Skip to main content

what do you hold on to when life gets crazy busy?


Well, it happened.  Just like that we returned to our pre-pandemic behavior and let life get really crazy again.  When people ask me how I am, I find myself answering, “Just crazy busy.”  I wasn’t going to let that happen.

Then marching band season happened, and since I have a senior and a freshman this year, we let things get away from us.  Early morning practice and nighttime events, along with tough course loads and the homework that goes with them have transformed my girls into walking zombies.  My husband and I find ourselves volunteering for more than we had planned and going to every night rehearsal, concert, fundraiser, etc. that we can.  We’re all stressed and tired, but I honestly wouldn’t change it for the world.  We get one year where they are both in the same school, playing on the same marimba, no less, and I’m not going to miss a minute of it.

Every time I watch them play, I get goose bumps.  Every. Time.   I can’t contain the smile on my face watching the two of them working so hard and yet looking like they are having the time of their lives.  They are spending time with their friends, they’re getting some exercise and sunlight, and they’re not staring at computer screens all day.  I'm a proud, happy, mama.

After the last year and a half we needed this.  We really did.  And yet, I find that many of the things we did to keep ourselves sane and centered are falling by the wayside.  I can’t tell you the last time I sat down and journaled.  My meditation is only happening a couple times a week.  My Italian friend Duo keeps asking me where I’ve gone, and there’s a layer of dust on my piano keyboard.

I know a lot of you are dealing with the same thing.  You’re being asked to go back into the office.  You’re driving kids to practices and events.  You’re volunteering again.  They’re mostly good things, but they take up time and energy that you might have used for other pursuits.

At times like this we have to stop and refocus.  What are the things that really matter?  What can we realistically accomplish in a day?  What can we do to make it easier to get those things done?

For me it always comes down to the Big Four: sleep, nutrition, stress, and exercise.  If I can hold on to my habits in those areas, then I have the strength and stamina to deal with all the rest.

1.  Sleep is the basis of everything.  If we don’t sleep well, then we don’t feel like exercising, we crave sweets and other carbs for the quick energy, and everything starts to feel a little more stressful.  Making that a priority over everything else is tough, but for me it’s a non-negotiable. 

Setting a bedtime for yourself is important.  Mine is nine o-clock, which is tough when you have teenagers in the house.  I am usually in bed before they are, and hope they will follow my lead, but that’s a lesson they are still learning for themselves.

I love to exercise first thing in the morning, but if I can sleep an extra hour on days they don’t have morning rehearsal, then my workout will just have to happen later in the day.

2.  Nutrition is also a big deal for me (obviously—if you’ve been around for any length of time! 😊) When our cortisol goes up in stressful situations, we often crave the sweet stuff (although some lucky people feel less hungry).  Eating it sets us up on the blood sugar roller coaster where we keep chasing the highs and feeling the lows in between.  Staying away from sugar and making sure we eat plenty of protein and healthy fats keeps our bodies and brains on a stable path.  We have more energy throughout the day, we sleep better, and we’re able to break through the brain fog.  I also find that my hormones are more stable when I eat low-carb—and I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how hormones can affect our stress and mood!

Meal planning has become even more important, as well.  Blocking time out for meal prep each weekend is essential, including building time into each day to make home-cooked meals.  Sometimes our meals are super early, but it’s really important to me that we all eat at least a few meals together at home each week.  If you want to see what I do to prep, read more here.  If you’d like my guide to easy meals and my meal-planning checklist, grab it here.

3.  Ahh, stress.  I wish I could tell you that I’m still meditating every day, journaling every morning, and playing music every afternoon, but that would not be true.  The best I can do is to make sure that the other three pillars are in place, and that I spend a little time planning and organizing each day.

4.  Exercise is a huge stress reliever, as long as I’m not trying to train for anything big and wearing myself out.   Some walking or running 4-6 times a week, weightlifting a few times a week, a little daily stretching, and a weekly yoga class keep my body strong and my brain happy.

If we don’t prep and plan for our exercise, however, it won’t happen.  Block time on your calendar for it.  Put your exercise clothes out the night before (mine are in the kitchen so I can change while the coffee’s brewing!)  Stretch while you’re making dinner or waiting for your kids to get ready.  Lift weights while you’re watching TV.  Make it a part of your routine so you don’t even have to think about it anymore.

You may have noticed that I haven’t mentioned health coaching in a while.  Like I said, I’ve been a little busy. 😊 I’m still at it, though, so if you need someone to help you kick the sugar habit and build healthier habits around food and lifestyle, I’m here for you. 

Peace, friends!

If you'd like to talk to me more about creating a wellness and nutrition plan that works for you, I've got you!  I'm a certified Nutrition Coach who will create a simple, customized meal plan for you and coach you through how to implement it into your busy life.  We also talk about all the pitfalls that make it hard, and help you make it the anchor that keeps you healthy, energized, and sane through the whirlwind of your everyday life.

I'd love to talk to you about the program, so please book a free consultation with me by clicking the Calendly button. I look forward to talking to you!



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

why do we gain weight during menopause?

I've been hearing a lot lately in the nutrition stratosphere about the fact that our metabolism doesn't really slow down at menopause, and as a woman knocking at that door herself, I find that very frustrating.  I talk to women every day who tell me that the tricks they used in their 20s and 30s to slim down don't seem to work anymore.  They tell me their weight is redistributing itself and their clothes don't fit the same way.  They tell me they are doing all the things they've been told to do (move more/eat less) and nothing changes.  How can you tell these women that their metabolism hasn't changed? I wish there were an easy answer. There seem to be a multitude of answers--some of them biological, and some lifestyle related. Let's start with the biological. As we age we tend to lose muscle mass, and when you add declining hormone levels, you're going to see a change in body composition. Loss of estrogen causes weight to accumulate around your middle i...
Post a Comment
Read more

3 food rules to help you lose weight and feel great

We’ve already talked about the three questions to ask yourself when you’re eating .   Those were all about the mindfulness  side of eating.  Here are three ways to make sure you’re regulating your blood sugar and nourishing your body--in other words, the physiological side of what goes in your mouth.   Both are incredibly important, and often overlap.   Do these things and your inflammation levels will go down, your cravings will subside, your hormone levels will regulate, and you might even lose weight! Number one: Control your carbs. Carbohydrates are the one macronutrient that we really don’t need.   If we don’t ingest glucose, our bodies will make it.   If we don’t have enough glucose in our bloodstreams, our bodies will learn to run on ketones made from fatty acids.   That said, there are a lot of good things about vegetables and fruits that we can’t deny—they provide fiber and vitamins, and help our bodies detox.   Just try to ...
Post a Comment
Read more

what have I been doing?

College move-in day Wow. I look at my Facebook group and blog and realize I’ve been quite the slacker lately. What’s going on? Well let me tell you… Life’s been going on. My oldest went off to college a few weeks ago, and though you might think that would free up more time for me (it technically has) I’ve also been having a hard time sitting still with my feelings or sitting still at all. The realization that my children are leaving the nest and my role as their mother is changing is throwing me for a loop. I’m not quite sure I’m ready for this. What does it mean for the rest of my life? Instead of thinking about that, I’ve been keeping quite busy-- cleaning the house, cleaning out closets, painting her room, planning band events, and planning an Alaska cruise. All things that need to be done eventually, but also things that can be parceled out after I’ve done the things that are really a priority to me, like writing and coaching—and maybe a little introspection. room makeover ...
Post a Comment
Read more