I’ve just spent two solid weeks with my 2 year old god-daughter. It was a incredible two weeks of seeing the wonder of this world through a child’s eyes, the time filled with pure joy and laughter, however it also reminded me of the minute to minute challenges that a mother faces, let alone the disrupted sleeps and constant demand of her attention.
Whether you’re just having a harder week at work or are facing challenges that seem to often feel relentless, having some healthy habits firmly in place can be your lifelines of the day when your resolve just isn’t tip-top.
⚓️ 1: Take Half an Hour to Plan your Entire Week Menu.
Our lives, whatever age, are orientated around mealtimes. We have no choice but to constantly fuel our body and mealtimes have, throughout history, structured our day, becoming welcome points of reference throughout a long day of hard graft. They are associated with celebration, connection and relaxation/downtime.
...But even mealtimes can become chores...
If not properly planned, preparation of meals can become stressful and unhealthy affairs – emotionally as well as what’s on your plate. You grab what you can. You don’t really enjoy the experience or what’s on your plate. You wish you could have a more tasty option and you know you should have more greens with it but you can’t be bothered to go to the shops again and it’s a bit late anyway – this will ‘have to do’.
WHY ARE YOU SETTLING FOR THIS?! However jam-packed that schedule is for you, I know you can find that ½ hour to make a week’s menu and write a list of all the ingredients you’ll need for those meals. Do one weekly shop and Ta Da! No more time-wasting deliberating and wracking your brains every meal time. A tiny bit of initial organisation will give you a lot more time back overall. It’s a Win Win... and we like Win Wins!
⚓️ 2: Start your day off on the right foot!
I’ve definitely talked about this before and it probably won’t be the last time!
Give your body a hydrated message first thing in the morning by having a pint of warm-hot water BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE! This immediately sends a soothing message to your body essentially hydrating and reassuring it after a long sleep. Alternatively, having caffeine first thing before any water on its own immediately sends the opposite message to your brain – essentially telling it that you are going to be run on adrenaline – meaning a stressed and dehydrated state.
This habit also kickstarts your metabolism in the healthiest way possible and you’ve done a pint of your designated 3-4 pints of water a day – all before you’ve even had breakfast! Add lemon/ginger/mint for taste.
⚓️ 3: Pre-prepare your breakfast. When you haven’t slept, for example, even deciding what to have for breakfast is an effort. Breakfast is really important – it does indeed set you up for the day but it’s so easy to steer off the healthy path and grab some not-so-fresh bread from the fridge and make some measly toast and jam which won’t really give you more than a little sugar kick. By half-making your breakfast at the same time as clearing up dinner ensures that you fuel your body correctly when your resolve may be at its weakest.
PROACTIVE NOT REACTIVE! Make this as HABITUAL as stacking the dishwasher or cleaning your teeth...
So it could be pouring out your oat and seed mix and adding water to it the night before so it has time to soak. Then when morning comes, it’s just a case of microwaving that bowl of goodness.
Or it could be cutting up all the fruit and veg you are going to want to use for your morning smoothie or yoghurt mix. Come morning, it’s simply a case of whizzing and eating.
These 3 daily anchors have helped me and my friend get through the last two weeks with more ease, giving us better energy and most importantly, more sacred time to devote to my all enveloping god-daughter and her unquenchable thirst for having as much fun as possible!
There is nothing as transformative or as healing as having private consultations. If you feel that you are ready to gain greater confidence and clarity about your specific nutritional requirements, then contact me at treatyourselfnutri@gmail.com or call me on 07858-994088 for a no-obligation preliminary chat.
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