Put On your Own Life Vest: Make Time to Take Care of Yourself.

September 27, 2022 Robyn Schmidt

We work with many successful men and women. CEOs, real estate developers, and leaders in media, retail, and technology. We have worked with a working mom of TEN children, and busy investors who travel multiple times a week. In short, we are no stranger to clients who are short on time and have a difficult time fitting in time for wellness.

image of healthy food and a drug overdose kit

One of our amazing clients is a social worker and therapist who often does crisis counseling. Her typical week involves things most of us couldn't even fathom. She is also a mom and juggles family responsibilities alongside a job that has its fair share of difficult days.

She once sent us this photo and it really hit home. In the midst of a crazy day of dealing with a client in crisis, she made a point to grab what she needed for her own self-care. Even in chaos, she made her own goals and priorities non-negotiable. Yes, it wasn't a beautifully plated salad, but she grabbed what would get her through the afternoon until she could grab a proper meal.

Often we hear from clients that they "just don't have time" or are "too busy" to take care of themselves. The phrase "I'm too busy" is code for "I haven't prioritized that". When something is important to you, you'll find a way to make it happen.

Yes, obviously when you are busy you won't have hours to spend making complicated dishes, you may need to order in. But it takes no more time to order a salad from Sweetgreens than it does to order from Chick-Fil-A. You can just as easily grab an apple as you can a handful of chips. But don't fall for your own stories- you aren't too busy, you just aren't prioritizing yourself.

You are the author of your own health, and owe it to yourself and your loved ones to prioritize yourself.

Prioritize Yourself

1) Schedule time for yourself in your calendar and make it non-negotiable. Even if it's 15 minutes for a walk or to make yourself lunch. Treat appointments with yourself as sacred.

2) Progress not Perfection. So you can't get a full workout in- no big deal. Take a ten-minute walk around the block while you catch up on emails. Listen to a conference call from your treadmill or while walking around the block. Any movement is good movement.

3) Outsource. Order in from Sweetgreens, Chopt or another local healthy spot. Ask your babysitter, housekeeper, or economically motivated kids if they can wash and chop veggies for you for some extra money.

4) Simplify. Buy a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken and remove the skin. Buy a bag of frozen cauliflower rice with veggies already mixed in. Toss in a skillet with some coconut aminos, crushed garlic, salt, and pepper for an easy meal. Buy pre-boiled organic eggs and salads from Chopt for an easy meal on the go.

4) Use Your Resources: All of our clients have us to leverage for ideas and support. Beyond that, many clients have supportive family members, assistants, or nannies. Communicate to those in your life that you are embarking on this change and need their help in prioritizing your health.

5) Be your Own Advocate: Speak up for yourself- ask if you can change restaurants when faced with a difficult menu, have a friend meet you for coffee if drinks are bound to turn into a downward spiral. Read our blog on How to Deal with Social Food Pressure and learn to navigate expressing your needs without offending others.

6) Be Patient with Yourself But Don't Fall for your Own Stories. Change doesn't happen overnight and it takes time to learn how to make a healthy lifestyle a seamless part of your day. Don't tell yourself you're too busy or you can't do this- tell yourself you're learning how to make this work for you and you'll make a little progress every day. We are all busy working moms who understand the need to simplify- lean on us for ways to make it easier.

In Good health,

Robyn, Megan and the Sugar Snap Shift Team

This information is provided for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or manage any disease or condition. We are not physicians and any information we provide is not a substitute for medical advice and care. You, as always, are responsible for your own health and should consult your medical providers to ensure any changes are right for your personal medical conditions.

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