The Real Life RD

helping you find peace with food and your natural body size

  • the RD & NP
  • Online Courses
  • Women’s Wellness
  • Speaking
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
Exercise, Life, Self Care, Thoughts

4 Thoughts Including Being Productive & Being Okay Where You Are Now

August 27, 2018 By Robyn 14 Comments

1. Being productive while working from home

I’ve gotten this question a lot lately and I’m not sure I feel the best to answer it since I’m certainly not the guru at working from home. But I have made a lot of mistakes over the years running an online business & private practice and through those mistakes I’ve learned what actually works and doesn’t work for me. This is what works for me, so if it resonates for you – great! But know there are many ways to organize your days so you feel focused and purposeful in your work instead of lost and frustrated. Not everyday is a productivity win, but overall I feel like I’m in a good place. Here’s a few things that have helped me most.

  1. Boundaries with email – I check email for about 10 minutes three times a day – in the morning, after lunch and before I wrap up in the evening. That’s it. Most days I stick to that. I love the Elle and Co. blog for business tips and after reading her post on keeping your inbox at zero I’ve implemented that system and never looked back. Having Connie manage the [email protected] inbox has been a HUGE time saver as well. Email is sneaky because it makes us “feel” productive, but it actually doesn’t help accomplish goals.
  2. Tucking my phone away – My phone doesn’t stay near me, it’s in another room when I’m working. I’ll check my phone a small handful of times throughout the day, but it’s not on me all day. I find that heavily distracting. Whether it’s seeing a text come through or having a knee-jerk reaction to check social media because I’m procrastinating work…having my phone around isn’t helpful. I typically check my phone when I check email and give myself 10ish minutes to check in on social media and answer any urgent texts (aka texts from therapists/physicians, urgent client texts, etc) If I’m walking somewhere I’ll briefly check my phone and answer texts, but overall I respond to personal texts after work hours.
  3. Plan out the next day the night before – before I wrap up in the evening (around 6:30ish usually, I look at my planner and my Google calendar and loosely plan out the next day. I’m a rhythm person not a routine person so it’s loose. I choose my top three things I want to get done the next day and set aside time outside of client calls to get those things done. Anything over that top three is a bonus. Planning my days the night before makes it so when I wake up, I’m not trying to figure out what I need to do that day, I already know.

I am certainly not a type A, super organized person – that would be nice some days 🙂 But I hope these tips are helpful. I’m happy to expand on this if you more questions – leave them in the comments!

2. Enjoy Where You Are Now

I pinned this quote above last week. With all the change happening this year I’m finding myself wanting to race ahead. I also have all these ideas about where I want to see the business/practice go and where I’d like to grow as an NP which are all good things….I love to dream! But I’m finding myself thinking about the future and what I hope “will be” versus enjoying and being okay with where I am now. Maybe you’re in recovery from and eating disorder, working through intuitive eating, or learning to tolerate and accept your body. Maybe you’re in a season of career growth or maybe you’re in school wishing you were starting your career. Maybe life feels mundane and unexciting right now and you’re waiting on that next adventure or big change.

Staying present in the here and now is HARD. So I hope this little reminder is helpful. Sometimes, depending on how I’m feeling, I like to replace “enjoy” with “be okay” because it feels more realistic and fitting. Also speaking of Pinterest, we have done a total revamp of our Pinterest, which was long overdue. I cleaned up a bunch of boards, made new boards that I hope serve you and we are adding pins daily. So if you’re looking for some life giving quotes, support in your ED recovery/body image/intuitive eating journey, easy and delicious recipes, hormonal health or other fun things you can check it out here! We’ll continue updating and adding to the boards – my/our goal is to continually provide resources to help you (and me) live a better life.

3. Meal Plan for This Week

I very loosely “meal plan” – anything more than what I do now feels stressful and not fun. This week for lunches I made a big pot of this corn chowder since summer is winding down and the weather is cooling off. It’s a version that’s less rich than traditional chowder because although I love corn chowder, I’ve learned that richer, denser lunches can take a hit on my motivation to work in the afternoon. This version looks super tasty and something that will likely keep me feeling good – mentally and physically – all week. The one change I made was adding in some rotisserie chicken to make it more of a meal and we’ll eat it with a simple salad…and by that I mean throwing mixed greens into a bowl and drizzling with olive oil and vinegar.

For dinners this week, we made a batch of these Thai turkey meatballs. This is a recipe I found a while ago on Pinterest and they are so good. And they freeze really well too. Eat them over rice (I prefer that) or any other grain you like. Noodles would be awesome too. We’re eating them with rice and sautéed greens, but roasted broccoli would also be tasty! Also if you’re interested, here’s a post on meal planning and intuitive eating that I hope you find helpful. I don’t spend more than 45 minutes to an hour in the kitchen on Sunday or Monday cooking for the week because I don’t like to. So cheers to delicious and satisfying food with minimal effort!

4. Cycling App

I’ve had some pelvic/pubic bone pain lately so have had to take a break from long walks and other forms of movement that create impact. I loathe spin classes, but biking I enjoy – preferably outside, although biking outside isn’t realistic right now. Lately, I’ve been enjoying getting on the stationary bike a few times a week and listening to a short podcast. But after a while, I got bored of that and wanted to mix it up a bit. I found this app called CycleCast and love it! I’ve found (so far) that the instructors aren’t annoying (yelling isn’t my jam) and there is zero talk about calories, toning up, and stuff like that. I haven’t listened to every class, but so far I’m into it and appreciate the absence of diet talk. I find anything over 30 minutes too long to cycle – a spin class that lasts 45-60 minutes feels too long for me. So I love that the app offers 20 minute and 30 minute options – perfect amount of time for me and a fun way to take a break from work. I don’t enjoy spin classes, but I am really liking this app and it’s been a good way for me to find movement that I do enjoy when options I have found enjoyable in the past aren’t options right now.

Happy Monday! Leave your thoughts and questions in the comments!


YOU MAY ALSO LIKE...

  • 5 Thoughts5 Thoughts
  • COVID-19 Check InCOVID-19 Check In
  • April Coffee DateApril Coffee Date
  • Using Quotes to Live a Better LifeUsing Quotes to Live a Better Life

Filed Under: Exercise, Life, Self Care, Thoughts

« You Have to Find Your People in Your Intuitive Eating Journey
Can You Have a Medical Condition and Still Eat Intuitively? »

Comments

  1. emily vardy says

    August 27, 2018 at 6:24 am

    I definitely do not think I’d have the self-discipline to work and home and actually get anything done…I’m way too easily distracted!

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      August 29, 2018 at 7:54 am

      I have friends that feel the same way!

      Reply
  2. Julie says

    August 27, 2018 at 8:44 am

    Staying in the present is so hard! Thank you for the reminder, Robyn. Have a great week!

    Julie

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      August 29, 2018 at 7:54 am

      Have a wonderful week too Julie!

      Reply
  3. Jen says

    August 27, 2018 at 11:19 am

    I’m a lot like you, I work from home & need just enough structure to keep me on track & motivitated but not so much that I get overwhelmed (: Love the glimps into what it looks like for you!!

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      August 29, 2018 at 7:54 am

      I hear you Jen – I feel the same way!

      Reply
  4. Madeline says

    August 27, 2018 at 1:53 pm

    Hey Robyn, I don’t think the Thai turkey meatballs linked. Would you mind linking it? I would love to make it!

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      August 29, 2018 at 7:56 am

      Oops! It’s linked now – enjoy!

      Reply
  5. Brittany Audra @ Audra's Appetite says

    August 27, 2018 at 10:03 pm

    Loved so many things in this post! I seriously need to put my phone away when trying to work on something…it gets so distracting!

    I also really resonate with point #2…the biggest life lesson I’ve learned over this past year is to be present in the moment instead of always looking to the future (which I always tend to do!).

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      August 29, 2018 at 7:56 am

      It was so hard to make the switch to less phone but I feel SO much more calm and less stressed

      Reply
  6. Emily Swanson says

    August 27, 2018 at 11:43 pm

    Ok that’s super cool that you found a cycling app that enables you to do classes on your own. I personally love working out on my own and an occasional with someone. Also I appreciate what you said about boundaries with phone and email; the more I’ve been intentional about that the more I’ve found that I’m able to focus and be productive and less scattered or anxious.

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      August 29, 2018 at 7:57 am

      It’s certainly takes more discipline to be more intentional but it makes such a difference – glad you’re experiencing that for yourself Emily!

      Reply
  7. Emily says

    August 29, 2018 at 7:41 am

    I’ve been wanting to implement a better, organized routine with my schedule and my blogging. What wonderful tips! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      August 29, 2018 at 7:58 am

      I hope you find them helpful Emily!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

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.

More On Lady Hormones

How Birth Control Methods Affect Your Hormones, Period and Fertility

What Your Cervical Fluid Can Tell You About Your Reproductive Health

women's reproductive health

Women’s Reproductive Health 101

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.

Postpartum Hormones: what’s happening in your body and how to care for yourself

* indicates required

Categories

Get in Touch!

Follow Me!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

I talk a lot about moving, eating, and living intuitively so you can be well hormonally and live a fulfilling life in line with your values

The Real Life RD on Pinterest

Follow Me on Pinterest
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.
I brought this bag of snacks along when I took the I brought this bag of snacks along when I took the boys to hike out at one of our favorite spots last week and when I ripped it open I was regretting my choice to share them with my kids. @baresnacks randomly sent me a box of snacks and I usually eat free food we receive or give it to a friend/neighbor and move on. But I felt it my duty to tell you about these bc they are THAT GOOD. I’m not getting paid and this isn’t sponsored - I was just shocked at how tasty these were and felt you needed to know. We ate them with some buttery roasted nuts and the combo was 👌🏻 but they are good just on their own.  The boys climbed rocks and swam in the reservoir - leave it to my almost 3 year old to want to strip down naked and fully submerge himself in chilly water on a sixty degree morning. “Mama can I get super nakey?” Sure baby. Sure. This is your childhood.
It’s a hard sell to get me to accept an offer of It’s a hard sell to get me to accept an offer of extended alone time away from the babies to just be. And that isn’t something that’s best for me, it’s an area I gotta grow in. So this afternoon when Nick pushed me out the door and was like - get out of here plzzzz - I walked to my favorite cafe and ordered a thick pastrami sandwich and sat there for a good LONG while before taking a long, peaceful walk in the rain to wrap up the afternoon. Note to self: stop being such a control freak and go be by yourself sometimes.
a girlfriend brought me a 🍪 the size of my face a girlfriend brought me a 🍪 the size of my face from @mariebettecafe this morning when she came to get her toddler who played with us all morning and it is v good. even better when paired with an iced latte 😍
#AlignPartner I left off a few weeks ago sharing a #AlignPartner I left off a few weeks ago sharing about how taking @alignprobiotic regularly has improved my digestive regularity.  And I’m still taking them! I’ve permanently added Align 24/7 Digestive Support* into the roundup of supplements I take before bed (prenatal, vitamin D, choline & DHA - all which help keep me healthy while breastfeeding) so I can keep seeing the benefits.  Just because you see benefits, doesn’t mean you should stop taking your probiotic. Keep taking Align daily (under the supervision and recommendation of your health care provider of course) to keep seeing the benefits!  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - one of my favorite parts of Align probiotics is that they don’t need refrigeration AND they come in a convenient little blister pack that has the days labeled. It’s the little things people! #MyAlignGuutJourney #guthealth  *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.
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.
#AlignPartner I left off a month ago sharing about #AlignPartner I left off a month ago sharing about getting better at doing the basics to care for myself which included taking my supplements and @alignprobiotic regularly.  Probiotics take time to work so I wanted to give it a full month to see the full effects of @alignprobiotic. So here are my honest thoughts: it took a few weeks to notice any differences, but near the end of the month I did notice some changes in my digestive balance - even while traveling! I’m not someone who experiences occasional gas, bloating or abdominal discomfort frequently enough to notice a difference, so I don’t feel like I can comment on how well Align works for those benefits.  All in all though, taking @alignprobiotic was a positive experience and I really appreciated how the capsules don’t need to be stored in the fridge, making it convenient to take them with me anywhere #MyAlignGuutJourney #guthealth  *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.
Where we will spend a good majority of our summer. Where we will spend a good majority of our summer. Because the swampy VA summer has already begun (it’s in the low 90s today 🥵 lord help) and creeks are our retreat - not only from the heat but also from the noisy world. I need this just (if not more) than they do! We’ll be at the splash pads and pools too, but the quietness of the creek...my mental health is so about it. And it’s hours of play for them! Win win.  A couple things to note: this scene also included a few toddler reminders on finding another direction to throw rocks instead of at his brother - so not all is serene 🤪 and also, yes I am now that mom who buys the same clothing for both kids bc it keeps things simple & i think i kinda like it too 🤷🏻‍♀️
Things I love about midwifery among many: the appo Things I love about midwifery among many: the appointments, no matter how long, feel so unhurried. 
Just walked in from an appointment with my midwife because I was due for a Pap test + an overall wellness visit. My last pap was during my first trimester with Cal which feels like a jillion years ago, but it’s only actually been three years. Life changes so fast! Pre-baby life feels like a whole other life.  I’m wayyyy overdue for a visit to my PCP bc I’ve been under OBGYN or midwifery care for the majority of the past three years while having babies, but I am pretty good with keeping up with my paps. It seems women often think they need pap and/or HPV testing way more frequently than they do (and providers sometimes perform these tests more frequently than necessary - remember more testing doesn’t always mean better outcomes!)  So if you need it, here’s a quick little reminder on this chilly spring Friday afternoon on how often you need this testing (these are the recommendations from ACOG)  Women aged 21–29 years should have a Pap test alone every 3 years. HPV testing is not recommended.  Women aged 30–65 years should have a Pap test and an HPV test (aka co-testing) every 5 years (preferred). It also is acceptable to have a Pap test alone every 3 years.  If you get abnormal results, this testing frequency could change - but for healthy women with normal results, you actually don’t need testing as frequently as you might think. Which is great news for those of you who hate the speculum.  Ok, off to finish up some things on the to-do list (including cleaning this kitchen) during nap time and then come 5 o’clock, crack an IPA with our neighbors 🍻
#AlignPartner Over the past seven months since bec #AlignPartner Over the past seven months since becoming a mom of two, caring for myself has gotten shoved to the back burner. And it's been a challenge to make it a priority. My routine-resistant personality has upsides and downsides when it comes to motherhood. So I'm starting small this year with a consistent bedtime routine that includes taking my supplements and @alignprobiotic and hoping as that becomes consistent, my mornings will naturally shift too.  In short my bedtime currently goes like this….jammies & face care when putting the babies to bed. Before I go to bed (anytime between 9pm and 12am...) I’ll pump, take my supplements and fill my water. Then I go upstairs and brush my teeth. And then get in bed. The kicker: 70% of the time I find myself finishing up tasks on my phone IN BED. I hate this habit.  Back to supplements. This is something I have been able to stick with. On top of fish oil, my prenatal, choline and vitamin D, I recently added @AlignProbiotic 24/7 Digestive Support*§ to see if it helps with abdominal discomfort and regularity because when I don’t drink coffee or am traveling that can get thrown off.  I’ll be taking it every day for the next 28 days since it takes TIME for our bodies to adjust to probiotics - and I'll be taking you guys along with me as I share my honest thoughts. Many people think if they don’t see changes within the first 7-10 days then the probiotic isn’t working, but that’s not the case. I’m giving myself more than just a week or two and instead a full month to see the full benefits. I’ll keep you posted over the next month. Check out my stories to learn more! #MyAlignGutJourney #guthealth
 
*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.
We had an AFTERNOON today. Toddler didn’t care f We had an AFTERNOON today. Toddler didn’t care for a nap. Putting baby down was harder than I wanted it to be. Miraculously, I had a moment of clarity as I was covered in tiny humans and decided I wasn’t doing the nap battle thing a on 60 degree, gorgeous, sunny spring day 🙅🏻‍♀️ so I piled both babies into the car half naked, opened the sun roof, put on white noise for them and an audio book for me and drank a kombucha as I drove a meal to a postpartum mama. Thirty five minutes later we had a sleeping baby and a toddler who at least had a rest. Baby transferred without waking HALLELUJAH and although my toddler didn’t nap today (lord help) at least we got soaked in breezy sunshine 😎🤘🏻💆🏻‍♀️
We veered from our usual Friday night homemade piz We veered from our usual Friday night homemade pizza (minus the dough, we leave that to @albemarlebakingco) because we are eating pizza tomorrow with some friends - instead I called my mom and asked her how she makes her chicken fingers and we fried up a big ole batch of chicken nugs 🙌🏻🤤 along with a sheet pan full of sweet potato fries and a simple arugula salad dressed with parmesean, olive oil and s&p. Oh and my moms honey mustard recipe for dipping. It’s SO DANG GOOD.  Over the past 6ish months we’ve been practicing (and practicing and practicing bc it doesn’t come naturally) unplugging from technology and slowing down and resting and just being for one day a week. Some call it Shabbat. Some call it Sabbath. Maybe you call it something different. All I know is IT IS SO GOOD FOR MY WEARY SOUL and the day I look forward to ALL WEEK. Sundown on Friday to sundown Saturday. Nothing but rest. For us that means hiking (or something outside) and napping and reading and being with friends and eating really good food. And drinking some really good wine or craft beer. Sometimes whiskey. 😛  And because I know I’ll get asked about the chicken finger recipe and also because it’s too good not to share and Momma Coale said I could, here ya go:  Cut chicken breast into thin strips or small pieces (I prefer nug size bc the breading to chicken ratio is perfection). Salt and pepper those babies really well. Then dredge them in all purpose flour, then egg, then panko - just like you would bread anything else. Then fry them up in a light oil - I use avocado oil because that’s our everyday oil. You could also use canola or peanut oil. Just fill a pan with an inch or so of oil on medium high heat. They only take 2-3 minutes per side. You can always temp them to make sure they are at least 165 degrees F to really make sure they are done. Dunk in all the sauces and enjoy!  Happy weekend!

Copyright © 2023 · The Real RD· Blog Design by Little Blue Deer


Terms and Conditions | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy