By Jessica Brewer, MSN
Beacon Columnist
At the start of a new school year, life can go from one form of crazy to a very different form of crazy overnight. Various sport outings each week, homework, school projects and those pesky school morning routines can completely upend your wellness routine — if you let them.
When life gets busy and you’re being pulled in 100 different directions each day, prioritizing your health and wellness is even more important — for parents and students alike. Finding the balance between work and rest, moving your body in healthy and enjoyable ways and making good nutrition a staple in your house will help you to feel your best even when life is busy.
When you have a full night of sporting events after a full day of work, it can be easy to opt for a fast-food stop on the way home. But planning ahead and preparing some healthier options for the family to have before or after the game can be a lifesaver. Crockpot meals or make-ahead meal prep are excellent options for this. Proper nutrition helps all aspects of life — from sports performance to school performance, sleep quality, mood and energy level, and more.
Parents: Making sure you keep an exercise routine will help to ensure you have the energy to keep up with the busy schedule you are thrust into when school begins. Something is better than nothing. For instance, if you have an evening packed with practice and homework, set aside 20 minutes right after work to go for a walk outside or put on a short online workout video to follow along with before you get ready for work in the morning. Having consistency with moving your body will help your energy level, mood, overall wellness and so much more. If you are looking for other options, Deep Blue Fitness offers eight workout classes each week that are fun, engaging and a guaranteed mood boost.
For student-athletes, balancing time management and getting plenty of sleep will aid in athletic performance, energy level, mood and academics. This could look like implementing a strict bedtime and wakeup time. Research shows that when we wake up and immediately start rushing to get out the door, it impacts our mood and mindset for the rest of the day. Everything we do will be more stressful and tense because we started the day that way. If you give yourself a little more time in the morning so that you don’t have to rush to get moving, you’ll see the benefits almost immediately.
Lastly, for both parents and students, engaging in routine self-care is one of the best things you can do during this busy season of life. This can look like setting aside 5 or 10 minutes each day or a few times a week to do something simply because you enjoy it. Taking a nice hot bath, reading, meditation, spending time outside, buying yourself a fancy coffee, journaling, listening to your favorite song while cooking dinner or treating yourself to a massage or facial are a few examples of self-care.
All in all, the back-to-school season can be a hectic one, no doubt. But if you can implement or maintain healthy routines for you and your family, you’ll feel much more in control and equipped to conquer this season with flying colors.