You may remember how a few weeks ago I posted my laid-back fitness plan. It was a good plan - one that I really could and intended to follow. But, do you want to know something? With the exception of recently joining a gym, I essentially forgot about the entire plan the moment I hit publish. It was almost as if I convinced myself that simply typing out the plan was all I needed to do to achieve it. Clearly that’s not how this sort of thing works. Ahem.
There - I admitted it. So…what now? Well, I’m definitely still on a “health kick” of sorts (or wanting to be, at least), but unlike in the past, I seem to have a million and one things competing for my attention in life. I hate to seem like a drama queen, but I actually feel like I’m getting to a point where if I don’t do something soon, I’m going to straight-up exhaust myself (seriously - I’ve been feeling almost physically sick lately, and I really think it’s partly due to burning the candle at both ends).
Needless to say, my “fitness” plan needs some revisions. And this time, it’s going to encompass more aspects relating to my overall wellness. While I’m still going to try to practice what I listed last time, here are some more things I feel like might help get me back on track with…life.
1. yoga at least once a week.
I went through a serious yoga phase last year, and lately I’ve been missing it more than ever. While I do love me some sweaty Vinyasas, I’m not the person you’ll see walking into Bikram to burn 6 million calories per minute. Instead, yoga to me is all about being centered and becoming grounded amidst the craziness of life. Just what the doctor ordered? I think yes.
2. sleep as a priority.
When I first moved to NYC, I became all sorts of prideful over the fact that I can function on *gasp* less than 8 hours of sleep. Although this is indeed true, it doesn’t mean that consistent 4-hour nights of sleep are going to cut it. I can’t say I’m going to cancel or avoid social plans for the sake of sleep, but I am going to be more mindful of how much each hour counts (swapping morning workouts for the evening will probably be my main fix for this one).
3. more quiet time.
You might be wondering, what the heck is “quiet time?” And I’m here to tell you that it’s Christianese for time spent in prayer/meditation/reading Scripture. That, my friends, is the source of my wellness. Heck, it’s the source of my entire being. The unfortunate thing is that quite time very often falls out of being my number one priority. I want…need to spend more time with my God, even if it means epically breaking my just-mentioned #2.
4. learn when to say no.
When I get an offer to do something or go somewhere, I seem to have trouble turning it down – no matter how I might be feeling or how long my to-do list is. This is actually a good thing for the most part because I’ve become way more spontaneous than my once rigidly-structured-self. But, at the same time, not giving myself breaks here and there is what always leads to me being “not myself,” and who wants to spend time with that person anyway? I wouldn’t.
5. drink mah greens.
Let’s be real here – my current lifestyle just isn’t one where I can make bi-weekly trips to the grocery store to get fresh produce. I mean, it probably could be, but I find myself eating out so often that I don’t want to risk food going to waste. So for now, I’m going to try to take advantage of the city’s many juice/smoothie bars and get my greens on-the-go. Every little bit counts, right?
So, there you have it. Numbers 2-4 are particularly important to me – they’re things that I prooobably should implement throughout my entire life, in fact…
This time around I’m going to remind myself to check back in about 30 days so see how this little “plan” worked (yep…I even just Google Calendar’ed it!). Hopefully that will help me to adhere to this already-quite-loose plan better than the last time around.
Your turn - how much of a priority do you place on areas of health other than nutrition and fitness? I’m talking spiritual, mental, and emotional wellness practices…
I used to workout 6 days a week just burn a ton of calories so that I could eat without worrying too much about weight gain. I still ate healthy, but I worried less. Since I broke my ankle I’ve had to really think about what I’m putting into my body (especially in what amounts), and I consider the ability to exercise a privilege that I can’t wait to experience again. Going to church on Sundays and yoga here and there takes care of my mental health.
I find that when I can start my mornings with even just 10-15 minutes of quiet time/meditation/prayer I am SO much more centered and refreshed for the day ahead. I think taking the time to slow down while binge still & quiet (no computer, tv, music etc for me during this time) allows my body to relax and refreshes my mental health. Learning to say no can be hard but so vital to our physical and mental wellness. Great post! Love the blog!
Yes - totally - sometimes even just *5* minutes can do the trick!!
Thanks for the thoughtful comment, Brittnie!
xo
For me good health used to solely mean ‘fitness’ and ‘nutrition’. Now it encompasses so much more to me including sleep/adequate rest..even if that means cmpromising on fitness! And being kind to myself in terms of food, I’m not going to deprive myself of unhealthy foods all the time anymore- I’m human! Hanging out with friends/family has also been more of a priority to me as they leave me feeling happy!
Yay, good for you, girl! It really seems like you’re on the right track
I actually get teased by some of my friends/co-workers about my dedication to the gym, but it’s just that important to me to maintain my health! I have gotten a lot better at saying no and making sure I have time for myself, even if I’d rather just sit in front of the tv with my laptop all night. You will get better at that too, just keep practicing
I probably don’t place enough attention on those things. I am really good about getting the sleep I need though. Otherwise it’s just a vicious cycle of tired->no exercise->feel crappy->get sick for me. So 8+ hours is always a priority
I think I concentrate to greatly on physical health.. and eating habits. I totally need to do some overhaul on my emotional and spiritual well being - and thank you for bringing this to my attention!
I definitely used to focus on NONE of the above (except maybe sleep) and got into quite a physical/mental/emotional rut. However, I took things one step at a time and started focusing on the physical first, then mental, and still working on emotional (i.e. more “me” time/quiet time). Figuring out the balance has made my quality of life so much better!
Ah, so glad to hear/read that!!
I agree that those other areas are just as important-if not more- important than fitness.
I could definitely use more “quiet time” myself. So glad you posted this. I needed a gracious kick in the pants!
Sleeping is super important, as well as taking time for yourself. I know it’s hard to say no to things though!
Good for you! Sometimes it’s nice to sit back and think about what we want to change in our lives and jump right in and do it!
I’m right there with you on 3 and 5! Getting in my quiet times and consuming my greens are two of my top priorities!
Oh, and you’re SO stinkin’ pretty. Seriously.
Wow, thank you!!
Unfortunately, I put other aspects of my health much lower on the list. There’s a joke for college students…it goes..
choose two: a social life, good grades, or sleep.
I always choose the first two.
But I’m starting to learn that the last one is a little bit more important than I ever thought. I think I need to start devoting more time to that!
hahaha, I totally know where you’re coming from!! I wouldn’t worry too much about it - it’s only 4 years
I place a huge emphasis on sleep (I need nearly 9 hrs) and also my mental sanity, so doing things that I can tune out, like getting a pedi.
yes, pedis are CRUCIAL to a healthy lifestyle if you ask me
I need more sleep too — and green juice! I also need to get back into yoga, since it is the perrrfect time to do outdoor classes!
Since i am still in school and i don’t have a job, I get a lot of time for myself to workout and have me time. It’s really important to me to have it too. When I stretch myself too thin, Im just over all unhappy.
I hope in life, I’ll always have time to maintain that time for myself.
It’s all about BALANCE!
I need to make sure to focus on my well being too. Life gets so busy and we want to please everyone that we forget about ourselves. You gotta look out for #1!
I am pretty much agree with each number on your “plan” and attempt to make them a part of my life. The daily quiet time is something I treasure and feel is vital to my daily life:) I also need the sleep and greens, and I had been wanting to incorporate more yoga in my weekly workouts. I will be checking in for motivation!!:)
These sound like great goals to help increase your wellness. I love looking at the Wheel of Wellness, which outlines 17 different components of wellness…it gives a lot to think about and work towards:)
I am still trying to overcome the idea that “if I work out 6 times a week for 1.5hrs each day, I can just eat whatever I want. I’ll pay for it in the gym”. I am trying to instead, focus on eating nutritiously and caring for my body. This doesn’t mean going on an elliptical for an hour, but maybe enjoying a quick jog outside to enjoy the sun and gorgeous weather! I’m trying to incorporate more activities that are actually FUN rather than killing myself at the gym. I’m taking the time this summer to spend more time outdoors (less time in a gym) with friends and family and just appreciating how lucky I am to be healthy and surrounded by such wonderful people!
p.s. I absolutely love your blog and your attitude towards life. You speak so truthful!
Amen sista, life is too short to spend that much time in the gym! Best of luck, sweets. xoxo
Omigosh- it was like this post was meant for me! These are all things that I’m really working on too lately- maybe we can help each other be accountable?! I recently joined Yoga Works to help with feeling more centered… something my neurologist told me to do a long time ago! I also feel like lately I’ve just been thinking that my body can run on only 4-5 hours a night too and the exhaustion that sets in the next day proves that it cannot! I’m also working on learning to say no and really need to make a time for Church!
Doesn’t walking around count as exercise? (i.e. running errands, taking tours, walking to your car…..)
if not I am not so good keeping fit…oops
alsooo loving on your blog girlfrann
Sounds like an excellent revised plan, I too am working at learning to say no, which is a LOT harder than it sounds! I wish you the best of luck
Although nutrition and fitness get the biggest chunk of our thinking about health, I am a firm believer that we are not truly healthy unless we focus on spiritual, emotional and mental health as well. I try to make time for myself, at least a little everyday, in order to make sure I understand where I am at mentally. This helps me make better decisions in every aspect of my life. Of course, this is another one of those things that is easier said than done!
Can you teach me how to be less rigid? Honestly, I am a little too stuck on my health/fitness plan and not open enough to all the other aspects of life. I’m going to work on that pronto.
Hey Kara, like everything in life - it takes practice and a conscious decision to change! For me, a big motivator was imagining myself when I’m in my 70′s or 80′s - looking back on my life and wondering what I accomplished/experienced that actually “mattered,” you know?
Sleep is a HUGE priority, and I keep a reflection book by my bed to read first thing each morning. But it’s almost TOO imporatant to me - I need to let loose and go out more often!
Wow, you must be such a busy girl! I have a hard time saying no, too. But I rarely sacrifice my sleep. Otherwise, I get SUPER cranky!
I love this post because it COMPLETELY speaks to me and where I’m at in my life. Actually, embarrassingly enough, I have tried to make lists with health priorities like this so many times, but I just get completely overwhelmed at how poorly I’m currently doing, how much further I have to go, everything I have to do to get there, and all the seemingly impossible hurdles that need to be jumped in order for me to get there. I am breaking out in hives just typing it! :/ any tips on how to stay focused and refined?
Anyway, thanks for this post! It’s great! One other question I have: when you say “eat your greens”, I think that’s SUCH an awesome idea and something I’d love to incorporate more in my life… do you have any tips and tricks, recipes, etc. related to that? (getting them on the go or making them at home)
Thanks again
Hey Brooke!! First of all - keep your chin up!! I can tell that you’re very determined to move forward and that you actually *care* about your health, and that’s always the first step towards actually achieving it.
With that being said, for me - the number one contributor to actually making change happen in my life is to be excited about it and think ONLY positive thoughts about it! Focusing on the negative or the “what ifs” in any shape or form is what personally sets me up for failure because it ends up stressing me out. So go easy on yourself!! Take one day at a time, one step at a time, and one bite at a time
As far as getting your greens go, I’m prooobably not the best person to ask haha. I’m the person who tries to pack a lot of greens into one or two servings a day (i.e. huge salads or a green juice/smoothie) rather than sneaking them in here or there. My good friend Gabriela (une-vie-saine.com) is pretty much the queen when it comes to eating veggies throughout the day, so you might want to refer to her blog for help with that!
Take care, sweet girl, and thanks for the comment! xoxo G
I need to make sure I get my sleep in nursing school!
I totally know what you mean! I moved to NYC in August and completely burned the candle at both ends and knew I had to slow down…those crazy nights of getting home at 6 am definitely catch up to you! I agree though you have to do certain things for yourself because living here is super exhausting but rewarding…speaking of juices, Juice Generation has amazing healthy juices and smoothies, def check it out
Have been dying to try Juice Generation!! Definitely will get on that soon
being calm. not saying i’ve achieved that yet….but it’s a priority for sure haha
Mental health is SO important to me! (That’s the counselor in me I guess
) But I really make sure that I have enough time to do things that make me genuinely happy. I try to reduce stress as much as possible too!
I have partner that we go walk/jogging at 5:00 am each day, then it is shower, coffee - prayer/devotion time until my kiddos get up. You should so read Crazy Love by Francis Chan and Radical by David Platt - great Christian reads to get your spiritual side going!
I love number 3! You’re so right, when I do not set aside devotional time purposefully it just does not happen, and my day doesn’t feel right as a result. It keeps me centered and focused, too.
I put A LOT of importance on sleep! So important for me. And I also really value and strive to get enough alone time and meditation through walks or just being outside.
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