Practice Making Time

 Healthy isn't just about the number that flashes back to you on the scale. How well do you sleep? How are your energy levels? How is your digestion? It is so common to be busy in this fast-paced 21st life that we lead. But how are we spending that time? Most of us aren't going out and hunting or foraging our foods. We are filling our time with hobbies, or with activities for our children. We are so busy that we tend to not make time for inventorying our fridges and pantries, going to the grocery store, and preparing meals for the week ahead. There's nothing wrong with that. I remember during softball season it always seemed like we at the park. A home cooked meal was a luxury, and it sure tasted good. I could get away with a hamburger a couple times a week, but now that would pack on the pounds in no time. So what's the solution? 

Plan, prioritize, and prepare for your healthy lifestyle.

Schedule appointments with yourself to go grocery shopping, meal plan, and work out.

Choose one day a week to review and plan out the week so you can accommodate any conflicts. For instance if there is a practice/activity on the day you'd normally grocery shop, then plan to go to the store the day before. Tip: Go the day before and not after your normal shopping day. That way you will not have to scramble to get a meal on the table or go out to eat because there isn't anything to cook at home. 

Adopt a weekly ritual. On Sundays, I like to plan out my week. I look back at my monthly spread and incorporate longer term plans into the week. I figure out when to go shopping, and the days I can spend more time in the kitchen to prep some other meals. Incorporate daily tasks, I pack lunches the night before. I batch cook eggs in the air fryer for tuna or egg salad for the week. I pack my clothes for my beach walks that I take after work. I stretch for 10 minutes before bed.

Small actions done consistently add up to make big changes. It's okay, even preferable, not to do everything all at once. Choose an action that you feel like you can do 80 percent of the time and stick with it until it becomes a habit. Then find another small action. For example, I started taking a magnesium supplement about 2 hours before bed. I do this every night. A friend recently introduced me to verbena tea. I now have the tea every night about an hour before bed. I have never slept better. Even if I wake up, I go right back to sleep, and most importantly, I wake up feeling rested.

Feeling stuck? Take a small action in the direction of your larger goal. Even if it's only for 5 minutes. If that seems too much take a two minute action as suggested in Atomic Habits. 

Challenge: Take out your phone and set your time for 5 minutes. Spend those five minutes thinking about your goals. Then I want you to work backwards from the goal to what you can do this month that will move you towards achieving that goal. Next what can you do this week that will help you achieve your monthly goal? Finally what can you do today (what are your realistically ready, willing, and able to do today) that will help you meet that weekly goal? This actions don't have to be huge. It's almost better that they aren't because you are looking for what you can do today.

Achieving deep health is a process. It's not something accomplished overnight, or all at once. It's important to cut yourself some slack when you feel like "you've messed up". It's not about never having the cupcake. It's about enjoying it to the fullest, living your life and enjoying your time with friends and loved ones. The key to staying on track is to make sure your next choice is aligned with your goals. 

What are some of your biggest challenges when it comes to making time for eating healthy? Let's discuss in the comments.