As a practicing naturopathic doctor and a new mom, Dr. Corinne Brown of Brownroots Wellness in Beamsville, Ontario understands how challenging it can be to find a balance between work, family life and a commitment to a
healthy lifestyle.
“Lack of time is an obstacle to everyone trying to live the optimal lifestyle,” Brown acknowledges. “It impacts all aspects of health—not enough time to shop and cook the way you want, not enough time to sleep…or exercise the way you want, not to mention adding variety and excitement to your diet and exercise routine so they don’t become mundane!”
It’s common to feel like you’re dropping a lot of balls as you attempt to juggle all your responsibilities along with your commitment to a healthy lifestyle. There are, after all, only so many hours in the day, and even the best plans sometimes get derailed. Especially at this time of year, when the holidays begin squeezing schedules even more, you may feel overwhelmed by your giant “to-do” list.
TACKLING TIME CRUNCHES
If things are getting too busy, and you don’t know how you’re going to fit everything in, here are some simple tips to see you through:
The Internet, a great source of healthy recipes and workout tips, can also be a key source of support when your commitment to health is under strain. Look for blogs that cater to women like you who are trying to do it all. Reading about other women’s struggles and successes can provide inspiration and insight. A good place to start is www.vivamagonline.com.
Smartphone apps are another cool tool. Whether it’s an app that makes it easier to eat well on the go, such as “Is That Gluten Free?” or one that teaches you how to meditate, such as Headspace, apps offer personalized instruction and feedback when and where you need it most.
“I try to steer my patients toward dairy-free, sugar-free and sometimes even gluten-free diets, and I give them a 90/10 rule,” says Brown. “As long as they are eating responsibly 90 per cent of the time, then they can treat themselves and indulge little cravings the other 10 per cent of the time.
“If you use that as a general rule for all areas of health so that 90 per cent of the time you eat healthily, get eight hours of sleep and exercise 45 minutes a day, then the other 10 per cent won’t have much of an impact at all because you are in an overall state of balanced health.”
Managing stress is a key component of a healthy lifestyle, so don’t let your good intentions backfire. Brown encourages her patients to be kind to themselves when things don’t go
as planned.
“Being stressed out is worse for your health than not going for that run,” she says. “Be realistic about the things you can and cannot do, and make peace with them. No one is perfect, so try to focus on the things you are doing to make yourself healthier.”
