Make Time for You

I have an influx of stressed calls and emails this time of year, mostly from clients and students trying to manage health and holiday stress at the same time. I know how frustrating this time of year is, I struggle with the same problem! Don’t fret, there are simple solutions to help you have a healthy holiday season. First, make a schedule and stick to it. I’ve said it before and I will continue to say it, if you schedule time for exercise, food preparation, and sleep and you follow the schedule, you’re better equipped to take care of yourself and manage stress. Second, eat before events and move away from the treat table! At my friends’ parties, we always stand around the food, chatting and snacking. This is such a hard habit to break, but if you eat ahead Continue reading

Lifelong Lessons

Watching my students march across the commencement stage fills me with wistfulness. No more research papers or presentations for the time now, but fond memories of another class of students moving out into the world. How quickly time moves! It’s these moments that remind me I need to slow down, take a deep breath, and make time for myself, too. I have been weighed down with schoolwork, and just like many people beleaguered with piles of work, I haven’t been eating well, making time to exercise, or sleeping enough. As a dietitian I know how important it is to fill these basic needs, but I have found myself being trapped by the most common barrier to living a healthy life – I’ve been making excuses! I told myself I had too many papers to grade, not enough time to exercise Continue reading