friday takeout

Why do you practice self-care?

I'm a huge advocate for self-care. I think it is absolutely necessary for my own mental and physical health. I really took an interest in changing my mindset of my self-care when my mom was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Follicular Lymphoma in 2009. This really made me think about the things that I'm putting into my body, as well as ways to de-stress. In addition, it made me think of things that I could do to easily adjust my health in a sustainable way.

What are some of your personal habits that keep you feeling healthy and well?

I have a variety of "tools" in my wellness toolbox that I use throughout the year. For me it's extremely important to take that mental health break to log-off or unplug from technology. Some days are better than others. Reading is also a way that I unplug. I also like to have accountability partners for workouts. I have a group of friends and family that I workout with or we message each other when we have worked out if we can't workout together. This helps keep me on task with my workouts. Plus it's fun to see others progress on their personal goals. I'm a big foodie. Therefore, meal prep is a must for me. I feel set for the week when I do my meal prep on Sundays. I pre-plan my healthy food options, so I'm not reaching for unhealthy snacks every day. Don't get me wrong, I don't deprive myself either … if I want that cookie, I'm going to eat it! I also like to get massages. These really help my body de-stress and help my mind unwind.

I've heard you're good at encouraging others to be their best self. How do you motivate others?

I'm a big advocate for accountability partners. Therefore, having that group of friends or family members who are also trying to choose healthy options is a must for me. I usually send out SnapChats and text messages to help motivate others, as well as myself. I also call people up and chat about what workouts they are doing, suggest that we could do together, offer a new recipe I tried that I think they may be interested in, or ask if they want to go get a pedicure/manicure. I also love sharing books that I'm reading. I think having that open conversation is what keeps people going … well, at least it's what helps me keep going!

Anything else you'd like to share?

To me, wellness is about having a positive mindset on the goals you want to achieve. It's also important to have maintainable and sustainable goals. Self-care is generally at the top of my list; however, sometimes it takes a backburner. This is when my accountability partners start motivating me to get back at it. Self-care isn't something that you do for a short period of time, it's a lifestyle.