real talk: on healthy living.

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Around the time I graduated high school, I started loving and practicing all things health & fitness related. I held on to those habits through most of my college career, and reading healthy living blogs is actually one of the things that inspired me to create my own.

But as my life progressed – especially by moving to New York – my interest in those things began to fade. While I still aimed to live as healthfully as I could, things like forwarding my career, having a fun social life, and building a life in a new city were much higher on my list of priorities. And, well, they still are.

But recently, I’ve found that I’ve sort of been re-falling in love with a healthier lifestyle. I think I’m reaching a point in my life where I’m craving structure and just feeling my absolute best.

…but that’s not the only reason I try to be healthy. And if I’m going to start blogging about health & fitness-related topics, I want to always be 100% real about it. Some people may genuinely love a healthy lifestyle because how it makes them feel, or because they truly love working out.

I’m not that person.

Yes, a healthy lifestyle does make me feel good, and I do really love clean, nutritious food.

…but the real reason I aim to be healthy?

I want to age well. I want to look good. I want my body to be in shape not for the sake of being in shape, but so that I can enjoy the rest of my life even more than I already do.

I guess what I’m trying to say is I don’t think I’ll ever be that person who is genuinely passionate about running, yoga, or Crossfit.
In fact, the thought of doing more than 30 minutes of cardio terrifies me.
I love vegan food, but tofu grosses me out.
I eat lots of bacon and meat without calling myself Paleo.
Sometimes I lift weights, and sometimes i just do the NYC girl workout.
I eat Lean Cuisines and all their gloriously strange ingredients like, a lot.
I try to eat less gluten, but I’ll never say goodbye to gluten-filled New York bagels.
I will always - and I mean always - choose quality of life over being healthy.

So does that make GML a healthy living blog? I don’t know. I don’t think so, but I don’t really care. I just know that if I’m going to be posting about my life, it should include everything – the healthy, unhealthy, and everything in between. And hey, maybe the blog world needs a dose of that reality…

What does “healthy living” mean in your life?
What are your favorite healthy living blogs?

this time last year.

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Recently my roommate Trish told me about the TimeHop app, which every day sends you your social media activity from the same date from one (two, three) year(s) ago. It’s so crazy and fun to see what I was up to at this time last year!

As much as time seems to have flown by, I literally cannot believe how much has changed over the past 12 months. I’ve experienced things I’ve never imagined, learned so much more about myself, and formed relationships with people I didn’t even know this time last year.

Sometimes looking back or dwelling on the past can be a bad thing, but often times it can be such an amazing indicator of God’s faithfulness and His plan for our lives. Who would’ve ever guessed that there would be an app for that? ;)

Where were you this time last year? In what ways have you grown/changed?

practical ways to de-stress.

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Whether you’re young or old, a student or a CEO, you’ve probably dealt with stress at one time or another. Stress seems to be one of those things that has become so common that people accept it as just a part of life. But if you ask me — it doesn’t have to be!

I used to struggle with stress pretty badly. From my college years into my first few years as a young professional, I almost felt as though I was being irresponsible if I didn’t feel stressed out. Over the past year, though, I’ve learned that stress is not only unnecessary, but that being happy and stress-free actually lends to a more successful career and personal life.

Some people swear by the power of positive thinking when it comes to de-stressing, but I think that sometimes that’s easier said than done. Instead, I’ve found that implementing certain realistic tools and activities is the best way to stop stress in its tracks.

Here are my eight practical ways to de-stress.

1) Take a walk.
A lot of the time, simply changing your environment can help you put aside whatever stress you may be feeling. Even just a 5 to 10-minute walk to relax and refocus your energy can do the trick.

2) Meet up with a friend.
Talking to someone (even if it’s not about what’s giving you stress) is another great way to refocus your thoughts and take you down off the ledge. Getting a good laugh in can do wonders too!

3) Write it down.
If you’re anything like me, most of the time I don’t even know what it is that’s giving me stress. When I sit down with a pen and paper, though, I can organize my thoughts and realize exactly what’s bothering me. That realization alone can help the situation become less daunting and can instantly lessen stress.

4) Try breathing exercises.
The simple act of taking a few minutes to just breathe is one of the best ways to relax when you’re feeling stressed out. Try some of these easy stress-relief breathing techniques.

5) Stress eat… the healthy way.
No, I’m not suggesting downing a pint of Ben & Jerry’s. But did you know that what you eat can actually help control your stress levels? Check out these seven foods that fight stress.

6) Make a de-stress playlist.
For me, music is a great tool to help me relax and take the edge off of a stressful day. I suggest putting together a playlist of your favorite happy and/or mellow songs and make it your go-to for when you feel stress creeping in.

7) Do something mindless.
Sometimes all it takes to de-stress is to let your mind chill out for a bit. Give yourself some time get your mind off of things — like a crossword puzzle, read a book, or even take a short nap. Don’t forget that your mind needs rest too!

8) Give yourself a daily cut off time.
This is probably my number one tip when it comes to de-stressing. At the end of the work day (and sometimes for 30 minutes in the middle of the day) I force myself to shut off my computer, put my phone on silent, and just focus on relaxation and “me time.” It’s so easy to get caught up in to-do lists and emails to the point that we find ourselves in what seems like a constant state of work. When I make relaxation a part of my daily routine, I find myself looking forward to it, and that automatically helps stress subside.

This article was originally posted on The Huffington Post. Check out all of my articles here!

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Which of these do you agree with most? What are your best tips and tools for de-stressing?