I remember getting up each morning when I lived by myself to workout, make breakfast, and fully get ready for the day. That was when I was living by myself, had no children, no commute, and very little responsibility. I used to subscribe to the idea that "everyone has the same 24 hours in a day" and that people who weren't in peak physical condition just weren't working hard enough.
Its embarrassing to say that because I was so wrong and this was honestly such a naive and elitist kind of attitude towards health and wellness.
I was able to continue this regimen through getting married and having one child. Thankfully that one child liked to sit still, could entertain herself, and slept great by about 8 months old. I used to carve out time in the day for a workout, meal prepping, and spend the time I didn't carve out thinking about how I could balance out my calories in versus calories out.
Then, as my daughter got older and I kept pushing harder and harder to maintain my grueling workouts and eating plan, I began to realize just how much time and energy it was taking away from other things in my life. If you asked me what hobbies I had, I couldn't really come up with anything besides working out or listening to audiobooks.
I was obsessed with health and fitness and felt it was really the only option to stay consistent. It was a top priority, along with working, my family, and trying to spend time by myself and I just couldn't make it all fit. It really began to wear on me.
I realized that every time I said "yes" to a long workout, writing a meal plan, or intense meal prepping, I was saying "no" to playtime with my child, spending time with my husband, or having time just for me to do whatever I wanted (hi social media, online thrift shopping, Netflix...I don't feel bad about saying this). And the lie I was telling myself that I really "loved" to workout was really just me "loving" feeling like I was accomplishing something that a lot of people weren't "willing" to do and that it was a small sacrifice. I began to understand what people meant when they'd say, "there just aren't enough hours in the day".
They were right. There isn't enough time to do all the things in every season of life. Everything cannot be your number one priority. If you choose to make a clean house your priority, you are putting other things lower on the priority list. I'm not saying this to shame anyone because I didn't realize I was doing this myself for a long time. What I'm saying is that its not possible to give 100% in all areas of life because that math doesn't add up.
Nowadays, with two little ones, a full time job, and paying more attention to my mental health and what my body actually needs and wants, you'll find me going for a walk on my work break or doing a few squats while holding my kids. I might work up a sweat having a dance party with or without my kids :) Meals conversations sound like "What do we need to use up at home" "What sounds good?" "What nutritious things could we add that our kids will eat?" Sometimes you'll find me sitting and binging Netflix on my phone while folding laundry and most of the time choosing sleep over early morning workouts.
If you feel you need permission to let off the gas a bit, especially in a difficult season of life, here it is. Find ways to move your body that really make you feel good regardless of what that looks like. Eat food that makes you happy and fills your soul as well as your belly. Say yes to spending time doing what you love. Say no to things that do not serve your top priorities at the moment. For now, you'll find me, most of the time, make up-less, sometimes showered, toys scattered around our house, no formal workouts being done, and so much happier than I was a couple years ago. Remember, everyone's 24 hours in a day look vastly different. You choose how to fill them.
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