Wowzers, two massive events in two days calls for a double-down of themes in this week’s Healthy You Column. With many people super stoked about the big game on Sunday, and a whole bunch of other folks jazzed up for Valentine’s Day the day after, we can’t pass up one for the other – that would be a total fumble. (Yes, that’s a football inspired pun.) Whether you are watching the game with your family, partner or celebrating the big day of love alone, we have some fun ideas to hopefully keep you feeling celebratory, loved and fulfilled. Here’s our tips on how to make either day a date day, for you, for two or the whole family!

You can’t have the Super Bowl or Valentine’s Day without thinking about food! Make it a “date,” by taking a virtual cooking class! How fun will this be? Plus, you can turn it into some self-care time too. Virtual cooking classes will let you know what you need beforehand. This can mean some time just for you to shop the aisles, some teamwork time with your partner, or even a challenge with the kids to see who can get all their items first. There are so many online classes and cooking tutorials, that you can learn how to make anything! Think about trying a new dip for the game or something more decadent for the big love day.

If you are into fitness, either day has some fun workout ideas attached! Turn the game into tomorrow’s workout by keeping a tally of words, for example: touchdown, instant replay, and fumble. Then assign each word an action, for example, touchdown = jumping jacks, instant replay = pushups, fumble = crunches. By the end of the game, you should have an awesome workout for Monday, or break it down for the week! Same goes for Valentine’s Day! Buy a mini box of conversation hearts, before you open them assign each color an exercise, then when it’s time to workout pull a heart out and do 10 of that exercise. For example: pink = 10 toe touches, white = 10 squats, etc. Make the workout a solo mission or recruit your loved ones for a team adventure!

Try making a day long date for yourself or others. Sure, the big game isn’t until the evening, and you may have to work all day Monday before going on your Valentine’s date, but don’t let that stop you from a whole day of fun. Wear your team spirit or love colors all day. Make your meals themed from breakfast to supper by perhaps adding in sports or heart-themed napkins, plates, or fun cups. (Kids love this because it’s like an all-day party.) Get some theme cupcake liners and use for making muffins, egg cups, to hold fruit salad or cucumber slices. Cut your food in shapes of sports balls or hearts. Put a note in your partner, kids or even your own lunchbox, purse or gym pack that says, “you go champ,” or “I love you.” All these little-themed boosts will make the day that much more fun! You don’t have to spend a lot, but these little additions are a game changer!

We all get just one life, and while maybe you wish you had a different circumstance for celebratory days, that doesn’t mean you have to sit them out on the bench. Have some fun this weekend and date yourself! Even if you have a partner or a whole bunch of kids, take some time just for you. Maybe that’s relaxing in your car listening to music for a bit before a grocery run, maybe it’s taking time to move your body in a way that you enjoy, or maybe it’s getting outside of your comfort zone and trying an online cooking class. These are all things that you can do solo or not, but at the end of the day, how you treat yourself matters! Show yourself some love this weekend, on Monday and every day! Kirsten Chenowith (Broadway Star/Actress) is a great example of finding joy in every day and in every way and she shares, “If you can learn to love yourself and all the flaws, you can love other people so much better. And that makes you so happy.” While there’s no “I” in team, we think if you start treating yourself like the star quarterback, you’ll find happiness starts to overflow! That happiness starts with YOU! Let’s rename this weekend/Monday for what it should really be called: Super Love Yourself Bowl!

 

Mary Hoadley

Director of The Wellness Center