I have a confession to make: I let this short holiday break take control. I skipped the habits that make me feel good, like sticking to my morning stretching and meditation routine, taking baths to unwind at night, shutting off electronics one hour before bedtime, foregoing fried food (looking at you french fries!) and choosing tea over coffee and alcohol.
Instead, I’ve been coping with the pressure of running a business, the challenges of trying to keep up in my school work and the stress of a busy holiday season that only just began. This also includes the basic pressure of what others choose, like restaurants without healthy options, way too many red wine refills, cheese-laden everything, daily chocolate treats and the like.
These choices tend to distract and numb me, allowing me to tune out to how I really feel.
I feel pretty grateful to be able to catch myself before these moments become habit. It’s the benefit of being at this for so long. I’ve honed my intuition, spent many a day asking myself how I really want to feel and written pages of ramblings that allowed me to free up old thought patterns.
Yet, I do still get ‘off track.’ And rather than hide behind a smiling photo on IG, I want to be honest with you (and myself!) Yes, even a health coach needs a health coach from time to time.
A couple of days of caffeine and booze free, loads of roasted veggies, lots of water and plenty of sleep has me bouncing around again. Sounds so easy. Honestly, it can take a little adjusting.
I allowed myself to sleep in, which meant my morning workouts were pushed to the evenings – when I dread it more and tend to skip it. I ordered in a produce delivery to ensure I had veggies –I prefer to choose my own veggies through hands on touch. I used the word NO a number of times to allow me down time to rest.
In both of these situations I just described, it’s about the choices we make; We always have a choice. But what I think is even more important than the choice we make in the moment, is how we handle the aftermath of that choice.
I could have gotten wrapped up in guilt. Angry that I had to eat at X place. Belittled myself by jumping on the scale every day. And scorned myself with green juices for days.
Instead I chose compassion and a gentle approach. I allowed myself to live in each moment, fully engaged and excited. I spent time appreciating the rituals I did follow through on, like noting 3 things I’m grateful for from the day before going to sleep. I also took the opportunity to remind myself that my journey is not over, nor did it just begin again. It’s not about perfection. It’s an ebb and flow of striving towards balance.
As you move through the remainder of this holiday season, see if you can find a little grace and ease in all of your choices and in how you react to the choices. What you do in one day, over 5 days and even over a couple of weeks is pretty inconsequential to the consistent choices you make over the full year.
This holiday season, try not to throw caution to the wind, but also allow yourself to enjoy moments between the moments.
I’m sending you so much love and peace,
Monique