When you’re a kid envying grown ups their freedoms, what they don’t tell you is that it’s really hard to be an adult. Ok, maybe they do try to tell you that. I distinctly remember being told to enjoy my youth. The catch of that is that you don’t really know how amazing it is until you’re beyond it. I didn’t think about all of the necessities that go into being a real independent adult, a list of tasks that just keeps expanding as I get older.
Chores. Chores definitely don’t stop when you leave home. You just have to do more of them. I used to give my mom a hard time about going on a cleaning frenzy when my parents’ best friends came over for dinner. Now I get it and am the same way (mostly). I want to be able to take pride in my living space when friends come over, a feeling I imagine will only grow once I own my house.
Errands. There are seriously endless errands to run, and I feel like I’m always having to go to the grocery store. Though some of that might be because I don’t really meal prep for the week.
How I wish I felt about grocery shopping:
How I actually feel about grocery shopping:
Bills. All. The. Bills. As a kid you just don’t realize how much you have to pay for in life! Health insurance (PLUS dental, vision, and other out of pocket medical expenses). Cell phone. Car payment. Car insurance. Gas and car maintenance. Renters insurance. Rent. Internet. Electric, gas, water, garbage utilities. Taxes.
Getting up early. I used to think my mom was crazy for getting up at 5am to workout before work. But I get it. Most of the time I have a flexible schedule and can fit a workout at various times during the day, but on days where I know I’m going to be slammed with work and meetings and teaching, I make myself get up early to go to the gym or give myself enough time to run or bike commute. It may hurt having to get up earlier, but I know starting the day with movement and sweat will always be better in the long run.
Balanced eating and drinking, and getting enough sleep. I’ve always been a pretty healthy eater and I’ve always been one to carry around a water bottle with me, but I’ve noticed as I’ve gotten older how drastically different I can feel after not eating healthy foods, drinking enough water, or getting enough sleep. It’s not necessarily as fun to have to go home early because you have an early day the next morning, or to put down your wine glass or coffee cup to pick up a glass of water, or grab the head of lettuce in the grocery store instead of that bag of salt and pepper crinkle chips (or at least get the lettuce, too), but I know feel better when I do!
Finding ways to do the thing I know is best for me is a constantly evolving process. I often have to remind myself of the benefits of doing the right things for myself: I will feel better. I will feel good. I will feel productive. I will feel like I have my s*** together.
It’s a beautiful, vicious cycle, which has taught me over the years to stop procrastinating. Instead, I make myself dive in and get started because I know once I do, I won’t stop going until I get it all done.
When I put my book down and start working down my to-do list of bills, errands, and chores, I find myself in a rhythm, which in turn helps me feel better for getting to cross things off my list. When I make myself get off the couch and go for a run or to the gym, I get my energy flowing. I don’t always want to work out, but I always feel better if I do. If I reach for a bottle of water rather than my coffee cup, my body and mind will be happier throughout the day.
They say that smiles are self-fulfilling. That if you’re not necessarily happy but you make yourself smile, it will help you feel happier. When I’m not in the best mood or not having a great day, doing something to make myself smile will make me feel happier! Frowning never helps me feel happier.
Sitting on the couch won’t make me feel more fit. Eating just chocolate and potato chips won’t make me feel healthier. Staring at an increasing pile of laundry and letting my to-do list grow longer won’t make me feel like a productive adult. They’re not necessarily the things I want to do, but doing them will make me feel like the person I want to be!
When I find ways that help me do the things I know I need to do, the things that help me be the person I want to be, I lean into that.
Literally leaning in…
To continue working towards healthier habits in my life, here are some of the small changes I’m making:
Going where the productivity is.
Working from home at home isn’t always the most productive, so I go to a coffee shop. Nic, Jamie, and I also have weekly work dates now where we get together to feed off of each others’ creativity and energy.
Eating healthy at home.
I don’t really like to cook just for myself, but want to eat out less, so I make sure to stock up on yummy and easy-to-make foods like veggies, eggs, oatmeal, and rice.
Hydration:
When I start to feel like I’ve been drinking too much adult juice (aka coffee) throughout the day, and feel in need of a good reset, I reach straight for sparkling mineral water. Rich in calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate, it’s just the thing I need to feel rebalanced and rehydrated. And speaking of better hydration, I’m so excited that it’s almost time for the Sparkling Detox with Gerolsteiner; I’ll be putting my adulting to the test with 5 straight days of swapping out all beverages for Gerolsteiner Sparkling Mineral Water. It’s a refreshingly effervescent way to drink more water!
Pro tip:
We’ve started a little water drinking game for our work dates together: when one person picks up their water bottle to take a sip, we all do. The best way to stay accountable for hydration, and anything really, to have a buddy!
Need to find more ways to add sparkle to your own life?
Join us for the Detox! Mark your calendars for August 27-31 and sip away! You can also enter here for the chance to win a FREE case of Gerolsteiner Sparkling Mineral Water, and use the code LIZ18 to double your chances.
Can’t wait to get sparkly? Join us on Friday for a toast! Post a picture of yourself toasting what you’re sipping on, tag #sweatpink #sparklingdetox #virtualcheers @gerolsteiner_usa @fitapproach for the chance to be featured on the Fit Approach Instagram page.
Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Gerolsteiner Sparkling Mineral Water. All opinions expressed are my own. I truly appreciate all of the brands who support the Sweat Pink community.
I’m all about namaste and rose..all day, everyday!
HAHA – clearly I was commenting on another post ^^^ – haha and I should be detoxing from all the summer rose….