With an increase in people working from home, schools closed, events postponed, social distancing rules, and concern about loved ones, it's been a challenging time for everyone.
Your once regular routine of going to work, driving kids to and from their activities, going to the gym, and getting together with friends is no longer normal. While being out of routine can be an opportunity to discover new hobbies, it can also leave you feeling unproductive and unmotivated.
If you find yourself uninspired to start the day, re-establishing a routine could be just what you need to re-energize your mind and body. In this newsletter, I'm sharing real solutions for creating a system that will help boost mood and overall well-being.
Need more support? Schedule a consultation where we can work together to establish a routine that will empower a healthy mind and body!
-Stephanie
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Reset Your Routine
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 Research has found that establishing a routine is crucial for both adults and children. Having a set of daily habits help cope with change and reduce stress. Here are some tips to help get you started in rebooting your routine and rejuvenating your day!
Set your priorities. What are the things you want to accomplish? What needs to be done? List out things you enjoy and chores you dread. By identifying what you want to achieve and what you need to do, you are better able to plan and prioritize what needs to be done and when you will do them.
Plan for success. Once you've established your goals, purchase, and prepare what you need to get started. Not having the tools or resources required can become an excuse to procrastinate and push off what needs to be done. This only sets the cycle of waiting for "tomorrow" and delays forming the habits for your routine.
Make it a date! Schedule time to work on your goals. This could mean blocking out an hour every morning to write your book or scheduling your weekly weight lifting routine. Write it in your calendar just as you would create an appointment with someone else. Need extra accountability? Consider sharing your calendar with someone else. By simply stating your intentions out loud and telling others what you intend to do, you are more likely to stay with your commitment.
Start smart. Begin the day with something that energizes you, then move into more challenging work. By starting your day with something you're excited to do, you'll have more energy to face the more difficult, less inspiring chores. If you're in a rut and struggling with a way to inspire your start, consider exploring a new walking or running routine. This might require you to drive a few minutes to a new destination, but the change of scenery could be just what you need to get going.
Create before you consume. Avoid getting pulled into the noise and demands of other people's to-do lists by setting a rule to create before you consume. This could mean creating movement through exercise or create something for your personal or professional life. Create something for your own self-development and growth before consuming the emails and social media updates of others.
Track your progress. Find a way to monitor and track the progress you are making. Re-establishing routines and building healthy habits takes intention and daily discipline. To keep you on track, find a way to record your progress. Reflect on what is working and what needs to be modified.
Reap your rewards. Once you've created a routine, find a way to reward your progress.
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Avoid the Slump
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 As you work on creating new routines and energizing your day, be aware of these energy zappers.
Minimize your consumption of the news. While it's good to be aware of what is going on in the world, the media can also make you feel anxious and distressed. Block out specific times of the day to watch or listen to the news, and limit these time blocks to once or twice a day for 30 minutes.
Limit screen time. Be aware of how much time you are spending in front of the screen every day. From TV to computers to smartphones or tablets, our days are being inundated with information from a screen. It's essential to take regular breaks and recognize the mental health risk associated with too much screen time.
Set a time for video games and social media. Video games and social media accounts can be a way to connect with others online and unwind from the day. However, they can also be time sucks. It is not uncommon for someone to spend hours scrolling through social media accounts or playing a game, only to realize they have missed their workout session or no longer have time to cook a healthy meal. Set boundaries that help you establish healthy time limits so you can still achieve the goals you've set.
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Featured Recipe
Strawberry-Avocado Toast
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Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sliced strawberries
- 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar, for drizzling
- ½ ripe avocado, sliced
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 slices toasted whole grain bread
Instructions
Place the strawberries in a small bowl and toss with a small drizzle of balsamic vinegar. Let sit for 5 minutes.
Slice the avocado in half and cut into cubes. Add a squeeze of lemon into the avocado. Scoop it out and use the back of a fork to smash it onto the toast.
Top toasts with strawberries.
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Be Inspired
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“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
– Arthur Ashe
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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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