As you can tell, it has been longer than usual since my last entry. My classes for school all had exams and papers due within the same week, and anyone who has ever been a student before (and who hasn’t?), knows that this can feel a little overwhelming.

Where to start first? Which assignment or exam has the highest priority? The questions can go on and on.

For those of you that spend your days in an office, I’m sure you can relate too. Ever have multiple deadlines that overlap? Who hasn’t? You find yourself getting to the office earlier in the morning and staying later at night, may be even bringing work home with you in the evenings or weekends. It consumes your life.

So when I haven’t been coaching clients, I’ve been splitting my time between the library and my desk at home. I haven’t tried any new recipes or been spending much time in the kitchen at all.

So what did I have to share with my readers? “Not much” was my initial reaction.

Well, boy was I wrong! Everyone goes through periods of “crunch time”. Our stress levels are up and we have less personal time than we’d like. This is a fact of life. Period.

The important thing is how we deal with it.

1. Don’t take a break from the gym! Some days I have shorter workouts than usual, but at least I get my body moving and sweating. If I can’t make a yoga class, I make sure to spend time on my yoga mat at home. Exercise should be as routine as brushing your teeth. I know I am more productive if I’ve taken some time to move around. Plus, it’s a great way to reduce stress.

2. Stock up on yummy whole foods so you aren’t tempted to order-in or eat processed foods. A few days ago, I cooked a large batch of brown rice, steamed a lot of different vegetables, stocked up on a variety of beans, hummus and avocados. When you take time to cook in advance and all you have to do is scoop it onto a plate, it’s pretty hard to be tempted by the not-so-good-for-you stuff. You won’t be eating refined flours and sugars, which cause energy levels and mood to peak and crash.

3. Make sure to get enough sleep. People who are tired do not cope well in stressful situations. If you make time to sleep, you will feel better and be more resilient and adaptable in dealing with what is waiting for you the next day.

 

4. Be realistic about your expectations. Set realistic goals for the workday, week, month, etc. You’ll feel more accomplished and motivated at the end of the day if you can cross off everything on your “to-do” list.

 

So what do you do to stay healthy and on track during “crunch time”? What do you think you could be doing differently?

Posted on 02/18/10 2:23 PM
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