a time to focus on the importance of education and its role in shaping the future. As teachers, we have the opportunity to inspire and empower our students to reach their full potential and make a positive impact on the world.

One of the key messages of Christmas is the importance of giving and sharing with others. As educators, we can help our students understand the value of giving back to their communities and supporting those in need. This can be done through charitable acts, volunteering, or simply showing kindness and compassion toward others.

In addition to the spiritual and educational significance of Christmas, it can also be a time for fun and celebration. Educators can encourage students to engage in holiday traditions and activities, such as decorating the classroom or participating in holiday performances.

Overall, Christmas is a time for educators to come together and celebrate the many blessings of the season, both personally and professionally. It's a time to reflect on the values that are important to us and share them with our students. By embracing the true meaning of Christmas, we can inspire and empower the next generation to positively impact the world.

Ten Characteristics of Educational Leaders

Educational leaders, such as school principals, district superintendents, and others, play a critical role in shaping the direction and success of their schools and districts. They are responsible for creating and implementing educational policies and programs, managing budgets and personnel, and ensuring students have the resources and support they need to succeed. 

Good educational leadership can help improve student achievement, increase teacher retention, and create positive student learning environments. On the other hand, poor educational leadership can negatively affect student outcomes and the overall functioning of a school or district.

Certain characteristics are commonly associated with strong educational leaders. Strong educational leaders can combine these characteristics in ways that enable them to lead their schools and improve student outcomes effectively. Ten essential characteristics of strong educational leaders include 

1. Vision: has a clear vision for their school or district's future and can articulate that vision to others.
2. Collaboration: works well with others and can bring people together to achieve common goals.
3. Communication: communicates effectively and can clearly and concisely share their ideas and vision with others.
4. Empathy: understands and empathizes with the perspectives and experiences of others, including students, teachers, and parents.
5. Decisiveness: makes difficult decisions in a timely manner and they are willing to take responsibility for their decisions.
6. Adaptability: adapts to changing circumstances and is open to new ideas and approaches.
7. Integrity: A strong educational leader is honest, transparent, and consistent in their actions and decisions.
8. Professionalism: knowledgeable, competent, and professional in their approach to their work.
9. Passion: passionate about education and committed to improving student outcomes.
10. Emotional intelligence: aware of their own emotions and the emotions of others, and they can use that awareness to guide their actions and decisions.

How to Thrive Where You've Been Planted

Are you the sort of person whose degree of happiness is determined by unfavorable situations and
difficulties? Do you believe you will be happy when you receive the next big promotion, save enough money, or discover your true partner?

While good aspirations propel you, it is crucial to understand how to thrive in your current environment.

Instead of allowing your surroundings to influence how you feel, let your inner pleasure come through. Regardless of where you are, look for the positive. Remember everything you have to be thankful for, rather than dwelling on the sense that something is constantly lacking.

To flourish where you are planted, you must find the positive in every difficulty you encounter. Some of the wealthiest individuals feel hollow because they lack the unconditional love of others, good health, and other things that money cannot purchase. And some of the world's poorest individuals are the happiest. Why? Because they choose to focus on and concentrate on the positive.

Ask yourself the following questions when contemplating how to flourish where you are.

• What do you have for which you may be grateful?
• Do you have a place to live and sufficient food?
• Are you employed? Can you pay your bills?
• Are you in good health?
• Do you have people who love you and whom you also love?
• Do you rely on your faith to provide you with positive energy?

What you believe about yourself is crucial.

How you perceive the world and your level of self-confidence might impact your success in life. Those who behave as though they are happy usually are, as their lives tend to mirror their behaviors. Choose to identify the positive elements of every difficulty you confront. Instead of focusing on problems, you should concentrate on potential solutions until you obtain the desired objectives.

Also, speak positively about yourself. Both spoken and written words are incredibly potent. When individuals take these words to heart, they may profoundly affect their lives. Conversely, if you absorb negative remarks, anything for which you may be grateful would appear trivial. This negativity will leave you feeling disheartened and discontent. Instead, allow positive words to enter your mind.

Positive words can alter your life, whether expressed by you or over you. You may flourish where you are at the moment. Remember that abundant joy and tranquility may be found in every scenario or condition as you go toward your objectives and continue to grow. Start seeking happiness where you are.

Your views about yourself and the world around you determine your fate. How you feel is intricately tied to your thoughts. Consider life-affirming concepts, and you will feel alive. Consider negative and discouraging ideas, and you will feel miserable.

Choose to appreciate the present moment today. In the larger scheme of things, neither half of the glass is empty nor full. You will be happy and prosperous if you choose to be exactly where you are and nowhere else. Choose to be present and mindful in every moment today. If you do so, you will flourish where you are planted.

Discovering Your Inner Creative Potential

Believe it or not, there is creativity lurking within all of us. Creativity is not only the ability to draw a
picture or write a poem - creativity is simply thinking in a unique way. When you approach a situation, you're thinking creatively as long as you keep thinking of new ways to solve problems.

Here are some tips for discovering your inner creative potential:

• Do What Makes You Happy. You may already have an idea about what you might like to do creatively, but you may be afraid of failure, so don't try. However, the only failure is if you give up before you start. So what if you fall flat on your face? So what if people judge you? Adopt the "you only live once" attitude and go for it!

• Try Again. Let's say that you feel your true calling is filmmaking. You take a class, but your teacher doesn't like your work. What do you do? Do you give up or keep going? The answer's obvious: pick yourself up and keep learning the craft! Take another class or create a film on your own. If you're enjoying yourself, learning, and practicing, you'll create your version of success! 

• Don't Stop Thinking. Of course, you never really stop thinking. However, it would help if you approached your thinking, solutions, and ideas, especially in mundane situations. You mustn't just accept that things are done a certain way - you need to expand your thinking and keep coming up with new ways to do old tricks. 

• Inspiration. Creativity comes along for the ride when you follow what truly inspires you. Let's say you always wanted to start a business. That doesn't sound terribly creative on its own, especially if it's a type of business that already exists. But your inspiration will spark your creativity as you decide how your business will stand out from the competitors. 

• Stay Calm. Avoid situations where you feel overly stressed or uptight. If you're like most people, you'll likely do most of your creative thinking in a calm environment. Too much stress can hinder your creative mind, so remember to take breaks when needed. 

Act on Your Ideas

There is only one authentic way to discover if your creative ideas will be successful. You need to make a plan and follow through with it.  

Some people are held back by fear of failure, financial constraints, or other setbacks. But if you genuinely want to accomplish your creative goals, you'll need to figure out how to overcome the hurdles.

Stuck on Ideas

Remember: creativity is inside of you, just waiting to be tapped!

If you have a passion in life, you can bring creativity to that passion. If your passion is stamp collecting, for example, you can make that creative. Maybe you could develop a new design for a stamp collector's album. You could even design your stamps or start a website for other stamp collectors to get information. Just be creative! 

Set aside at least a few minutes each day for some freedom to be creative. You might find it difficult initially, but before you know it, the ideas will flow.

Seven Steps to Enhancing Your Image

What do you tell people about yourself? Have you ever thought about how what you say about yourself transmits intimate knowledge to others? Do you say things like, "I never get anything done," "I'm so disappointed with my career," or "I wish I were a better parent?"

The reality is that when you say less-than-positive things about yourself to others, you create an inaccurate image of yourself in their minds.

Ponder these points to enhance your self-image as well as how others see you:

What kind of person are you? How would you describe yourself? What are the very best things about you? Spend some time looking at your actions.

• Maybe you consider the needs of others over your own.
• Perhaps you're a very giving person.
• You might see yourself as patient, kind, confident, or "devil-may-care."
• You could be a pioneer—you're never afraid to try something new.
• Do you step up to help an elderly neighbor anytime she needs it?
• Are you an "idea" person at work where others look to you to problem-solve a situation

What are your motives related to your personal choices? Why do you think it's important to (fill-in-the-blank)?" Ponder what motivates you to complete a task, stay in shape, and whatever else you came up with related to your positive qualities. 

Which kind of remarks about yourself do you usually make: positive or negative? What compels you to do so if you tend to put yourself down? Are you trying to be humble? Do you encourage others to have a negative picture of you?

List the negative comments you make to others about yourself. Include all of them—"I'm so fat," "I can't seem to find time to clean the house," or "Nobody at work ever notices what I do." For each comment, allow time to jot down why you believe you say these things. 

• For example, troubleshoot the situation for the "I'm so fat" comment, rather than saying "Because I am" as your reason why you say it. What specifically makes you feel you're fat? 
• Your reasoning could look like, "Because I'm 20 pounds overweight, according to the weight charts," or "I'm wearing a size 38 pants instead of 34 like I used to wear." 

• The goal here is to determine the underlying reasons you make these statements. By becoming aware of your reasons, you'll put yourself on the path to raising your opinion of yourself.

 

Do you want to change something about yourself? If so, what could you do? Decide to change your actions if you're going to change your results. Make a plan with achievable steps to your goal.

It's solution time. You can accept the way you are without any more negative statements or endeavor to change whatever brings about your comments. If you decide to make a few changes, start now to work toward those goals and have confidence in your ability to change. Your conversations will reveal your new, more positive outlook!

Become the person you want to be by refusing to say anything negative about yourself to others. Share positive experiences with zeal without overdoing them. Through what you say to others, you can re-shape what they (and you) think of you.

You'll discover more happiness, experience more self-respect, and become more comfortable with the incredible person you are!