There is so much noise out there about what you “should” be doing for health that sometimes we forget to focus on those frankly boring ideas that might not get a lot of likes on social media, but actually can make the biggest impact in how you feel.
I hope these ideas will help you to get re-grounded in a healthy post-summer routine. Also please keep in mind- pick one of these to work on at a time! If one idea isn’t doable for you, skip it and pick one that is.
Keep a Consistent Sleep/Wake Schedule
We all know that children are less grumpy and overall better regulated when they are on a consistent sleep schedule, and though we’re better able to weather schedule disruptions as adults, the basic concept remains true in adulthood. Fiercely protect your sleep time. Your mind and body (and the you of tomorrow morning) will say thank you.
Dance (and turn up the music)!
It’s one of the most fun stress management techniques. Create or look up a playlist of really fun or nostalgic songs, and even if it’s a tiny shimmy that your coworkers won’t notice, dancing will lift your mood and bring you joy.
Tend To Your Relationships
Keep a list of people you love to connect with and put it in a prominent place in your home. It will serve as a reminder that there’s almost always someone you can reach out to for connection- even if it’s just by text (but why not try for IRL?). This is a key strategy for nurturing social connections- studies show that loneliness can be just as detrimental to your health as harmful habits like smoking.
Prepare as Much of Your Food At Home As Possible
There’s so much news about the harm of processed foods. When the majority of your food is prepared at home, it’s going to end up being minimally processed and with much less added sugar and salt than pre-made foods. As a mom of a toddler I definitely understand that there isn’t always time to make something in the kitchen, so some of my key strategies have been to grab a piece of fruit or a cup of plain yogurt instead of a pre-packaged snack. I still end up buying a lot more of my meals than I used to, but making grocery shopping and meal prep a priority on the weekends has helped a lot. As far as what to eat- I try and focus on a Mediterranean diet. It’s stood the test of time and we have a lot of research on it, compared with other dietary guidelines.
Elevate Your Heart Rate Regularly, and Make It Something You Enjoy
Regular exercise and movement are so important- and it’s hard not to be sedentary nowadays. Pick a form of movement that’s going to be enjoyable for you and make it a group activity when possible (going back to that relationships piece!) I am a huge proponent of strength training- it’s such a great antidote to the slow creep of random injuries that happen due to tight and unused muscles, as well as age.
Get An Analog Alarm Clock
There is SO much to say about good habits around tech use (I’ve certainly not mastered this one!). One tip I’ve stuck with for over 8 years and will never go back on is to avoid sleeping with my phone in the bedroom- getting an analog alarm clock completely takes away any temptation to look at my phone if I wake up during the night, or start my day on a stressful note while checking emails first thing in the morning.
Above all, I love the idea of imagining your future self as your best friend, and doing nice things for them whenever you can.
