Taking Care of Number 1
Lisa has three kids, a spouse and a full-time job. She feels like she can barely go to the bathroom alone.
Jason is a lawyer. He works long hours, sometimes weekends, and likes to visit his daughter at KU when he’s not also training for boxing.
Junior started a new business, and speaking from experience that baby is more dependent on you than actual newborns.
While you might not fit exactly into one of these examples, I’m sure you have a lot going on in your life. But these members also make their health a priority and make sure to take the time they need for them.
You can’t fill other pails when yours is empty, it’s hard for people to put self care as a priority when they feel there are so many other things that need to be done. But if you don’t take care of yourself you won’t be able to help anyone else.
If you don’t make time for your health your body will start to give out. Remember what I said about constantly practicing basic movements so you are able to keep doing them (get off the toilet)? You have to continually take care of your body to keep it running. We aren’t all training for marathons or state lifting meets, but we are all training for life and being able to enjoy day to day activities.
When I make appointments I put them in our shared family calendar. Mostly because my wife makes me, but also because I need that reminder that it’s coming up and it’s important. I block out that time to go see a doctor, have Cord look at my shoulder, or get a massage. When is the last time you looked at your calendar and had “work out” written in it just like all your meetings and social commitments?
Make a set exercise schedule, I’m not saying you’re at the gym every day of the week. But instead of “I’ll go 3x a week,” commit to actual days and write it down. At night commit to stretching while watching an episode of tv.
Start working on your diet. Spend some time Sunday to plan out meals for the week, you don’t have to cook every meal at home every night. Start with prepping breakfasts, or start with just cooking one healthy dinner a week. See where it grows from there. Nate would love to help you get your nutrition back on track and help you plan how to still be successful over the holidays!
Holidays are coming up, which means lots of parties, people, shopping, cooking, eating, and drinking. Self care and health tend to be pushed to the back burner during this time with the plan to commit again in January. But what if you didn’t slide backwards for the next month and instead built small sustainable habits that you can build on in January instead of starting at ground zero? What if instead of “accepting” unhealthy meals, rare gym visits, and feeling sluggish and grumpy you stuck with a gym routine and kept meals healthy so only official holidays were treat meals? Wouldn’t you feel better every day for the next month and not feel so behind come January?
We are also approaching cold and flu season, healthy habits decrease mental stress support strong immune systems to help us fight off those illnesses. Keeping up with your supplements and vitamins are vitally important, but they aren’t magic pills. You have to take care of your whole body for your body to take care of you.
So when you start writing down all your upcoming parties and events, also write down a couple visits to Eclipse (we have over 35 classes a week so one is guaranteed to fit even your busy schedule), pencil in an hour to meal prep, and schedule some time with a coach to get a plan to keep you on track.
Inspiration provided by Joanne Cogle at crossfitcsg.com