Thank you Freschetta Gluten Free Pizza for sponsoring this post. Start the year off right with delicious frozen pizza that just happens to be gluten-free!
5 Ways to Create Balance in Your Life and Still Reach your Wellness Goals
It seems like the busier we get these days, the less we take care of ourselves. With every passing month – more work, more kid’s activities, more family commitments, and the list goes on. As the time passes, it can often seem like an impossible task to find that happy balance between family, wellness and fun.
Many believe they have to devote tons of time to creating their healthy self. Whether it’s weight loss, healing an ailing health concern or improving your emotional well-being, the key to long-term success is in finding the appropriate balance. Everyone’s balance looks a little different but, the trick is to be steadfast and consistent. Make small, simple changes that you can stick to for the long term.
Here are just five of the best tips that I whole-heartedly recommend if you’re stuck looking for how to keep your balance and reach your wellness goals at the same time.
1. Create “ME TIME” for yourself.
No matter what your day brings, the best way to create a happy balance is to find time for yourself. Avoid pushing it to the end of the day as it will often get scheduled over when other things come up. It doesn’t have to be anything major – schedule a lunch with a friend (or by yourself) instead of eating at your desk. Take 5 minutes to meditate before you start your day. Listen to your favorite podcast. Put your phone and computer away for 30 minutes. It doesn’t matter what it is, just make sure you give yourself a chance to clear your head, reset and recharge. This will allow you to bring your best self forward and take on all challenges that come your way, whether in the gym or at home.
2. Eat the foods you enjoy.
This is my favorite recommendation and one that so many choose to ignore when they take on a wellness goal. There are so many fad diets, elimination diets, juice cleanses, etc. out there and it’s hard to know what to believe. I completely get wanting to take the quickest route to success. I’ve been there myself and I can attest to the fact that I lasted about two days before I gave in. It’s just human nature, most of us can’t and won’t stick to something we don’t like.
This seems like basic stuff, but the best way to stay happy and consistent in our nutrition is to select foods we actually enjoy. That means planning accordingly and eating your favorites in moderation. YES, you can still eat your favorite pizza and reach your goals. Case in point: Freschetta Gluten Free Pizza is delicious, made with 100% real cheese, a preservative free crust and it just happens to be gluten-free! Although I don’t have a gluten allergy, my daughter is sensitive to it. The best part about this pizza is the whole family loves it so I’m not cooking multiple pizzas!
3. Check in with your emotions.
Raise your hand if you’ve ever eaten wayyyy more than you should because you were stressed? We’ve all been there! Getting a handle on your emotional well-being, before it occurs, can help you avoid stress eating, anxiety issues, anger outbreaks and giving up on your goals.
Pick a time limit and check in with yourself. Set your alarm for every hour on the hour, for example, see how you’re feeling and make changes accordingly. Take a few moments to breathe deep then move on with your day in a positive light.
4. Plan your day as much as you can.
It’s impossible to plan out every minute of the day. We all know road bumps are going to occur. However, scheduling out as much as you can, and having control of as many things as you can, will minimize the changes for something throwing you off course. For example, have ample snacks with you so you don’t binge on unhealthier options. Keep your workout bag packed so you have everything you need to hit the gym.
There are so many cool apps out there that will help you create daily checklists. Personally, I’m a fan of just good ol fashion pen and paper.
5. Take on only what you can handle.
No matter what we are already juggling, it seems like we continue to take on more and more! Am I right, ladies? It doesn’t matter that we’re already juggling impossible expectations, work, dealing with pressures of family, friends and social media; we always seem to find more and more stuff to add to the plate.
This goes hand in hand with #1. We can’t possibly find time for ourselves if we are constantly adding to the to-do list. There are, obviously, going to be commitments that you will not be able to shed–work, family, friends. But there are also many things you can so NO to. Saying no doesn’t mean that you’re giving up. It means you have made a decided effort to create a happy balance and put yourself first.
To get started on reaching a balanced life, try selecting just one of the above tips. Focus on making it a part of your daily routine before moving on to the next. Create small, simple changes daily and you will reach your wellness goals and maintain them long term. Good luck!
