How is it Thursday already? And how is it the middle of September? It just absolutely blows my mind how quickly time goes by.
As you get older and you realize how quickly life goes by, you start looking at your life and wondering how you can live it more fully. You don't want to waste a moment. You want to be productive, but you also want to relax. You want to work hard to achieve goals, but you also want to have fun. You want to eat healthy because you know it's good for you, but you also want to be able to enjoy that dessert.
Living a full life is all about finding that right balance, don't you think? I have a career that fulfills me and teaches me and makes me feel valued. It would be so easy to be completely consumed by it. And honestly, there are days when I do feel consumed. Even when I log off of my computer, the work stays on my mind and some nights I fall asleep thinking about work.
Of course, I know that this isn't good for my mental state. I mean, I'm happy that I love my job and I love having a purpose when I wake up in the morning, but I knew that I had to find a way to balance work and personal life.
Taking frequent breaks from work helps. It's hard to pull myself away, but going outside for fresh air, or doing a short stretching workout, or getting a cup of coffee has been beneficial. Often just walking away for a bit helps me sort out a problem, but more than that, I feel re-energized and I can get back to the task. Taking walks after work has been the absolute game changer, though. It helps me unwind and take my mind off of the work day. And let's be honest, I love seeing the high number of steps on my Fitbit at the end of the day!
If you've been a regular reader of my blog, you know I've struggled with nutrition and how to maintain a healthy weight. I was so frustrated at one point recently, that I considered hiring a personal trainer because I just didn't know what to do anymore. Just someone tell me what to eat. The research out there is so conflicting - eat high protein, low carb. Eat all the veggies and you'll get plenty of protein. Eat high fat! NO! Fat makes you fat. It's overwhelming.
As I mentioned in my last blog, I watched a documentary on the Blue Zones, and let me tell you, these people who were thriving at age 100 were not counting macros and using a calorie counter app. They were eating healthy, nourishing foods while spending time with their loved ones. They weren't eating their meals in front of the TV or while staring at their phones. They enjoyed their meals, their glass of wine, and they laughed and danced a lot.
While my diet isn't perfect, I eat really healthy most of the time. I don't know why I'm so hard on myself. There are some foods that I know are crap and that I really don't need to be eating, but there have also been times when I've turned away a food, even a healthy food, because it wasn't in my macros or daily calorie allowance.
I'm done with the insanity.
September is the month when I (finally) find a healthy mindset and balance when it comes to food, work, and fun. I can strive to get 10,000 steps a day, eat the healthy meals, but I'm also going to enjoy an evening glass of wine outside on the patio with David, and I'm going to savor the ice cream that we like to get occasionally from the local ice cream shop.
I'm going to enjoy a cocktail on a girls' day out (a day out in lieu of a night out is so much more appealing at my age!) I'm going to enjoy a bottle of wine with David and a great meal once a month at a local Italian spot because it's fun and enjoyable and it makes me happy and then David and I can walk home and enjoy the fresh air and talk about how good that food and wine was.
My body is what it is. It's strong and healthy and it does the things I ask it to do (within reason!) I'm going to thank my body by giving it the nutrition, movement, and sleep that it needs, but I'm also going to let go a bit more and just enjoy what life has to offer rather than worry if it's going to make my pants too tight.
I can always buy bigger pants.
Comments