By Angela Elias, Pop Sugar
Having a 13-month-old son has helped legitimize my "I don't have time
to work out" excuse, but in all honestly, I'm just choosing not to.
It's a choice that used to make me feel guilty. "I should go to
the gym" is what I'd tell myself during the rare mornings I woke before
my alarm or during those early evening hours while my son slept. [post_ads]My
stomach isn't nearly as toned as it was pre-baby, when my motivation for
attending barre class was a bikini-ready body, but I'm OK with that.
I'm proud that I can lift him in his car seat with ease and multitask
with him on my hip. My arms are pretty damn buff. These days when I wake
up before my alarm, I'm too busy feeling grateful for the uninterrupted
REM cycle than guilty for blowing off exercise. And when my son falls
asleep, I practically swan dive onto the sofa to assume my off-duty
position: feet up and remote (or glass of wine) in hand.
It's not that I've abandoned my health. It's just that my framework
for being healthy has shifted and so have my priorities. I'm not
swearing off exercise forever. The package of classes I purchased from
the fitness studio near my home doesn't expire until the end of the year
and I've been eyeing this awesome bucket bike for families.
But for now, taking the expectation to work out off the table feels
liberating as my definition of wellness is expanding. Here are the small
but impactful ways I take care of myself these days.
I Set an Alarm For Bed
It sounds freakishly regimented, I know. But think of it this way:
most adults with full-time jobs are accustomed to setting an alarm to
wake up, but our self-discipline goes out the window when it comes to
getting a good night's sleep. After having a baby and surviving long
bouts of torturous sleep deprivation, I realized that the kindest thing I
can do for myself is get sleep while I can. For me, this means
developing an early bedtime routine. Setting a 9 p.m. alarm is an easy
reminder to step away from late-night traps of Netflix binging
and online shopping. When the alarm goes off, I know I have an hour or
so to shower, brush my teeth, slip into PJs, and settle into bed with a
book, something that always puts me to sleep. Now I enjoy eight hours of
sleep during weeknights and it's made me feel more vibrant, more
productive, and happier during my workday.
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I Embrace Meditation Hacks
I could pay $3 a day to park in the lot right next to my morning
commuter train, dashing from my car to the train in a matter of seconds,
but I don't. Instead, I pocket the money and park for free in the
surrounding residential neighborhood and walk to the train station.
Sure, it tacks on an extra 10 minutes to my morning commute, but I
relish those minutes. I take in the beauty of the morning sky, listen to
the birds, breathe in the brisk air, and just slow the f*ck down. No
headphones, no email. I save that for the train ride. It's the closest
thing I have to a meditation practice. When I'm at work, I use the Breathe app
on my Apple Watch as a reminder to take one minute between emails and
meetings to just breathe deeply. I know this sounds ridiculous, but have
you ever stopped to just breathe when you feel stress creeping up on
you? If you have, you know it's shockingly effective.
I Drink More Water — With Reusable Straws
There was a time when the sound of a colleague opening a can of Diet
Coke sent me running to the kitchen to follow suit. I'd try to drink
water but couldn't get through a glass of it as easily as I could a
soda. While cans of LaCroix have satiated my Diet Coke cravings, nothing
quenches my thirst like still water. I've discovered that by adding a
straw to my glass of water, I can suck the entire glass down without
thinking. A miracle! These reusable metal straws are dishwasher-safe and keep water cool with each sip.
I Make Cooking Easy
I'm more mindful about what I eat, but I don't diet. I discovered that a flavorful, protein-packed salad
can be delicious and satisfying, not to mention lightning fast to prep
and crazy cheap. I eat healthy fats that give me energy, like whole-milk yogurts,
avocados, nuts, and cheese, and don't skimp on the cream in my coffee.
My husband and I cook almost every day, even if we're relying on simple Trader Joe's meal hacks or dumping things into an Instant Pot.
On Sundays, I like to chop up a variety of veggies, drizzle them with
olive oil, sprinkle salt and pepper, and roast them for ready-made
vegetables that can be thrown into salads and pasta all week. Cooking
larger portions and freezing half is another time-saving hack that saves
us from picking up a pizza on nights neither of us have time to cook.
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I Walk as Much as Possible
Aside from parking farther away from my train station and taking the
stairs whenever I can, I realized that I enjoy walking more than I do
driving — to an extent, of course. Pushing my son in his stroller as we
head to the park or to a nearby grocery store is an instant
mood-booster. Spending more time walking, whether it's on a scenic park
trail or my neighborhood streets, is a fun way to slow my mind while
increasing my heart rate. It forces me to pay attention to my
surroundings in a way that I can't while I'm driving. Hitting my mileage
goal for the day is icing on the cake, but the real reward comes from
everything else.
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