When life seems chaotic, getting into a routine can help tame the chaos and anxiety you feel. Routines are known to: - Reduce stress
- Help you sleep better
- Prioritize what's important to you
- Open up mental space
I know you may bristle at having to stick to a schedule. However, the good news is that it is your routine! You get to make it work for you. A wellness routine is tailored to you and your schedule and helps you work towards the life you want to create. I know that sounds like a tall order! Don't worry, though. I've got you covered with five simple steps to help you spring clean your wellness routine, so the rest of 2022 will work better for you.
-Stephanie |
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5 Ways to Clean Up Your Wellness Routine
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Step 1: Decide what's important to you
Starting with an idea of what you'd like to create will help you then backfill the steps to get there. Spend no more than 5 minutes thinking about how you'd like your day to go from when you get up to when you go to bed. Are there tasks or activities that you want to do each day? Maybe you want a few minutes with your kids or pet. Or, you want time to read in the evenings. Take a few notes you can refer back to later.
Step 2: Schedule the essential things.
Take a look at a blank weekly calendar and decide where, ideally, you want to put those essential things you identified in step one. Include bedtime and what you need to do to shut down and get to bed on time.
Step 3: Start with one thing.
From all the things you've written on your ideal schedule, what is one thing you can start including in your plan this week? Starting small, with just one thing, can make getting it done easier. Schedule that one thing on your calendar.
Step 4: Honor your commitment to yourself.
When the time comes for the thing you scheduled, honor that commitment you made to yourself. It can be so easy to let it slide, decide you're too busy, or choose to do it next week. However, ask yourself what your future self will say about not doing what you promised yourself you'd do.
Step 5: Add in more
As the first thing you've added into your schedule becomes automatic, you can add another, then another, until you've got them all in your week.
Keeping it Real
This routine is one to help you get to a life where you balance your wellness with all of the other commitments you've got. There are times when your routine won't work. That is OK! When life gets in the way, commit to getting back on track as soon as you can.
There will be times when you need to adjust your routine. That's OK, too! You may start training for and running marathons. As times change, you may only have time for 5Ks or even decide you'll switch to walking. You can change the activities as your life changes so that your wellness routine always fits your life.
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6 Things Worth Scheduling this Spring
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Here are six ideas for things to include in your schedule while you're spring cleaning your wellness routine:- Movement: How can you move throughout your day? Can you plan a 10-minute walk in the morning and afternoon? Walking several times through the day is more beneficial than having a one-hour workout than sitting the rest of the day.
- More Veggies: How can you add one or two vegetables to meals? Are there vegetables in season that you've been eagerly awaiting? If you find choosing and preparing vegetables a challenge, pick up Field Guide to Produce: How to Identify, Select, and Prepare Virtually Every Fruit and Vegetable at the Market. You'll know how to choose and prepare all that lovely produce at the market with it in hand.
- Meatless Monday: Commit to giving Meatless Monday a try. Meatless Monday is just that - a day where you don't include meat in your meals. The good news is that you get to decide what that means. Do you want all meals meatless or only dinner? Whatever you choose is perfect!
- Gratitude: Taking a couple of minutes to acknowledge things you're grateful for has improved mood, increased happiness, and improved self-esteem. You can mentally note three things you're thankful for, start a gratitude journal, and note them in the morning or before going to bed.
- Personal Check-In: Rather than worrying about the future or the past, focus on what's happening at the moment. What are you feeling, hearing, seeing, smelling, touching? Taking time to slow down and tune in to the moment can help with depression, anxiety, and stress. To help you remember to do this, set the alarm once or twice a day and then honor the notice when it goes off.
- White space: Your calendar does not have to (actually should not) be filled with appointments, and "to-dos;" make sure you have open space to slow down and enjoy life!
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Featured Recipe
Grain-Free Focaccia
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By: Bob's Red Mill www.bobsredmill.com
This delicious focaccia is packed with flavor-without the grains! Make it in minutes with Bob Red Mill’s Grain-Free Flatbread Mix and top with garlic, red pepper flakes, parsley and olive oil.
Servings: 8
Ingredients - 1 package Grain Free Flatbread Mix
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup olive oil, plus additional for brushing
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- ¼ tsp coarse kosher salt
- 1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F. Brush oil on the inside of a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan (or an 8 x 4-inch loaf pan for sandwiches).
Combine flatbread mix, eggs, ¼ cup olive oil, and water and mix thoroughly. Let sit for 5 minutes.
Scrape dough into the prepared pan and spread to fill using lightly wet or oiled hands. Use fingertips to generously dimple the top of the dough. Gently brush with olive oil, then sprinkle evenly with garlic, red pepper flakes and salt, pressing the toppings into the dough. Top with chopped parsley.
Bake until golden brown, 18–20 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately dab the top with additional olive oil. Let cool at least 10 minutes before slicing and serving (cool completely if making sandwiches).
Per serving: 190 calories, 11 grams fat, 1.5 grams saturated fat, 280 mg sodium, 16 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 5 grams protein
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Be Inspired
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"Where flowers bloom so does hope."
– Lady Bird Johnson
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About SO Nutrition
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Stephanie Leipprandt Ouellette, MBA, RDN, LD Stephanie has been working in the field of nutrition and dietetics since 1995. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics from Michigan State University, completed an Approved Pre-Professional Practice Program at Western Michigan University and earned a Master of Business Administration from Baker College. She’s been a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist since 1996 and licensed in Texas since 2007. In 2008, Stephanie earned her certification in Childhood and Adolescent Weight Management. Stephanie has extensive clinical & managerial experience, both in corporate settings and in the community. Now she wants to share her knowledge with you, because most (if not all) nutritional habits begin at home.
Stephanie and her family reside in Katy, Texas
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