Where to start when your too exhausted, to start!
Exhaustion hits many of us in this fast paced world we live in. The ‘all work and no play’ concept is real! But I also know you truly want to look after your self the best you can, and sometimes, that feels incredibly challenging to prioritise when you have so much on your plate.
And so often we put our selves on the back burner, waiting for the right time to prioritise our self. And the weeks turn in to months, turning in to years and this, this is our life. Waiting.
We live in an age of information OVERLOAD! So when we finally decide that enough is enough, and we start thinking about what we should do to break free of the exhaustion rut, we often hit decision paralysis!
Which diet do I choose?
Sally said this vitamin helps but which one should I take?
What type of workout do I need?
Are icebaths good or I read something the other day saying no!
Fasting? Yay or nay?
Honestly the information is overwhelming and can seem so unachievable to squeeze in, without selling our homes and moving to the forest. So we stay where we are, because it feels all too hard and we are way too tired.
‘Cant someone else do it for me?’ She sighs.
I am Charmaine, a Naturopath and Counsellor that has sat with thousands of women and fine tuned the things that REALLY matter.
And I’m here to tell you… they are the most SIMPLE things! That you will almost eye roll me reading on. But hear me out.
These are the foundations that will help you feel;
More energised.
More calm and happy.
More empowered to take the next step.
And once these foundations are laid, the potential for the body to really thrive, is set in stone!
If your in a rut, tapped out, overwhelmed and exhausted, START HERE. Everything starts to work from here. Remember, we are house plants with some complicated emotions ok.
HYDRATION: Helps the body let go of stress. We literally wee out stress hormones! Or we don’t! Sure 2L is great but many of my clients are lucky to get a litre in daily. So set yourself a goal to consume more then you are, in a way that feels achievable for you right now. Get yourself a cute big drink bottle which means you only need to fill it once and aim to drink it by lunch time. Let your body soften. You deserve to feel supple.
ADD PROTEIN TO YOUR BREAKFAST: High protein is a big fad, and for good reason! Protein sources such as meats, eggs, dairy, poultry, legumes, nuts and seeds are the bulk ingredient of your body. If we want healthy bodies, we must put in the main ingredient! Protein helps you make happy brain chemicals and sends messages of safety to the brain! So it’s a great way to start your day. And if your not up for high protein breakfast yet, then start small. Swap vegemite for peanut butter. Add an egg on your avo toast. Swap cereal for granola. Add protein powder to your oats. Start small and build as you can.
FRUIT AFTER LUNCH: Fibre my friends. You need fibre. Fibre comes from plants. And fibre feeds the good bacteria in your gut that literally make your whole body function! No fibre, no energy. The goal is 5 serves of veg and 2 serves of fruit daily. That is a lot of chewing for most of us living on toast scraps. So just start small for now. Increase one serve at a time. Get in the habit of packing a piece of fruit to have after lunch. The fibre will help your digestion and the carbohydrates will help your energy. You. Got. This.
EXTRA SLEEP: Now this is the one I get the most resistance with. Sometimes I even fight myself on it! (Just one more chapter?). But 30 minutes earlier to bed, means over the course of a fortnight, you have had a WHOLE EXTRA NIGHTS SLEEP! What I would give for an extra whole nights sleep! It will add up, very quickly, to better energy and less stress. As a sleep deprived mum of 3, I promise, this one moves the needle on energy, big time!
These 4 simple things are what I find to feel the easiest to do, in the smallest amount of time, but really pack a punch. So print out this cute little tracker I made for you, stick it on the fridge, and gift yourself just 4 weeks of committing to them. Tick it off daily as a little dopamine hit and I promise, the grass is going to feel a whole lot greener.
Be well,
Charmaine xxx