A little help for “calming the chaos” By Elizabeth Blonde
W
e live in a high-paced world, where “busy” is the first thing that comes to mind when asked “how are you?”. I feel like it speeds up even more in Spring with sports, year-end activities and summer planning. We run from carpool to sports, from work to volunteer opportunities and of course the never-ending laundry, sink of dishes and keeping the house. In all this busyness, where is the time for you? We must fill our cup first in order to pour some into our families, work and community effectively. And I’m not talking about weekends away, or pedicures and bubble baths, although those are amazing. Here are some realistic daily habits that have helped calm the chaos and they may help you too. l Drink more water, we can never have enough, a cup at bedside to drink first thing and before you crawl into bed. l Make your bed as soon as you wake up. l Race the coffee maker and empty the dishwasher in the morning. l Start and finish a load (or 2) of laundry every day. l Prioritize your sleep and support your immune system. l While the kids are at practice, take a walk around the park, do some body weight exercises or stretching. This is also a great time to listen to a book or favorite podcast. l Plan your meals on Sunday with your calendar and schedule in mind. Then prep to keep meals quick and easy in the evening.
l Using the IP or crock pot to cook and shred chicken for chicken salad, BBQ pulled chicken and soups. l With a few hours of planning and prep you can have a whole week of “fast food” to fuel your body well. Lastly, take an inventory of how you are doing in these areas. You can adjust at any time in ways that work best for you. Then CELEBRATE what you are doing and the progress you have made. Making these small changes over time can make such an impact on your mindset and your health. You are making a difference. You are enough. You are worthy. Elizabeth Blonde has been a resident of Smyrna for five years along with her husband and four children. Elizabeth’s passion is to guide others on their personal health journey to help them live the life they were created to live. She is the founder of The Smyrna Wellness Collective and partners with many like-minded people in the community to help match people with providers that can help give them what they need. “Everyone’s needs are different but we are all working with the same end-goal in mind.” She is passionate about health and wellness and is honored to be a part of this sweet town of Smyrna.
Here are a few suggestions that work for our family of six: l Grill a bunch of chicken at one time, chop and roast potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, pepper and onions. l Sauté up several pounds of meat at one time, separate and season for tacos one night and then add tomatoes and beans (or the roasted sweet potato) another night and even add to a pasta dish with some ricotta, mozzarella and spaghetti sauce.
COMING SOON! MARIETTA SQUARE
24 HOUR INFRARED FITNESS STUDIO
Our Town
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