In response to my last blog regarding perceived healthy choices, one of our readers pointed out that it is simply a matter of priorities and through life your priorities change.
Things that were once important, no longer hold any weight at all.
And visa versa.
I guess it’s part of what makes us human. Our desire for change and forward movement in our lives.
Something that we are trying to prioritise at the minute is sleep / quality of sleep, no snacking and eating more vegetables.
When you are sleep deprived or just simply tired. Your ability to make good choices is reduced.
You’re more likely to crave and go for sweeter sugary options to give you a little energy, albeit short lived as the sugar crash hits shortly after.
We’re not really in control of the amount of sleep we are getting, our boy doesn’t like to miss anything after 5am (4.30am this morning). Our working hours mean that we don’t usually get to sit down until 9pm, leaving little time to unwind before heading to bed.
What we can control is the quality of our sleep. We’ve written about this lots over the past couple of years and again more recently, you can search the blog for more tips.
The thing I have noticed the greatest difference with is a magnesium and zinc supplement.
When I remember to do it, I definitely wake up feeling more rested.
I say when I remember but Fran has actually started putting the capsules on my bedside table with a glass of water. She does this because when she used to leave them in our bathroom, if I lay in bed before she reminded me I would be too lazy / tired to take the two steps necessary to take them.
I knew they would improve my sleep but I just couldn’t find it within me to stand back up and take those steps.
We all do similar, particularly with nutrition. We know that a freshly prepared meal will be better for us than a tin, jar or ready meal but actually prioritising the time to make it is the key to eating healthier.
We’re both gradually prioritising kitchen time again and starting to prepare fresh meals. Mainly for ourselves / each other. The kids have their set routines that we have built up and are working well with. They argued over who was going to eat the last piece of broccoli at the weekend, we’re taking that as a major win.
To help fill the gap, I’ve started drinking a greens drink again most mornings. Again I’ve wrote about these many times and the kids actually start their day with one, another win for us 🙂
The snacking was a big one for me because I noticed I was constantly picking at things and scooping up left overs at non-meal times for me. I don’t usually eat breakfast until way after the school run but was finishing off bowls of cereal and brioche rolls.
It’s a simple strategy for me to follow and I’m not using it to restrict my choices. If I want some cake, I’m just going to tie it on to the end of a meal rather than having snacks between.
The easier a plan is to follow the more likely you are to keep following it, which them forms it in to a habit.
Over the past couple of months I have prioritised some form of exercise or activity daily. I’m feeling much better as a result.
Tonight I went out in to the garden as the sun was lowering across our patio and practiced some chi gung, I find it really calming. I intend to make that part of my wind down routine when the kids have gone to bed each night.
What simple steps or strategies could you take to make becoming healthier that little bit easier?
Darren ‘Simple’ Checkley
PS The greens drink and magnesium supplement we use are from Lean Greens, they are running an offer this week. If you subscribe to one of their products they’ll give you a £20.00 Amazon voucher – enter the code SUBMAY at the checkout.
