Fitting it ALL in
“ I just can’t fit it ALL in”
I work with a lot of Moms and busy professionals and this is something I’ve heard many times. That feeling of being too busy to fit in movement, healthy whole foods and taking the time for meditation and mindset work. Ladies and gents, it’s not true, really it is just an excuse!
The TRUTH is, my busiest clients get the most done and make the time consistently. They are the ones that get results. What’s their secret?
None of these things take a significant period of time. Take meditation and mindset, we can thread little bits throughout the day. We don’t need to do 45 minutes of meditation to see the benefits, try 3-5 minutes. And breath work, step away somewhere quiet and breath slowly in and out 10 times (5 in a pinch) maybe this is at a traffic light, maybe you zip into the bathroom, or you pause at the stairwell, walk over to get some water, we are talking a few minutes. So WORTH it
You can choose to set aside a few minutes when you wake up or a few minutes before bed, simply connect with yourself/your universe. Taking the time to repeat a mantra can happen while you’re driving, cooking, working out, folding laundry, walking the dog, etc etc. Fold a bunch of towels, repeat a mantra, get into the ZEN ZONE.
Workouts, this isn’t hours of your day, 45 minutes is really all you need. You don’t want to be in there forever…let’s be smarter and more efficient than that. AND also, by the way, who cares what you look like?
You don’t need to get all glammed up. Just toss on something you can move in and get that workout done. I have actually trained quite a few people in their ‘business casual’ attire, we make it work. You are there for you, full stop.
The food, learn to do meal prep on your days off. Make a bit too much and freeze portions for those days you are going to be busy at work or running around all day. At home we (well I am lucky, my Hubbie does most of this) make soups, Chili, stir fry, casseroles and etc and freeze in glass containers to reheat later. Then all you need is to add a quick salad or a raw veggie plate while things are heating up. I make double batches of nutrient filled muffins (like pumpkin bran or apple oatmeal, even black bean brownies *see some of the recipes on the blog) and freeze them. We also often make high protein pancakes with cinnamon and fruit chopped into them, freeze in batches for a snack with a smear of peanut or nut butter. I make overnight oats in batches with different flavours or different add ins. I often make 4-5 variations at a time, to cover the work week. And I don’t just have these in the mornings, sometimes it’s my mid afternoon meal….you get the idea, plan ahead for those busy days.
Sometimes the day does simply get away from us, I have been there. Unexpected situations happen and the day can unravel a bit, do what you can even if it is 15 minutes of movement. You will feel better. If your norm is that you’re too busy to take care of your own health, that you don’t have time, you need to FLIP that on its head , no REALLY. Would you tell your kid that you’re too busy for them? That you can’t take them to their activity? Why are you at the bottom of your own list ?
What about your partner? if they asked to spend time with you, would you tell them you’re too busy? Odds are, you’d make time…tap into that level of caring, and steer some of it towards yourself. It’s not selfish to take care of your health, it makes us better parents, better partners, it’s proven to make us more efficient at work and the science shows it creates more resilience for our immune system. If you are tired, cranky, sick and rundown you are going to need way more downtime. Decide to prevent that.
Your body, mind and soul are asking for time with you.