No, I am not a certified health practitioner, I am not a trainer or a wellness influencer. We have thousands of these people at our fingertips, they fill our feeds pumping the latest trends and “easy” “fast” workouts for a bigger butt and a tiny waste. They tell us its 6 weeks to a bikini body and 20 fruits to flawless skin. Of course its “easy.” –Its what they are paid to do! To eat great, look great and have access to top of the line gyms and products. I am not knocking it– trust me. I love the trainers I follow and gobble up the wellness pages for meals and daily motivation. Its my jam!
But also, the rest of us are over here like…. I have some lettuce in my fridge and 10 minutes before the kids wake up for school and its been a hell of a year. Some of us haven’t worked out in months, while some slayyyed during quarantine. Some finally had a moment to realize they need to re-priortize wellness and some realized they needed to let go of the unhealthy pressure they put on themselves. 2020 looked different on everyone.
When I started this blog a couple of years ago, I didn’t want to be another influencer or trainer telling you what to do. The opposite actually. I thought it may be a breath of fresh air to hear from someone who is AVERAGE and also balancing a crazy life, trying to find the the sweet spot of both worlds. Without the rigidness, stress or one size fits all mentality. My past 7 ish years have been re-directed to living a healthy-balanced life (such an overused term I know, but it has truth to it.) Once I retrained my mind and learned to let go of fixes and dieting (because I am the WORST dieter, s a b o t a g e) it has come more natural as a lifestyle. There have been harder years with babies and postpartum of course, but overall I’ve felt really in control.
However this year (plus some) I’m having a harder time taking my own advice. It’s so much easier to shell out ideas on carving out time for health and wellness. It’s so much easier to explain to you that it doesn’t have to be perfect. It can be a little of this and a little of that. But Id be lying if I said it’s come easy for me lately. I’ve been in a funk, remembering how good it felt to be in great shape. The stress of the year (or maybe i’m just 35?) has shown on my face and my clothes don’t fit as nice. Finding balance with three kids is harder work then I had thought and new work/school/life schedules, present a new set of challenges.
But then I actually re-read some of my old blog posts. And this is what I was reminded of. ITS OKAY!!! It really is okay. Its okay to have let a whole year slide, its okay if you’re just beginning your journey, its okay if you’ve focused on your mental health this year more than your physical. Its okay if your 10 pounds up or 10 pounds down. Last year was anything but normal. Even though things are better over here on this island of covid-free living we still are on an island. Even though vaccines have been taken, it’s still okay to ease back in to life. Even though you may be working from home and “no excuses not to squeeze in a workout” you still have a right to be exhausted. We are all still grieving a life that doesn’t exist right now. Grieving the time lost away from loved ones. Grieving those lives that were taken. Grieving the vacations that were planned. Grieving a year of life of what if’s. We have the right to not jump right back where we left off, maybe we never will. It’s surely going to be different.
Our versions of health looked so much different this past year. While it may not be what we were used to, it may not have been even close to perfect. I bet however, if you look hard enough you can still find what it is you invested in— For some it was spending more time with their children without having to fight work and school schedules. For some it was finding companionship in a puppy. For some it was buying that peloton, they thought they could never afford. For some it was getting in the best shape ever, while for others it was loosening up on the crazy workouts and being comfortable with a few extra pounds. For some it was creating a “quaranteam” to help fight isolation. For some it was finding the time to finally invest in themselves. For some it was merely keeping their heads above water.
We all have different versions. I’ve always said health is emotional, physical and mental. Perhaps you (like me) only had the bandwidth to focus on one. I think we have to all agree we couldn’t do it all– and It’s okay. I’m going to remind myself that everyday until I fully believe it. Because of course I have days where I don’t feel great in my jeans and tee shirt. Running is an upward battle at the moment. I have back aches from no core strength and days i’m still dead tired after 8 hours of sleep.
What I also know is that it is important to recognize what great things you are doing to take care of yourself. To not solely focus on what you aren’t doing. I like to list out what I require to feel good. It’s a great place to start, then you can begin focusing on one item at a time and before you know it– your well on your way.
What I know is, I feel better when I move my body everyday. When I have healthy dinners planned for the week. When a weekend is full of adventure and activity. When I give myself 10 minutes in the evening to wash and Gua Sha my face. When I go to bed even just thirty minutes earlier. I feel better when I get at least an hour with my husband alone. I feel better when I put time in to getting ready a few times a week.
These are small obtainable things. Sometimes all it takes is just remembering what it is you require to feel good. Now tell me! What makes you feel better??
sunshinestateofmine 