A ton of my clients have expressed to me that they struggle over the summer. Just when you've got a routine down, school gets out, vacations start, graduations, weddings, and parties of all different styles and degrees pop up and you have to start all over again finding some sort of consistency.
Summer can easily derail you ... if you let it.
The problem is that summer runs right into the holidays, and the next thing you know you are starting all over on January 1st, back where you were 5 months ago or worse (ugh!)!
So, what can you do to prevent the summer shutdown?? Here are a couple of my best tips:
1. Get Up Early: Bleh, I know not what you wanted to hear. Seriously though, getting up at the same time as you were before "summer hours" helps a ton! Sleeping in can be sooo tempting, however, late mornings lead to late nights which often lead to poor choices and little to no sleep. What comes next? Less energy and missed workouts or sugar/energy drinks to get through the day, not to mention other questionable choices that can lead you right back to where you were before.
2. Create Pillars: Pick some basic things in your day that do not and will not change. Anchor a healthy activity to that task or moment in time. For instance, brushing your teeth also means packing your healthy lunch. Checking the mail also means putting on your workout shoes. Putting on your PJs, put a glass of water on your nightstand for the morning. Take things that happen at the same time every day and tack a healthy task to it!
3. Pack, Don't Purchase: Amusement parks, museums, pool parties, etc. are a breeding ground for poor food choices. Do not give in; bring your food with you. Most places either allow outside food, or allow in and out entry privileges. Either way you can bring a cooler with your own healthy, prepped food. As a bonus, this is also great for your budget!
4. Plan, Plan, Plan: Why does planning go out the window for the summer?! It is always so much easier to have at least a general plan to keep you on track. We all know what happens when we just "wing it" :( It is so much easier to plan healthy meals, bed time routines, workouts, etc. if you know what is coming so be sure to look ahead. And don't just plan the healthy stuff, plan the fun stuff too like sleep in days or treat meals; gives you something to look forward to for keeping your commitment to your goals.
You may not stick to the plan 100% of the time, however sticking to it 80% of the time will get you closer than having no plan at all.
5. #OptOutside: REI had it right with their famous Black Friday campaign. Put this to good use and get outside! There are 5ks, water parks, hikes, mom groups, summer camps, and so much more. Skip the movie theater, ordering pizza, tv days, and inside voices. Keep that for the rainy cold days of winter!!
6. Be Inclusive: Resist the urge to make your healthy lifestyle something that is in spite of your family, and make it because of them. Pick a kid friendly 5K, let kids or parents help with the meal plan by choosing healthy meals from a list (and help prep if they are capable). Include your spouse too - being included goes a long way in them not sabotaging your efforts.
7. Keep Your Me Time: As people pull you in a million directions remember that you cannot pour from an empty cup. Say NO to things so that you can say YES to the most important things. Your workouts, your meditation time, your bedtime routine, etc. keep up with these so you can keep up with everything else.
I hope these tips help you stay on track this summer :) Feel free to comment with your own ideas!
Summer can easily derail you ... if you let it.
The problem is that summer runs right into the holidays, and the next thing you know you are starting all over on January 1st, back where you were 5 months ago or worse (ugh!)!
So, what can you do to prevent the summer shutdown?? Here are a couple of my best tips:
1. Get Up Early: Bleh, I know not what you wanted to hear. Seriously though, getting up at the same time as you were before "summer hours" helps a ton! Sleeping in can be sooo tempting, however, late mornings lead to late nights which often lead to poor choices and little to no sleep. What comes next? Less energy and missed workouts or sugar/energy drinks to get through the day, not to mention other questionable choices that can lead you right back to where you were before.
2. Create Pillars: Pick some basic things in your day that do not and will not change. Anchor a healthy activity to that task or moment in time. For instance, brushing your teeth also means packing your healthy lunch. Checking the mail also means putting on your workout shoes. Putting on your PJs, put a glass of water on your nightstand for the morning. Take things that happen at the same time every day and tack a healthy task to it!
3. Pack, Don't Purchase: Amusement parks, museums, pool parties, etc. are a breeding ground for poor food choices. Do not give in; bring your food with you. Most places either allow outside food, or allow in and out entry privileges. Either way you can bring a cooler with your own healthy, prepped food. As a bonus, this is also great for your budget!
4. Plan, Plan, Plan: Why does planning go out the window for the summer?! It is always so much easier to have at least a general plan to keep you on track. We all know what happens when we just "wing it" :( It is so much easier to plan healthy meals, bed time routines, workouts, etc. if you know what is coming so be sure to look ahead. And don't just plan the healthy stuff, plan the fun stuff too like sleep in days or treat meals; gives you something to look forward to for keeping your commitment to your goals.
You may not stick to the plan 100% of the time, however sticking to it 80% of the time will get you closer than having no plan at all.
5. #OptOutside: REI had it right with their famous Black Friday campaign. Put this to good use and get outside! There are 5ks, water parks, hikes, mom groups, summer camps, and so much more. Skip the movie theater, ordering pizza, tv days, and inside voices. Keep that for the rainy cold days of winter!!
6. Be Inclusive: Resist the urge to make your healthy lifestyle something that is in spite of your family, and make it because of them. Pick a kid friendly 5K, let kids or parents help with the meal plan by choosing healthy meals from a list (and help prep if they are capable). Include your spouse too - being included goes a long way in them not sabotaging your efforts.
7. Keep Your Me Time: As people pull you in a million directions remember that you cannot pour from an empty cup. Say NO to things so that you can say YES to the most important things. Your workouts, your meditation time, your bedtime routine, etc. keep up with these so you can keep up with everything else.
I hope these tips help you stay on track this summer :) Feel free to comment with your own ideas!
No comments:
Post a Comment