Sometimes we need a lot of things to come undone at once, in order to hear the message….”hey, SLOW DOWN.” I feel like I’m in the thick of that right now. I tend to overvalue efficiency. I do think using our time intentionally and making the most of it is important. But I can also become easily frustrated if something unexpected comes up, which then puts a wrench in plans and I think to myself, “I’m wasting so much time!” But this is life. As the saying goes, too much of a good thing is usually not a good thing – efficiency can be a good thing until you idolize it. That is the trap I easily fall into. If you find yourself nodding your head, you’re not alone. But maybe I am alone if you’re like…yeah, I don’t struggle with that Robyn 🙂
So after a slew of events over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been forced to slow down even when my brain says, “You have so much to do before your capacity to work slows when you have a baby in December!” That’s a self imposed expectation – that I need to do ALL THE THINGS. And accepting that need to rest instead of resisting it has been really refreshing in many ways. Rest over the past couple weeks has meant working shorter hours, asking for help, minimally moving my body except to do necessary things like shower and do life and canceling a beach trip with a good friend that I was really looking forward to. But, sometimes the decisions we don’t want to make are the best ones for us. So here I am, being human, and trying to care for myself when I really don’t want to.
Nourishing foods
One of those events that screamed, “SLOW DOWN lady” was developing costochondritis in my left ribs aka the cartilage that connects my ribs to my sternum was hella inflamed. It’s incredibly painful. I was willing to do anything to help it heal which meant my first visit to a chiropractor, lots of stretching, endless icing and heating and resting resting resting. I’ve continued with the chiropractor and stretching, icing etc and am so grateful to be feeling better! In addition, I tried to add in as many nourishing foods as possible. It’s fragile ground I think sometimes to bring together nutrition science with intuitive eating, but if I’ve learned anything over the years it’s that doing so is certainly possible and I think really, really important when it comes to our whole health. I really wanted to feel better, so incorporating more nourishing foods into my meals/snacks over the past couple weeks felt empowering vs obligatory.
Was I eliminating gluten, dairy, sugar and all that jazz like the internet tells you to? NO. Because doing that would be stressful and stress isn’t good for your health either. But I have been eating as many fruits and veggies, fibrous grains and healthy fats as possible. When I was home, momma Coale cooked pasta with homemade tomato sauce and veggies, made so many delicious salads and added healthy fats, like avocado, to everything. There was also lots of olive oil involved. Being at home was a total luxury and I was so grateful I could stay at home an extra week.
Favorite meals
Meals I ate while I was home that included a lot of healthy fats were the above breakfast on repeat. Sometimes I sautéed up some spinach or kale to scramble in with the eggs if I was feeling it. Usually, the go to was a whole wheat bagel from TJs, half with mashed avocado and the other half with whipped cream cheese, lots of everything seasoning and a couple fried eggs.
My mom and I went out to Cafe Patachou for lunch and their chopped cobb salad is my favorite. Everything about it. Shredded Indiana chicken, greens, tomatoes, salty bacon, hard boiled eggs, goat cheese and creamy avocado. I dream about this salad. It’s so satisfying and filling. I ate a piece of toast for some carbs too because the salad doesn’t have a carb source and without carbs, a meal wouldn’t be complete.
Since being back in Boston, I’ve cooked some simple, yet delicious dinners and lunches instead of relying on eating out or eating frozen meals because that is what makes me feel best. Nothing fancy, just the basics. Eating out and frozen meals are certainly a good thing, but I do feel best when I have satisfying food on hand from my own kitchen.
Starting fresh
As I’ve settled back into Boston this past week and a half, I’ve continued the slower pace. Checking in with myself on what things are necessary to get done and what things don’t actually need to get done. Our tiny apartment hasn’t been cleaned in 3 weeks (I’m crazy and like to clean once a week which in this season of life is just unreasonable) but the dust can sit on the shelves. I’ve slept in a little later and spent time with good friends – something I really needed. And this past weekend I did a lot of reflecting on what this next season of life looks like and what is going to be healthiest for me physically, mentally and emotionally. Sometimes, we need a lot of things to unravel at once in order to hear the message….”you’re doing too much.”
In what ways are you starting fresh as summer turns into fall? Sharing in the comments!
This post was sponsored by Fresh Avocados – Love One Today®
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Practice giving yourself grace when things don’t go as planned. Once that sweet baby arrives, there’s no such thing as a plan! Babies don’t care about your to do list! I’m a full time Mama to two boys (4 and almost 2) and it was hard to learn that lesson. So cuddle your baby when he needs it, but make sure you have time set aside for yourself too.
Such a helpful reminder that it’s OK to say no sometimes and to not put so much pressure on yourself! it can be so easy to over-commit yourself.
It seems like you’re always taking vacations, having leisurely lunches, working from home sipping coffee… it seems a little tone deaf to the rest of us who have actual schedules that need to be adhered to. you reference your NP job sometimes but it seems like you are never there? just curious as to where the stress is coming from because it definitely doesn’t seem like you’re go go go on your social media platforms/blog.
Seriously? You know nothing about her life apart from a few pictures! What’s your problem? Why would you judge somebody like this?
It is soo true; I am thankful for you Robyn and humbly sharing what caused you to slow down. It often seems like American culture seems to fuel the faster lifestyle, and it almost feels weird to go slower, but that slower lifestyle really helps me take it all in, learn, and be able to spend more time with relationships too. I so appreciate you and your love for hustle and your job Robyn, and I hope you do get some good refreshing rest especially as you head to Hawaii this week.
“I was willing to do anything to help it heal which meant my first visit to a chiropractor, lots of stretching, endless icing and heating and resting resting resting. I’ve continued with the chiropractor and stretching, icing etc and am so grateful to be feeling better! In addition, I tried to add in as many nourishing foods as possible.” OH MY GOSH! this sounds just like me….I swear sometimes I think we have the same life. I recently got injured, a muscle strain, and man my body was telling me to slow down, but I was feeling obligated to keep working and staying busy. All obligations in my own head, of course. What become the best form of recovery was my last option, rest… After visiting urgent care and getting a health professional to say, yeah you need to heal, I finally listened. I am still not fully recovered, but I have tremendous gratitude for our bodies and how they heal. Part of how they heal is also accepting the amount of time it takes for the body to heal. That time is not left up to me or my schedule, but rather out of my CONTROL, and left up for the body to decide. Great post. I xoxo you!!
I love your posts Robin (& hate mean trolls LOL)!! It’s so hard to not feel like we need to be constantly accomplishing, but when I live that life I enjoy nothing & it’s having time to actually enjoy & notice the small things that is living, not constantly checking one more thing off your to do list!!.
This was part of my morning devotion & it’s something I really need to work on too, REST!!….“Come to Me, all you who are weary, and I will give you rest.” Just wanted you to know theres a bunch of us all satying ME TOO!!
Love this post so much and found it so relatable. This semester has been kicking my butt, and it’s probably the busiest I’ve ever been. Now I’m one of those people who really thinks I can push through with all my routines regardless of how many extra things I have on my plate, so it was a hard pill to swallow that I could not in fact do it all.
Lately, slowing down has meant foregoing workouts or opting for much shorter lighter ones to ease my stress, choosing sleep over a morning friend date that I do enjoy so much but just wouldn’t be present for, and doing simple meal prep at the beginning of the week so that I’m not spending too much time thinking about food throughout the week. And the thing is, once I put these practices in place that give me permission to not be ON POINT and super productive every day, I started feeling so much happier and joyful even in the craziness of the everyday.
Your experience with costochondritis and the decision to focus on nourishing foods without unnecessary restrictions is inspiring. It is refreshing to see someone approach health with a holistic perspective acknowledging the importance of both physical and mental well being.
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