Better Choices When Life Gets Stressful

Welcome back to BETTER, an email series that helps you continue to move in a positive direction.

Today, we are tackling better choices when life gets stressful.

Read on:

Make everyday options easier to reach. During a demanding week, having familiar, satisfying foods available can reduce the effort of deciding what to eat. Choose options that suit your preferences, budget, and time. Enjoying comfort food is not a failure.

Keep Emergency Foods in the Freezer or the Pantry. Making healthy food easily accessible and straightforward to prepare makes it less likely that you'll choose something less nutritious. Get a bag of pre-grilled chicken and bags of frozen fruit and veggies at the grocery store and throw them in the freezer. Stock your shelves with protein powder, canned fish like tuna and salmon, nuts, olive oil, and olives. You'll be able to make several combinations of a healthy meal faster than it would take to order take-out!

Notice how your screen time feels. If scrolling leaves you more overwhelmed, consider a shorter session, different accounts, or another way to unwind. Keep the connections that support you.

Find a small opportunity to pause. A quiet corner, a few minutes outside, or a conversation with someone supportive may fit your day. You do not need a perfect space or new purchases to make room for a break.

Stress can change what is realistic. Choose one small way to make the week easier, and let your coach know if your training plan needs adjusting. Support should fit the circumstances you are actually living with.