Good morning beautiful people, I hope you’ve all had a good week so far.

I’ve been going through quite a long phase of being really busy and feeling quite overwhelmed and exhausted lately. Between work, planning our wedding, blog work, recipe development, new collaborations (coming soon), family commitments, keeping in touch with friends, working out, meal prepping, running errands and so on… it’s been feeling a bit much lately.

The more people I speak to about this, the more I realise how incredibly common it is to feel this way and how most of us are going from one thing to the next trying to catch our breath!

Being really busy is not new to me and I do go through very busy periods in my life and manage to work far more efficiently. Which in turn, leaves me feeling much more balanced and relaxed. I find that when I’m more organised and find a routine that works well for me, it’s so much easier to prioritise and stay on top of things without feeling overwhelmed and exhausted at the mere thought of getting back to my to-do list.

I’m really pushing myself to get back into routine and catch up with things slowly, so I thought I’d share how I’ve done so in the past and intend of doing so again now…

I started this post with a very honest explanation of what I’m currently going through – I often share highlights on social media of me waking up early, meal prepping, working out and so on. While I do actually do these things and share them to help and inspire others, I also want to share that I’m certainly nowhere near perfect, I struggle daily with certain things and find that having a framework and routine really helps me get back into the swing of things. So I thought I’d share that with all of you here 🙂

First off, as I mentioned in my recent blog post: https://holisticnutritionninja.com/2019/11/18/workshop-recap-ending-season-two%e2%9c%8c%f0%9f%8f%bc/ which is all about making lasting change; wellness is made up of FIVE pillars.

NUTRITION

SLEEP

STRESS MANAGEMENT

MOVEMENT

COMMUNITY

I recommend to ANYONE reading this to start tackling one area at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed and giving up; so I’m going to do the same.

If you’re struggling to eat right, try prioritising that for a week. Try to set aside two hours over the weekend or on a Monday afternoon to meal prep. This doesn’t need to be super complicated; I share a lot of tips about this in the post that is linked above and also here: https://holisticnutritionninja.com/2018/10/27/meal-prep-like-a-pro/

If you struggle with finding time for exercise, try to wake up just 30 minutes earlier and go for a walk. Or book a workout first thing in the morning – I find that it’s the best way to start a productive day! The night before, prepare your coffee mug (this is a must for me), the ingredients and utensils you will need for breakfast and the clothes you’re going to wear the following day. This may seem futile, but it really is a big time saver on those tough groggy mornings!

Sleep is also really important, not just for your energy levels, but also for your overall health and for our bodies to repair from the daily wear and tear we endure. If you struggle with getting enough sleep, make sure you monitor your coffee intake and have your last coffee of the day a good twelve hours before you intend on going to bed. This will help with melatonin production (sleepy hormone). Also, try to avoid using your phone, tablet or laptop before bed – these are powerful stimuli that keep us awake. Finally, and arguably most importantly, make sure you make time to get to bed early. Read a book, dim the lights, make sure your room is cool and take time to unwind. If you have a lot on your mind which is not allowing you to rest, keep a notepad by your bed and list whatever is on your mind, this way, you won’t worry about forgetting anything important the following day and it can really help you relax into a good night’s sleep.

Stress is also a huge factor for practically all of us nowadays, therefore stress management has never been as important as it is today. Personally, I find that exercise and meditation are both really powerful tools! When I say meditation, I don’t mean sitting quietly humming for hours on end. I simply mean a few minutes of silence trying to clear your mind. I know that is easier said than done, so when I can’t seem to find peace and silence within, I like listening to a 5 or 10 minute guided meditation on youtube – there are plenty to choose from! I know it may sound silly to some, but it really can be a very powerful tool!

Finally, community is so important for us as human beings – we are social animals that thrive within a community. Unfortunately, with life moving at such a fast pace and many people whose faces are stuck to their phones, loneliness is on the rise. If you’re lucky enough to have a family, make time for them! Make the extra effort and go the extra mile if you must! Making sure you keep up with your family and good friends is imperative for mental health and anxiety, and if you don’t feel this way, make sure you check up on your friends just in case – they might be the ones feeling lonely. There are many groups you can join – whether it’s a cooking or photography class you’re interested in joining, a gym you want to try or even going for a hike with one of the many free groups available, finding people with similar interests and meeting face-to-face can really help create a sense of community.

I hope this helps anyone who needs this ❤

Remember, don’t expect to do everything perfectly, you’re human just like anyone else. And please don’t try to turn your life upside down all at once – it”s a process which you can actually enjoy, so try your best to take it slow and find whatever it is that works for you!

That’s it from me for today, I hope you all have a wonderful week and if you’re not, remember, there are many things we can do and tools we can use to help improve our current situation. Finally, if you’re going through a difficult time, keep in mind that there is absolutely no shame in reaching out and asking for help!

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If you have any questions or requests for future blog posts, please leave them in the comment section below. Don’t forget to click on the ‘follow’ button below to stay updated on all the content I share here. Also, I do share a TON of recipes over on my fac ebook and instagram pages – @holisticnutritionninja

As always, if you do try them out, please let me know 🙂

Thank you for taking the time to be here and read this ❤

Until my next post, be well xXx