March Madness is most commonly known as an aptly named basketball tournament where the nation’s college basketball teams fight it out to decide which team is the best; but the March Madness seems to have filtered its way into many other areas.  I, for one,  have been feeling a little off kilter this month.  I thought I might be the only one, but after hearing stories from family and friends about how out of sorts they have been feeling the last few weeks; I realized I have a lot of company. Have you been feeling it too?

I started wondering, what is up?  Why have I, and so many others, been feeling off track lately?  How did we get sucked into the March Madness? 

Here is what I decided; March is a time of transition.  We are moving out of winter into spring.  I know for a lot of you winter’s grip still has a firm hold.  None-the-less, in March things are changing.  It is just far enough from the new year that many of us may have forgotten what it is we resolved to do in 2015.  If you are in school or have children in school, this is a particularly busy time. This is the time of year for large assignments, longterm projects, science fairs, book reports, term papers etc.  The nitty gritty of the second semester is in full swing.  Spring sports are starting up.  Tax season is upon us.  Perhaps the end of the fiscal year is approaching at work?

So what can we do to find balance in March?  Look at March as a time to recommit.  Recommit to yourself, to your work out, to your healthy eating.  Take steps each day to recapture the balance by trying something new.  Register for that yoga or meditation class you’ve been wanting to try.  Read that book your friend has been recommending.  Try some of those Eating Enchanted recipes you’ve been wanting to make.  Basically, shake it up a bit!

If trying something new makes you feel even more out of sorts, then return to something that you know centers you and helps you feel balanced.  Think about when you felt at your best most recently. What were you doing then that perhaps you have been shying away from recently?  Have you lightened up on your workouts?  Are you eating too much sugar or too many processed foods?  Are you not getting enough sleep?  Are you not drinking enough water? All of these things can throw you out of balance; so use the rest of March to recommit, one step at a time, one meal at a time, one work out at a time.  Let March work for you so that by April your mojo is in full swing; and you can move into spring with a renewed sense of commitment and well being.  

You may be wondering, how I have chosen to recommit to myself in March?  I started to consider, what is the key ingredient for balance in my life?  I realized that for the first time in four years,  I had really been slacking off on my workouts.  I decided to recommit to my workouts because, for me sweat equals sanity.  It is the elixir of life balance and inner peace. Now that I have been back on schedule with my workouts over the past few weeks, I’m feeling great!  I have been honoring the power a good sweat has to reconnect me with the parts of my life from which I draw my energy and inspiration.  Sweat is a powerful thing.

If you are feeling off the mark this month, try to determine what balances you and start moving toward it again.  It is okay to get off track every so often, it gives us the opportunity to renew and refocus. Don’t let the March Madness get the best of you.  Just remember to take it one day at a time and set realistic goals. Before you know it, you’ll be back in stride and feeling your best again!