MAY-CEMBER

It's that crazy time of year. As busy moms, the month of May can be as bad, if not worse, than the holiday season between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.

May brings a plethora of end of school activities like parties, field trips, programs and assemblies; graduations; holidays (Mother’s Day and Memorial Weekend); the end of spring sports and the beginning of summer leagues.

When you’re trying to run around getting ALL the things done and fighting a chaotic schedule, your health, nutrition, and weight loss goals can unravel quickly.

It’s completely understandable.

There is a time and a place for everything. While you’re navigating this hectic time of the year, I want to say that you might be at a point where you need to reevaluate your goals and action steps. Not giving up, but readjusting to the circumstances you’re dealing with.

What can you do to make your actions easier? Or how can you scale your goals to keep them doable while still maintaining a balance with the rest of your life – work and family?

Are you able to keep up with your workouts or walks? Have your food choices become less healthy with less time to cook or prep, or simply not being home and you’re stuck with whatever is available (fast food or concession stands)?

This stuff is all totally normal.

When your brain is scattered in a billion directions, it makes sense that things will fall through the cracks. Whether it’s working on your healthy habits, doing housework, or finding time to run errands. These things are going to happen.

So, what can you do to stay on track?

Here are three quick and easy ideas to help you figure out what you can do to continue with your health, nutrition, and weight loss goals.

First, decide what matters most RIGHT NOW. 

If your week is stacked with activities and commitments, what health goal matters the most? Healthier eating? Meeting your fitness goals? Healthy ways to relieve your stress? Whatever goals you have set for yourself, and the action steps you are taking to meet those goals, choose what matters most to you right now and focus on THAT.

Second, narrow it down to ONE THING. 

For example, if you feel like the most important thing RIGHT NOW is keeping up with your fitness goals/physical activity, narrow it down to the ONE THING you can keep up with. Daily walk? Lifting weights? Weekend bike rides? Focus on that one thing FOR NOW. This is not permanent. This is only until this insane season slows down, or until you are able to adjust to the insanity! Busy moms are resilient. We can do that.

Third, keep it SIMPLE. 

If fitness is your goal right now, if your daily walk is the one thing you’ve narrowed it down to, then the third thing you can do is keep it as simple as possible. Look for the opportunities to get those steps in, no matter where you are or what you’re doing. 

I’ve worked on my steps during my kids’ sports activities many times. I prefer evening walks but when I know we’re going to be gone in the evenings, I take the time to walk during lunch, or whenever I can. Look for any way to make your actions as simple and doable as possible. If you order something healthy for lunch, but know you’re going to be gone for the evening, maybe order another one (sandwich, wrap, salad, whatever) TO GO, and save it for your dinner that night at the ball field, practice, lesson, etc.

Once again, there is nothing wrong with giving yourself some grace to get through this hectic time. And the month of May, especially for busy moms, is INDEED a chaotic time. Don’t let your inner critic convince you that “Sally” has all her stuff together, is going to all the activities, and still working out 5 hours per day. It’s simply not true, and for all you know, “Sally” might be hanging on to her sanity by a thin thread. Be kind to yourself, and be kind to the other moms, too. We’re all in this together, and you WILL get through it with your health, nutrition, and weight loss goals intact.

If you would like to learn more about how Health and Nutrition Coaching can help you stay on target and reach your goals, Book a FREE Consultation.