accountability, digital marketing agency, Importance of taking break, keeping a balance, making time for things you value, Passion, Search Engine Optimization, SEO, walking

6 For 6: Ending One Year, And Starting Another, On A Healthy Note

Since launching my digital marketing agency and SEO consultancy in 2014, I’ve found the only time of the year where it really works well to take a full week off is the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Why? Because that’s the one time of year most of my clients are off the work grid too and don’t want or need me to be in communication with them.

Putting Your Mental Health and Physical Health First As A Small Business Owner

As a small business owner working out of my home office, I have far less “automatic” exercise built into my day than I did when I was commuting to various corporate marketing jobs in Boston, Cambridge, and Brookline (for my Brookline job I was able to walk to and from my job from my Brookline condo, which I adored). Commuting to work required me to take the stairs at MBTA (subway) stations, plus often walk part of the way to my office from the closest MBTA (T) station and/or take a lot of stairs to reach my office at the building in which I worked. Plus, I often did a quick lunch run to buy and bring back lunch to my office. So daily exercise was built into my daily life. Not so much now since I’m working out of my home in Braintree. A blessing is that we live in a tri-level house so there are lots of stairs to take to access various levels and rooms of the house.

Let’s face it. Exercise doesn’t just support physical health. It supports mental health by providing a means to manage stress, and if you exercise outdoors, there are so many benefits from being out in nature. Plus, exercise just provides time to step away from your computer and work!

Walking The Talk: Making Health A Priority

Being past mid-life, most of my friends and family members are prioritizing their health — both physical and mental. I’ve vowed to do the same numerous times in recent years, and I have walked pretty frequently, i.e., several times a week (particularly on the weekends), but I want and need to walk DAILY. I’ve stepped up my game (hah, hah) in recent months as far as prioritizing my walks – thanks to constant reminders from friends and accountability partners! Hey, the work will always be there, and I bring a better Gail to my client engagements and client discussions if I’m more mentally and physically healthy, right?

So, over the holiday break, I capitalized on my free time and set a goal to walk long distances during my days off. Unfortunately, I did end up needing to work the Thursday after Christmas (long story), so we’ll start with Friday of last week.

6 Walks In 6 Days

Day One:

I started out with a long walk with my husband, Jay, along the beautiful East Boston waterfront and in some East Boston neighborhoods — after dropping my little sister at Logan Airport to catch her flight back to FL. It was a bit raw out but as I always say, “if you bundle up, and are dressed properly,” you can pretty much walk all winter as long as the roads and snow don’t set you up for fall risk.

This image shows our SEO Consulting Firm's Principal, Gail Snow Moraski, standing at the end of a park in East Boston that overlooks the Boston waterfront. Gail is dressed in a red coat, gray hat, and blue printed scarf and you can see Boston's tall buildings in the background.

Day Two:

The next day I mall-walked at the South Shore Plaza with a good friend who also likes to walk regularly. We both wanted to get a good walk in after our annual holiday movie-watching activity with my twin. Mall walking provided the perfect solution since it was drizzling out. We were determined to not let excuses get in our way!

Day Three:

I walked to drop a holiday gift off at a friend’s house, and then just kept walking — visiting many of the smaller and/or less busy streets in the Highlands area of Braintree that I regularly walked during the pandemic to keep my sanity!

Day Four:

I went for a long walk around my neighborhood and stopped by the local lending library and found a book about Native Americans that I think that Jay and I will both enjoy reading! The added perks of walking around my neighborhood always include visiting this book-sharing spot, plus chatting with neighbors!

Day Five:

Jay and I visited the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton. So loved the button art display, plus the basketball related art and learning the heart-warming story behind it. We got some good steps in just going up and down the stairs at the Museum, but after walked for about an hour at DW Field Park. If you haven’t checked it out — and I hadn’t — you are missing out on a beautiful place to walk in the Greater Boston area! Gorgeous ponds, lots of ducks, geese, swans, and seagulls, and tons of shorter and longer walking paths! Plus, lots of fellow walkers to encourage one to keep moving!

This shows a a painted basketball that is decorated with bright colors that is on display at the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton MA.
This is an image of two brightly colored crocheted basketball nets having from baskets that have brightly colored displays behind them. These are on display at the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton.
Our SEO consulting firm's Principal standing outside the Fuller Craft Museum entrance in Brockton She has blonde hair, purple glasses, and is wearing a red cost and standing beside an estimated 12-foot dark-wood-carved rabbit who is has a red wood-carved cardinal standing on his arm.
This is an image taken at DW Field Park in Brockton. It shows the sun shining on the water of a pond which is surrounded by lots of foliage and trees.

Day Six:

I love a good “destination walk,” so to motivate myself to accomplish 6 for 6, I walked to my local CVS and then took a different way home than I normally would — just to force me to do some of what I call “hill work” (walking up a steep hill to strengthen my glutes, which ultimately strengthens one’s back). I always welcome carrying a small package or bag home when I walk to CVS, Stop & Shop, or some other business within walking distance of my home because I’m really trying to strengthen my upper back right now. And, the aforementioned destination walk provided an opportunity for both my legs and back to get in better shape!

Speaking of backs, I was “back at it” on the work front yesterday, but so glad my time away from my office allowed me to refresh my brain and relax a bit, but also get some physical exercise. So, I’m starting off the new work year in a better place mentally and physically.

And now, I’m really excited about the new year will bring, so bring it on!!! I wish my readers the healthiest possible new year on all fronts!

Gail

P.S. Need more walking inspiration? Check out our numerous walking-related blog posts!