Back to Basics with Your Health
With all the diet/health content, books, ads, and social media bombarding our brains, it's confusing at best and dangerous at worst.
What makes it even harder is that being healthy is a big priority for a lot of us, as it should be. Recently, there has definitely been a movement of moms taking charge of their own destiny, and martyrdom motherhood is going out the window.
This week let's go back to the basics. I personally become a planner person when I decided to really focus on my health, while simultaneously being in one of the craziest times of my life. We had just moved, I was teaching middle school and commuting two hrs a day for my job, and we were in the middle of renovating our home.
Why was this the time I decided to truly focus on my health? I have no idea, but it was the best thing I ever did. It's also the time I bought my first "fancy" planner, and I've been addicted ever since.
Lets get to it.
1) Drink Water:
This isn't new because as I said, we're going to back to basics. What IS new that you're going to do the following-
Get a water bottle you love with a straw.
Don't expect your water bottle to last forever (mine end up breaking, getting lost, or boring after a few months, which is fine).
Add it to the health section of your planner.
2) MOVE:
Any legitimate health and wellness coach, doctor, or friend who has successfully completed any health goals will tell you the following:
You don't move to lose weight, you move to be healthy. From cardiovascular health, to bone strength for when you're older, exercise is very important.
Find something you love to do, do it 3-5 times a week, and make sure you're getting your heart rate up for some of it and lifting heavy stuff for part of it.
Again, we're prioritizing, so add it to your planner.
3) Eat Fruits, Vegetables, and Proteins:
The key to success here is to find foods and preperations you like.
There's such an abudance of ways to prepare, eat, and cook foods now-a-days, as well an insane variety.
Test 'em out and enjoy. I've found i like salads typically way more than roasted vegetables. Our son loves Tajin on literally everything, and our other kids love broccoli and brussels, tomatoes and cucumbers with nothing but some salt.
You do NOT have to eat salmon or cottage cheese if you hate it, you can bbq, sauté, literally there's a million options to eat healthy foods that you also like.
The key here is to devote some time and effort to discovering which foods you enjoy and how you enjoy them. Be a little bit of a detective to see what it is in fact you enjoy eating.
4) Sleep:
If you're a young mom with babies this is one is especailly tough. But it doesn't mean we shouldn't try. The one thing I will share is that I wish I had taken more help when I had my babies. An hour to rest can do WONDERS.
But for the regular days, attempt to go to sleep early, with a normal bedtime routine (you have one for your kids you should have one for yourself).
Tips for your own bedtime routine include:
Actual pajamas that signal to your brain it's bedtime
Going to sleep the same time nightly
Shower/Bath and Skincare Routine
Prep for next day such as laying out clothes/ packing bag and lunch.
Reading/Chilling
5) Having Fun:
Becoming an adult is intense. And adulting in general is a lot of "have to's". You're going to work, pay bills, manage a home, take care of yourself and your family. But you're also a person, so go on the girls night, watch the goofy movie, laugh with your husband over prank videos on youtube. Go to the bookclub event, find a hobby you enjoy and do it.
Life doesn't have to be serious all the time.
Honorable Mentions:
Go outside and get vitamin D
Get regular checkups for yourself at the dentist, GP etc..
Erase toxic people from your life
Here's our favorite printables to help! And of course, a planner is a must, because a dream without a plan is just a wish.
