Alternate title: how to take care of yourself when taking care of yourself feels really hard. Winters are always a challenging time of year for me. And this year feels particularly challenging. I’m not sure if that’s due to the fact that I started off this year with Covid or that my kids are home more than normal right now because of Covid or maybe it’s the reality that every time I turn on the news, it’s upsetting. The truth is, life feels really hard right now. And, I know I am not alone in this. In fact, the majority of my conversations with clients lately have been about this very topic. Life can feel overwhelming.

So, how do we care for our bodies physically when we are struggling mentally, emotionally and/or spiritually? Here are some tips I’ve found helpful, and I hope you do too. 

Tip #1: Honor your current season. 

I think it is important to remember that life has different seasons. Some seasons are joyful, easy or invigorating. Other seasons may be overwhelming, stressful or challenging. Some seasons make it really easy to incorporate healthy habits, such as exercise and cooking, into your day. And others simply don’t. It’s not the season that needs to change, but your relationship with it. 

If you find yourself in a challenging, draining or stressful season, don’t try to change it. Change the way you care for yourself in that particular season. Instead of pushing yourself to do more, try to find more areas of ease. Focus on what you can do to make your life easier, not harder. It’s okay to slow down. 

Tip #2 Keep it simple in the kitchen. 

When life is challenging, I make sure my meals are anything but that. Instead of multi-ingredient elaborate dishes (that I normally love making), I keep it really simple. I may bake salmon and serve it with a salad (using a pre-made salad kit) and rice (if I feel up to it). Or, maybe I will heat up canned lentil soup and add some kale (frozen, pre-chopped) and serve with store-bought sourdough bread. 

Some meals may not be gourmet, or even something I would ever serve to friends… and that is okay. Because they are functional, nutritious and tasty. More importantly, they aren’t adding more stress to my day. 

To keep your meals simple and healthy, try to always include: a protein and source of produce (fresh or frozen veggies and fruit).

Tip #3: Make sure you have healthy food choices at home.  

It is really common to rely on delivery, takeout and fast food when life feels hard. You may not have the time or energy to grocery shop, meal plan or prepare any meals. I get it. It takes work. However, this pattern will most likely only make you feel worse in the long run. 

My suggestion is to try and stock your fridge and pantry with healthy (but easy) foods, especially during challenging times. Because you need to eat something, and if you have convenient options at home, you will be less likely to order out. Check out my previous post, 5 time-saving hacks for eating whole-foods for some ideas.

To create a habit of getting yourself to the store to stock up, I recommend picking a day and time each week to devote to grocery shopping. Keeping the time and day as consistent as you can will help you follow through with the habit, even when you don’t feel like it. 

Tip #4: Prioritize what feels good. 

What healthy habits instantly make you feel better? Getting 7-9 hours of sleep. Moving your body. Getting outside. Connecting with friends. Eating nutritious foods. Spending less time on social media. Meditating. Home-cooked meals. These are a few of my favorite things.

Figure out what helps you feel better and prioritize those things. You don’t need to focus on every healthy habit at once. You just need to focus on one or two at a time and grow from there. 

Tip #5: Get support. 

If you aren’t feeling your best and don’t know how to help yourself, I encourage you to reach out for support. Getting support when life feels tough is one of the best things you can do for you.

If you are struggling to plan and cook healthy meals, look into a meal delivery service or my time saving hacks to eat healthier. 

If you are struggling to figure out what changes to make to your diet in order to feel better, reach out to a dietitian. 

If you are struggling with anxiety or depression, reach out to a therapist. 

One of the best things about this thing we call life is that it’s always changing. The place you are right now is likely not the same place you’ll be a year or two from now. However, that doesn’t mean challenging times aren’t challenging, and can sometimes feel like they’ll never end. If you’re in a particularly challenging season, I want you to know that I see you and I feel you. My hope is that this post helps you find a bit more ease and comfort in knowing that you aren’t alone—and you’ll come away from reading it with a new idea or two about caring for your body when you just don’t feel like it. 

As always, be gentle with yourself and hang in there.