Change Is Hard. Here’s How To Do It.

Today’s letter is specifically for working women raising children while still managing most household tasks.

Incorporating healthy food and fitness into your daily schedule is nearly impossible.

“Jill, you are supposed to motivate me. Why would you say such a thing?”

Because it’s true.

I work with lots of both retirees and working women. The retired woman always says, “This is so much easier now that I am not working.”

Whether you have children or not, working full-time and eating healthy (especially if you travel for your job) is incredibly hard. I try to remind us of this often because it is hard and you’ll want to give up if you’re surprised by the challenge.

I understand it’s hard when I ask you to meal plan.
I understand it’s hard when I ask you to eat less salt.
I understand it’s hard when I ask you to eat less added sugar.
I understand it’s hard when I ask you to move more.
I understand it’s hard when I ask you to drink more water.
I understand it’s hard when I ask you to eat more fruits and veggies.

I do. It’s hard, and not acknowledging that would be awful for you.

Changing your lifestyle is challenging, but you can manage your expectations when you understand this up front. 

The diet industry will trick you into thinking that change is quick and easy. That is a bold lie to get you to buy whatever they’re selling. Don’t fall for it. 

I warn you about the work ahead because I don’t want you to be surprised and give up—or, even worse, blame yourself.

If eating healthy and moving more were so easy, nobody would be overweight and managing a bunch of chronic health conditions with meds that can be managed with lifestyle choices.

So now what?

Start slowly and start with nutrition. Add one fruit and one veggie to your week until you’re eating more of them than you are now. Start with one more glass of water this week and gradually increase that week to week until you reach your goal.

Take a walk or move more in your house if it’s too cold outside where you live.

Focus on getting more sleep.

Focus on managing your stress better so you can get that sleep.

Pick one thing to focus on until you get the hang of that, and then move to the next. It’s too hard to make drastic changes in one week, and THAT IS OK. Slow and steady wins this race.

Mostly, I am asking that you be kind and loving to yourself. Tell yourself that what you’re embarking on is difficult, but you have overcome difficult situations before, and today is no different. YOU CAN MAKE CHANGE! You’re already Wonder Woman, you just need to direct your energies toward you and not everything and everyone else.

Let’s change that this year. A little bit makes a big difference!

Your friend and biggest advocate,
Jill