So Little Time, So Much To Do
While we will continue to post regularly to this blog, we will be featuring bonus blogs written by guests that also specialize in nutrition and physical activity education. The following blog is written by UNL Dietetic Intern, Lauren Huckabee. She has spent the last two weeks shadowing our UNL Extension Nutrition Education Program staff and has assisting in teaching our program participants. Below she offer some good insight into how to “plan” and make exercise and nutritious eating fit into your busy life.
Submitted by Lauren Huckabeee:
The year 2012 signified a season of change in my life: college graduation, a wedding, and the beginning of my Dietetic Internship. Life quickly picked up pace, and has yet to slow down as 2013 gets off to a speedy and dynamic start. While juggling all of my various activities, I learned first hand the need to utter (and sometimes scream) those common phrases we often hear, “I am too busy! I do not have the time!”
When my “to-do” list started to fill up, the last thing I wanted “to do” is add something else to that list. After some trial and error, I learned that “Planning” needed to be not only ON the list but also at the TOP. Taking the time to sit down and plan out weekly meals and designated gym times is essential to my health, because without a plan, I saw no action. Someone once told me, “You are never to busy for the things/people most important to you.” That statement is something I encourage everyone to hold onto, to think about when life gets a little overwhelming.
Strategies to help fit exercise and healthy eating into a busy schedule are available around every corner, from the local news station to your favorite cereal box. It comes down to finding a “groove” that is right for you. No time for evening exercise? Try getting up a little earlier in the mornings or utilizing 20 minutes of your lunch break for a quick walk. Too tired to cook after work? Prepare your protein sources for each weeknight meal on Sunday and have adequate whole-grains, fruits and vegetables in the pantry to throw together a quick side dish. Remember, lasting change doesn’t occur overnight – keep trying until you find what is best for you!
