Energize with Lizzie Podcast

If you normally ignore those little signals your body and brain give you in your day, you know the ones, your back starts to get a bit tight and achy, your brain starts to get a bit foggy, then this podcast is for you. Press Play to have a listen.

What if we became more attuned to the subtle signals our bodies and minds send us?

Imagine using these signals, the minor discomforts, the restlessness, the moments of feeling less productive, as cues that prompt you to move.

Think of these cues as your well-being radar, finely tuned to detect those shifts within you.

When you feel a niggle in your body, perhaps a tense shoulder or stiff neck, it's your cue that you need a burst of movement.

When your mind drifts and your productivity wanes, it's your cue to reset and engage in some movement.

These whispers from within, which you may have been ignoring for years now, are gently reminding you to attend to your wellbeing.

Have a listen to this episode on Substack, Spotify or Apple Podcasts for some internal cue ideas and check back in over the next two weeks for the next two steps to kickstarting (and keeping) a habit in 2024!

Keep moving,

Lizzie

For many of us, the word exercise holds negative connotations. We associate exercise with feeling unfit and sweaty, and quite frankly, it's something many of us hate.

For some, it brings back unhappy memories of school sports or uncomfortable experiences of feeling out of place at the gym.

During my 15 years as a personal trainer, I heard my fair share of horror stories from clients about their past experiences with exercise.

If the word exercise is holding you back, let's change it.

Press PLAY above to listen to this 4-minute episode and get ready to change your relationship with exercise.

Keep moving,

Lizzie x

In conquering motivational obstacles, there is one thing that stands as your steadfast ally.

It adds a layer of commitment beyond your own intentions.

Picture this scenario.

It's almost noon and you've made a promise to yourself to take a quick walk during your lunch break.

You know it's good for your wellbeing and you genuinely want to incorporate more movement into your day.

However, as the clock strikes twelve, your overflowing inbox and mounting tasks overshadow your initial enthusiasm.

You find yourself debating whether to skip the walk just this once.

Sound familiar?

We've all been there, witness to the clash between our best intentions and our daily responsibilities.

It's easy to tell ourselves that we'll make up for it later or go for a walk tomorrow when things are less hectic.

Let's add a twist now.

Imagine the same situation, the same pressing workload and the same temptation to skip the walk.

This time, however, you've committed to meet a colleague outside for that lunchtime walk.

This changes things.

The idea of cancelling or postponing becomes less enticing.

You know your colleague is waiting and you have made a pact to move together.

Despite the to-do list and the emails beckoning from your desk, the thought of breaking your commitment and letting your colleague down compels you to get up, put on your sneakers and step outside.

What happened here?

Press the play button above to discover five ideas to add this essential ‘motivation’ ingredient to your week.

Keep moving,

Lizzie x

Resistance, that tough opponent surfaces, especially when we stand on the precipice of something significant. In The War of Art, in his book, Stephen Pressfield captures this concept beautifully. He describes resistance as a formidable force we encounter when we feel a strong aversion towards doing something.

But Pressfield challenges us to view resistance in a new light. Rather than being a sign that we should turn away, resistance signals tasks with the greatest meaning and purpose.

When we experience resistance towards physical activity, the groans, the excuses, the reluctance, it's actually a clue that we're on the right track. It's a signal that we're venturing into territory that holds value for us.

The greater the resistance to doing something, the more likely it is that we need to do it.

Resistance is our minds communicating that the task has the potential to change us, enhancing our wellbeing, boosting our energy and elevating our quality of life.

So stop feeling guilty for your lack of motivation and start to see it as a good thing. You're moving in the right direction.

Rather than perceiving resistance as an insurmountable obstacle, try shifting your perspective to see it as a positive force propelling you towards having an active day.

The more resistance you encounter, the more certain you can be that the endeavour holds meaning. Resistance serves as a litmus test for the significance of your actions.

Press play on the podcast above to hear more and for a quick exercise to help you regain control from resistance!

Keep moving,

Lizzie x

ps. Have you pre-ordered your copy of my new book - The Active Workday Advantage: Unlock your most energized, engaged and happy self at work - yet? If you have, THANK YOU! I am so excited to have you start reimagining exercise, redesigning your day to integrate more movement seamlessly, and discovering the roadmap to be part of the active workday revolution. Available for preorder at Amazon and Booktopia.

Stopping work to prioritise your wellbeing can feel like an unwelcome interruption, a detour from your race to success. The inclination to defer self-care creeps in – maybe later, tomorrow or at some undefined time in the future. After all, the immediate focus is on pushing forward to conquer the tasks ahead. 

A different, strategic perspective 

My family’s obsession with the Netflix series Formula 1: Drive to Survive has pulled me into a world I never anticipated being the least bit interested in: Formula One racing. Watching the high-stakes races, witnessing the speed, precision and unwavering determination of the drivers, I found myself drawing parallels to our own work lives and stumbled upon an intriguing perspective that might shift the way you think about taking a quick active break. 

Imagine a Formula One driver in the heat of a race. They’re intensely focused on maintaining their speed, navigating turns and overtaking competitors. It’s a relentless pursuit of victory – much like our own daily endeavours. Just like those drivers, we’re all racing towards our own finish lines, chasing after success and tenaciously tackling the challenges that come our way. In Formula One, where victory can be determined by mere milliseconds, the importance of pit stops is evident.

Pit stops aren’t disruptions or inconveniences; they’re strategic moves that are essential for success. The crew refuels and fine-tunes the car, and changes its tyres – all necessary actions to maintain its peak performance. Similarly, as we navigate the race of productivity, our pit stops take the form of moments of movement – essential, purposeful breaks that reinvigorate us. 

At first glance, these micro moves might appear inconsequential, almost counterproductive. After all, who wants to halt their mom-entum when the finish line is in sight? However, the key is recognising their significance – these short breaks are the very essence of wellbeing and productivity. They may last mere seconds or extend to a few minutes, yet their impact is profound.

Pit stops in your daily race

Imagine each moment of movement is a personal pit stop in your daily race – a moment to stretch, take a deep breath and reset. Picture movement itself as being akin to the work of a pit crew fine-tuning a car, ensuring it’s optimised for the track ahead. By embracing moments of movement you’re refuelling your energy, reigniting your focus and making necessary tweaks to maintain your performance.

In the world of Formula One, track conditions can change swiftly, prompting teams to adapt by changing tires or altering their strategy. Similarly, our workdays are rife with changing circumstances. Moments of movement offer the opportunity to recalibrate, evaluate and adjust our approach to new challenges. They grant us the perspective needed to re-evaluate priorities, tweak strategies and stay on course.

Embracing moments of movement is akin to a Formula One driver recognising the right time for a pit stop. It’s about understanding that a brief pause for rejuvenation actually fuels your ability to sustain speed and focus throughout the race. These moments of renewal aren’t distractions. Rather, they’re key to maintaining peak performance, sidestepping burnout and crossing the day’s finish line with renewed energy and enthusiasm. Sometimes a few seconds is all it takes to get your ‘vehicle’ back on track. 

You can also listen to and follow the Energize With Lizzie Podcast on Spotify and iTunes

Original music by Matt Fell (my amazing music producer brother)

Keep moving,

Lizzie x

This episode tackles a a common mindset that goes like this: I’m not going to be able to find an hour to exercise today. I’ve got way too much work to do to make it to the gym or attend my Pilates class and I can’t get out for a walk today. I’ll just have to wait until tomorrow, the next day or the one after that.

This is what is known as the ‘all-or-nothing’ mindset.

It’s the belief that if exercise doesn’t align with our preconceived notions of what it should look like – be that in terms of time, specific location, intensity, equipment or results – then it’s not worth doing. Then, when we can’t meet those rigid expectations of what exercise should look like, what do we end up doing? Nothing at all.

Listen in to discover how to turn this mindset around.

So excited to let you know that my book, the Active Workday Advantage: Unlock your most energised, engaged and happy self at work, is at the printers!! If we’re connected on Insta (@energizewithlizzie) you’ll have been with me on the big journey that is writing a book. I’m so proud of it, very happy those 4am mornings are over, and can’t wait to get it into your hands.

Preorders are a really important aspect of launching a book, so if you want a copy, head to Amazon on Booktopia now - and thanks!

Keep moving,

Lizzie x

Original music by Matt Fell (my amazing music producer brother!)

Your body and brain don’t care about all the rules you (or the fitness industry) have set up about what exercise has to look like. Your body and brain just want you to move however, whenever, because that’s how they function at their best.