Make Life Easier

Life is a balancing act that changes from moment to moment.  Sometimes we find ourselves overwhelmed by family demands.  Other times we find ourselves overwhelmed by deadlines and work stress.  And then there are times when we have work, home, emotions, sick pets, bad news and an empty refrigerator to contend with.  Through it all, we still need to sleep and eat.

One way to make life feel easier and more in control is to take care of the obvious requirements in advance; that is to say, plan ahead more regularly so that nourishing, satisfying meals are ready and waiting for you.  To make matters easier, you don't even have to do the work yourself.  You might simply download a meal plan, recipes and a grocery list from websites.  You might have meals delivered.  You might have meal ingredients delivered and then cook them later.  You might take all the help you can find at the grocery store and stock pre-chopped onions, diced cauliflower, salad bar ingredients to make salads interesting throughout the week and pair that with a rotisserie chicken.  It doesn't matter how you source nourishing meals, it just matters that it happens. 

The more stress you are under, the more balance you might need from stress-relieving activities.  The last thing you need is another thing to worry over or be frustrated by.  Knowing that you have some version of a plan, a frozen meal or a crockpot waiting for you may be the best part of a long day.   After all, you have to eat. 

It is an illusion for many of us to think there exists a perfect work/life balance.  I have come to believe that balance means that no single part of my life overwhelms any other single part of my life.  Sometimes I work more than others.  Sometimes I relax more than other times.  Some days I feel more stress than others.  Some days I feel more at ease than others.  No matter what, however, I want to and need to practice self care.  Healthy food, ready and waiting, is always part of that equation.

With the end of summer upon us, the fall signals a transition to something new.  Now is a great time to create a new habit of caring enough about yourself that you plan ahead for good things to happen.  Your taste buds will be happy.  Your stomach will be satisfied.  Your mind will be at ease because you have thought ahead.  That would certainly make life easier.

Be Grateful in the Moment: It's Good for Your Health

When I took my Level 1 YogaFit training four years ago, the instructor wore a shirt that said "Gratitude" on it.  I didn't understand at the time what gratitude had to do with yoga.  Then, when I went to my next yoga training at a big conference, everyone was asked to wear their "Gratitude" shirts on the last day.  Things started sinking in.  In yoga practice, we focus so much on letting go of competition with ourselves, the last time we were on the mat, our neighbor.  We let go of the past and don't attach to the future.  By doing so, we stay grounded in the present and can accept whatever the body/mind has to offer on that day, during that practice without judging or expectation.  Easier said than done.  The mind likes to attach, judge, wander, draw conclusions, rehash the past and worry over the future.  None of this brings happiness; all of this brings us out of the present. 

The same thinking holds true off the yoga mat.  We live in fast paced times, where too much technology and stimulation are coming at the brain.  The brain is not equipped to handle this much overload.  It becomes too stressful.  Intentionally slowing down long enough to take a look around and appreciate what is happening is more important than ever.  This can be simple, like finding rock star parking by the front door, or something bigger, like getting a compliment from a stranger, or maybe even a greater moment like realizing you made a difference in someone's day--any and all of this brings more joy to everyday living.

Our grandparents and parents may not have had as many distractions competing for their attention.  They spent more time outside.  They led more physically active lives.  They walked more just because their lives were set up that way.  They spent more time at the table for meals and talked to their family members.  This allowed them to process experiences in "real time" not hyper-charged technology time.  I know everything wasn't perfect like a Walton's episode.  But, none of us will ever get back all the time wasted on technology that sucked us in and gave us nothing in return. 

You may benefit from spending a few minutes every day identifying three good things.  It doesn't matter how small or how big they are.  Maybe you do this on the way home from work.  In the car, no music or phone or distraction.  Just think of three things that you are grateful for and notice how it made you feel at the time it happened--and how it makes you feel in the moment as you remember.  That's it.  Easy homework.  You might start recalling more detail about the three good things--like who was there--what was going on around you.  You might start looking for three good things every day in anticipation of answering these questions at the end of the day. 

By getting in the habit of being grateful for what you have, you become more present in your day.
By being present in your day, you become less stressed. 
By becoming less stressed, you save your good energy for where you really need it. 
That is a zero-point recipe for good health. 

Keep Going: Make it a Habit

When it comes to making healthy food choices more often, it is a mixed bag.  We eat for health reasons--more fiber, good protein, fruits and veggies.  We eat for hunger--more protein, volume, lots of chewing.  We eat for pleasure's sake--molten chocolate cake anyone?  We eat to connect with our family heritage and traditions--holiday food or reunion specialties.  We also eat for reasons that don't serve us--mindless or emotional eating like buckets of popcorn at the movie theater or trick or treating at work with candy dishes everywhere. 

Getting in the habit of making mindful eating choices is a practice we can adopt, but that doesn't mean we won't ever return to our former habits.  Stress gets in the way every single time.  We then revert to autopilot, which is where our former habits have been sleeping.  

This cycle of on again/off again is a reminder that there does not need to be a starting point or a stopping point necessarily.  In fact, we can choose to keep going the very moment we realize we are not doing what we'd like to be doing.  It doesn't mean we have undone all of our good habits.  It doesn't mean we have lost ground.  It just means that we are human.  No judging.    

I think having the courage to keep going no matter how many times we fall off is the humble secret to lasting change.  Punishing yourself for not doing what you wish you were doing is wasting time and eroding positive self esteem.  It makes no sense.  We cannot apply logic to emotion because the head and heart don't speak the same language.  Being smart doesn't stop us from doing things that don't really help.  Think of going to restaurants on an empty stomach and ordering too much food.  Think of running through points on booze on the weekend and having nothing left for food.  If it happened, then let it be done.  Leave it in the past, and decide to do things differently next time.  That's it.  Back to neutral.  That's the new habit we are looking to practice.  

A good life is never done being lived.  Your good life is the one I am referring to.  There is no end to your good health, your supportive relationships, your connections, your hobbies, your belonging.  In the same vein, there is no end to renewing your commitment to living your good life to the best of your ability.  You deserve it.  You want it.  So keep going.