This challenge will have you feeling organised and refreshed, and will draw a line in the sand under those sneaky holiday habits.
Promise.
Back to School = Back to us!
Day 1
This is it! Your line in the sand has arrived!
The kids are back to school – or almost back for some of you.
Or perhaps you have toddlers but you needed a bit of inspiration and new ideas.
Or perhaps there are no kids (or grown kids) and you TOTALLY understand the ‘derailed’ feeling and want to jump back on the horse.
Whichever it is – WELCOME to the Back to School, Back to Me Challenge.
It’s weird isn’t it – that we actually need to create a special moment to stop and think about ourselves.
How CRAZY that life so often becomes about other people and OUR needs, priorities, care get put to the bottom of the pile.
How CRAZY that we can think about what everyone else needs for lunch but put two pieces of bread in the toaster for ourselves. And expect to have boundless energy to keep up with everything.
So first things first – notice where you are reading this right now. Wherever it is. Feel into your body for a moment – are you lying on something, sitting on something, have your feet planted on the floor? Are you moving or still? Are you in pain? Are you hungry? Are you fatigued?
Just be in your body for a moment.
Seriously!
Stop reading and close your eyes for ten seconds!
I mean it – close your eyes.
Ok. Back?
That amazing body of yours. Take a moment to thank it for all it does for you.
Today I promised you three things you could do today that will make you feel better. And it’s so freaking easy. Guaranteed to get the good vibes going!
1. You’ve already done one! You took attention away from that mind chatter and you got into your body. If you have continued to read this email and didn’t do that exercise please have a go once you’ve finished reading. Today you need a moment to get out of your head. A super simple trick I use it to actually feel my hands on the steering wheel, when I’m at the lights. Sounds weird? Try it.
2. Drink lots of water and have a kicker lunch. It’s amazing how we neglect the humble water and how fabulous it feels to be hydrated. And lunch, well, in my opinion for mums, it’s THE most important meal of the day. Get some protein, good fats and some veggies on a plate and eat it. Feel a difference in your energy throughout the afternoon. How about a boiled egg smashed with an avocado, feta, lemon juice and salt. Spread this on top of a piece of sourdough bread and whack some sliced tomato on top. Or mix it through baby spinach eaves and cherry tomatoes. Delicious and guaranteed to get you through the afternoon.
3. Go to bed. Early. If you’ve got school aged kids you are probably not being woken multiple times per night. But how refreshed do you feel in the morning? Tonight, take yourself to bed an hour earlier than usual, bring a book, DO NOT BRING YOUR PHONE! and just allow yourself to lie and relax and fall to sleep when you actually feel tired instead of being artificially kept awake by social media or TV.
Do those things and you have instantly improved your chances of feeling great.
You see, I am a HUGE fan of eating real food. Of eating food our body recognises as food. As often as we can (with as much ease as possible) but it’s NEVER all about the food. Never. Your life tells a bigger story and it’s why in all my programs we focus on how you feel as much as how you eat.
If you’ve got a moment – watch my quick video for Day 1 of the challenge here.
Today’s mantra: I matter and I am worthy (repeat this as often as you can to yourself throughout the day)
Let’s put US back on the agenda!
See you tomorrow,
Lisa x
Day 2
A quick one from me today!
The fact of the matter is, that although we want to run to the hills sometimes and live alone in total PEACE AND QUIET – school lunches need to be made.
Every day.
To make this task easier for you – I’ve created five awesome (simple) lunchbox ideas – including my favourite recipes.
It’s how simple I keep things in my world. Honestly – good food MATTERS. But (remember what we spoke about yesterday?) – so do you!
I hope you enjoy the ideas and please let me know how you go.
Today’s Mantra: I give myself permission to keep it simple
This can apply to everything! But in the context of our kids lunchboxes – keep it simple, keep it real – as often as you can. And relax.
Lisa x
Day 3
Hump Day! How does that usually work out for you??
Do you get to Wednesday and see the end of the week looming and suddenly everything on YOUR to-do list seems impossible to achieve?
It used to happen to me a lot.
Not anymore. Because now I actually prioritise the things I want to do each week. Sounds so SELFISH!
But is it? If I have been for my walks, if I caught up with a friend, if took myself off to bed early and read a book instead of work into the night – who ends up better off???
EVERYONE!
That’s the power of motherhood. When we are firing on all cylinders, the household runs smoother. Don’t you agree?
But how would it feel if you prioritised yourself today? Or tomorrow? Or even this weekend? Is it a totally strange concept to consider?
I challenge you to put you first. To sit in the uncomfortable feeling of saying a few no’s to other people and a few yes’s to yourself. Watch the super short video below as I explain what I mean.
Now, if you are a ninja at this already – then I’m sending you a high-five! Women like you are leading the way when it comes to honouring ourselves as individuals and mothers.
For me, it’s a work-in-progress. I completely lost myself in the child-bearing years and since running my own business I seem to prioritise family and work over all else.
I say this mantra to myself a lot…
Today’s Mantra: I am a good mum when I prioritise me.
Watch the vid and see you tomorrow.
Lisa x
Day 4
I’m wondering how this week is panning out for you? I had a few responses loving yesterday’s email about prioritising you.
Please know that I read all the emails and LOVE receiving feedback.
Today I thought we’d tackle breakfast. I know for me that when we have a deadline of getting out the door and there’s breakfasts to make (for others), lunches to make (for others), people to dress, shoes to find, water bottles to fill, last minute toilet stops, permission slips lost, car keys lost – MY breakfast falls down the bottom of the priority pile.
And, as we learnt yesterday, we can give ourselves permission to get us sorted first. Or we can hop up ten minutes earlier and voila – you will be eating a wholesome breakfast.
Nothing you read below is going to blow your mind, in terms of my breakfast ideas. I’ve popped my three go-to’s here to remind you how simple it can be to create a breakfast that will leave you feeling full – for ages.
It’s what Small Steps to Wholefoods, the eight-week program, is all about. Seriously simple and achievable ways to eat more real food. It doesn’t have to be as complicated as some peeps make it out to be!
OK – here they are – ENJOY!
LISA’S BREAKFAST SMOOTHIE
Have as much of this stuff prepared in a bag the night before as you can
2 x frozen bananas
Handful of frozen berries
1 avocado
1/2 cucumber
1 handful baby spinach leaves
1 handful of cashews
1 cup of coconut water, water or milk of choice
LISA’S LAZY BUM BREAKFAST
Two slices of sourdough bread – toasted
Spread with butter
Topped with avocado (lots!), a squeeze of lemon juice and a little salt
Added extras – a fried egg or sliced tomato
LISA’S STOVE TOP 5 MINUTE BREAKFAST
In a frypan cook bacon, egg and tomato (cut a tomato in half and just let it sit on frypan with the cut side down – it will give it a lovely seared effect).
On a plate put baby spinach and then everything else on top.
Add avocado, sauerkraut (fancy – but freaking GOOD!) or a dollop of good quality mayonnaise or hummus.
Oh and you can add anything to the pan – mushrooms, zucchini – whatever.
Now. Can you see that these ideas take VERY little time and have the potential to seriously fill you up? We just need to shift gears about prioritising a good breakfast.
How different would your morning feel if you were full and nourished at breakfast?
Today’s MANTRA: My body deserves amazing food and it can be simple.
See you for the final day of the challenge tomorrow!
Lisa x
Day 5
It’s the final day of the challenge!
I really encourage to take 4 minutes and watch today’s video. In it I explain how I make decisions for the good of myself and my family.
It’s my go-to strategy to help me maintain balance when things get nuts. I come back to it all the time!
It’s my gift to you on this final day of the challenge. Watch here.
I wonder how you are feeling at the close of the week? Has the challenge helped you come back TO YOU? Hit reply and left me know what you’ve enjoyed!
Today’s MANTRA: I can choose to let balls drop (this will make sense after watching the short video!)
This weekend, reflect back on all that you have gathered in these past five days. It’s often the hardest thing to stay committed to these changes long-term. It’s why I’ve created the Small Steps Membership and it’s why my Wholefoods eCourse is broken down into bite size ACHIEVABLE actions. So you get that feeling that changes are being made.
Sending you so much love and thank you for spending this week with me.
Lisa x
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