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Food Freedom, Intuitive Eating, Life, Self Care, Travel

What “Healthy” Looks Like During Busy Life Seasons

April 20, 2016 By Robyn 7 Comments

I knew going into 2016 that this spring was going to be crazy town. Now that I’m two out of three months into it though, it certainly feels like a whirlwind. But it was all for good and exciting things.

Yes, you can be healthy in busy seasons of life. | The Real Life RD

I took a trip to Napa and Sonoma with my momma in February, a girl’s trip to Italy in March, wedding season began in April with a trip to Charlottesville and I flew in on a red-eye Monday morning after five days in Laguna Beach for a wedding.

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Today, I’m on a train back to Charlottesville for one of my best friend’s weddings and then Nick and I travel back to Indiana and Illinois next week and then we are in Atlanta in May for wedding. I’ve mastered the idea of “working on the road” I’d say.

I think we all probably hit a busy season of travel here and there where you’re just taking days as they go knowing it will all settle out again eventually. Where the only rhythm to life is packing and unpacking. And it’s messy, really messy.

But even among the mess, I’ve tried to take care of myself the best I can. I think it’s easy to say “oh, when this is all over then…” But if we think like that we’ll always be looking ahead to the future for something to happen. So how the heck do you maintain some normalcy and balance when life feels anything but normal and balanced?

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First, I’ve learned to stop fighting the chaos and instead just sit in it. Second, I’ve learned to soak up all the grace I can – because I will never survive chaos and busyness without grace. Because I am nowhere near to having it all together.

There are nights where I’ve gotten less than 6 hours of sleep and therefore drank 4 cups of coffee before 9am.

There have been days crammed with finishing up a school assignment before the deadline.

There have been too many weeks where I’ve had to rearrange and rearrange things because something came up or I’ve had to make up clinical hours or I got called into work last minute.

There have been too many meals eaten out because I can’t make it to the grocery.

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Exercise has been spontaneous and try as I might, I never move my body as much as I intend to. Something always comes up.

Eating has been anything but routine, but I’m doing the best I can. And here and there I’ve probably had one too many glasses of wine.

But that’s okay. It’s totally, absolutely okay.

Because this season isn’t forever, and life’s too short to fight the messiness.

So a few things I have learned along the way to keep me sane and my body feeling good most of the time…

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Movement can be done anywhere and in the most unplanned ways. This past week in California, exercise was a group hike one day, I ran a few barefoot miles on the beach spontaneously another day and Nick and I strolled several miles around Laguna and Newport beach on Sunday. Doing a quick 5 to 10 minute circuit before showering in the evening sometimes happened to. And sometimes I just rested. Any sort of movement keeps me feeling good and it doesn’t have to be planned out or stressed over.

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Focusing on how I feel when I’m eating rather than judging how “well” I’m eating based on what my plate looks like. Even while in Italy where we ate white carbs and cheese galore, I never felt bad or sick and it’s because I tried to really focus on how I FELT. When you’re traveling and eating out often, it’s easy to think you’re not eating well based on what’s on your plate.

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But what really matters is how you feel. If I’m checking in after I eat and I’m not too full and I feel good physically and a feel satisfied – that’s a good thing. No matter if there was a burger and fries or salad and a sweet potato on my plate. It’s not always perfect, there are times I overshot my hunger, but that’s what I’m focused on.

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Water in between wine or drinks. Still working on this one, but I know for sure when I alternate a drink with some H2O I feel a jillion times better.

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Naps. Naaaappppps. With early flight times, late night flights, time changes and everything in between I would make myself crazy trying to get 8 solid hours of sleep every night. It ain’t happening. So I’ve learned that a quick 20-30 minute cat nap wherever I am (train, plane, car, beach, whatever) energizes me and keeps me feeling good despite less than stellar sleep.

Compartmentalizing being totally turned on and totally turned off from work and school. When I’m flying or on a train for 6 to 8 hours I will fork over the money for wi-fi and get in the zone the entire travel time. On my way back from Italy I cranked out a huge assignment for almost 8 hours. On our flight into LAX I answered email and did Nutshell things for almost 5 hours straight. In the mornings I’ll usually do client sessions or plug away on business or school things for a couple hours. But then, when I’m at the wedding or out to dinner or with friends I’m totally shut off – no email, no thinking about school, nothing. It’s helped me to be more productive and also be able to enjoy the time relaxing and enjoying being on vacation rather than bleeding work into play and then everything feels messy and stressful.

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It’s certainly not perfect and absolutely chaotic and crazy sometimes. But I just remind myself that I’m only in my twenties once, this season won’t last forever, and how super fortunate I am to be able to travel and see people I love. This life is way to short to have it all together.

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Filed Under: Food Freedom, Intuitive Eating, Life, Self Care, Travel

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Comments

  1. Erin Ramsay says

    April 20, 2016 at 8:45 am

    I love this. Be in the moment, move the body in all different ways, set up your boundaries, soak in all friend energy you can and just be. Thank you for sharing, I so appreciate your posts.

    Reply
  2. Elise says

    April 20, 2016 at 9:03 am

    Yes to living life fully and embracing grace! Listening to how food is making us feel (different for everybody!) is so important, and sometimes so hard to listen to ourselves over the noise in our heads.

    http://homegardenlove.com/

    Reply
  3. Cora says

    April 20, 2016 at 11:48 am

    Life is messy! And if I’ve learned anything it is that the more we try and fight against or try to control it – the messier it gets and the worse we feel! So it’s a matter of trying to go with the flow and knowing it won’t last forever.
    Love your tips. Especially compartimentalizing work time and reminding yourself that movement can come in all forms – not just a typical “workout.” Keep having fun!!

    Reply
  4. Mia @ MakeMeUpMia says

    April 20, 2016 at 1:55 pm

    I love this so much and will be re-reading this several times in the future, such a good reminder. Being able to travel and not focus on what is on my plate but how I feel in those moments has been something I’ve dreamed of and I’m slowly making it happen. So freeing! Thanks for sharing

    Reply
  5. Caitlyn @SoDamnGood says

    April 21, 2016 at 7:32 pm

    Robyn- I seriously love your views on life. It is so inspiring to watch someone go through the same ups and downs I feel. Im in the same boat right now with grad school and weddings and trips galore. Sometimes its SO tough but I have to remember to just live!! Can’t wait to graduate and teach these same types of values to others once I’m finally an RD!!

    Reply
  6. Katie @ Balanced RD says

    April 25, 2016 at 9:35 pm

    I love this post! It is so easy to miss out on fun life events because you’re worried about what you “should” be doing instead. It’s all about finding a balance!

    Reply

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A non-diet dietitian and nurse practitioner helping women find peace with food, accept their natural body size and heal from hormonal issues and period problems.

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I have yet to experience postpartum myself, but I've had many clients and readers that have been through that season of life. Or perhaps you are currently living through the postpartum period. Every woman's body is different, therefore every woman's experience after giving birth will be different. What works for one woman, might not work for the next. While one woman might go through postpartum and adjust to newborn life quiet seamlessly, another woman might find it much more difficult. She might need the support of medication, therapy, extra help and many other things. One way is not better than the other - they are simply two different ways of navigating the postpartum period. I hope this post helps you better care for yourself, whatever that means for you. There's no right or wrong way to care for yourself as a mom or your new baby.

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A little way I’m learning to enjoy these years o A little way I’m learning to enjoy these years of getting to spend so much time with my kids: aka another way I’m discovering some pockets of peace so my heart & mind & soul don’t crumble under the reality of dependent & emotionally dysregulated tiny humans.  About once a week we go somewhere for baked goods. We drive or walk, buy something buttery & then find a beautiful, relatively quiet outdoor spot where the boys can romp and I can sit and think my thoughts while I watch them play. This past week we were found ourselves at the Wool Factory where the boys threw rocks & whatever else off the bridge while I ate 90% of this almond 🥐 from @coucourachou that will blow your mind. Boys ate the other 10% bc they were busy playing and didn’t ask for more quickly enough 😜  I’m finding *for me* playgrounds have a time & place but they aren’t where I enjoy motherhood & my two toddlers the most. Baked goods & a pretty outdoor spot without high drops my 15 month old could launch himself off of…I’m here for it.
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I realized it was going to be a long, hot afternoo I realized it was going to be a long, hot afternoon (91 and muggy in MAY 🤯) when a toddler nap was refused and a baby nap was cut wildly short ....so my tired mom brain pulled out two plastic storage bins, filled them up with soap & hose water and striped ‘em down naked in the yard. Two hours later, it was almost time for an early dinner and I had magically been able to sit for most of that time and we already had baths checked off the list. 👍🏻 I’m archiving this idea for my future self, hope it helps another tired mama out.
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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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