Food For Your Soul: Dawn McGee
Do you feel life is too chaotic to focus on your health right now? Have you found that you put your healthy lifestyle on the back burner in moments of chaos?
You’re not alone.
But you don’t have to give up on creating a life you love when things get busy. You can live a happy, healthy life even in the midst of the chaos.
Imagine The Chaos:
Lately, my life has been a bit of a rollercoaster.
We recently hired painters to spruce up a few rooms in our house. In the course of the project, we stumbled upon a surprise: the hardwood floor in one of the rooms desperately needed refinishing.
You can imagine the chaos. Furniture shoved into the dining room and every other nook and cranny. We had a plan to get the project finished and get our house back to normal in just a few days, but the added flooring project threw off our schedule. Cue more furniture shuffling and another week of dining room clutter ahead. Talk about messing with my mojo!
“No matter how carefully you plan your life, moments of chaos are bound to arise”
To add to the fun, my knee has been acting up lately, prompting a visit to the orthopedist. Surprise, surprise—I walked out with a shiny new knee brace. It’s all part of the process when you use your joints as much as I do, right? But accepting it hasn’t been easy. I’ll admit, there were some internal hissy fits involved.
No matter how carefully you plan your life, moments of chaos are bound to arise–usually when you least expect them. So how do you navigate life’s difficult moments and create a happy, healthy lifestyle within the chaos?
Get Creative:
You know that I’m vocal about the importance of routines for health and wellness. But the recent chaos of home renovations challenged even my dedication to routine and my healthy lifestyle. One of the rooms we painted happened to be my gym. Suddenly, my go-to space for workouts was inaccessible. But necessity is the mother of invention, right?
So I got creative. I ventured out for extra Pilates classes at my studio, worked out with my trainer in his gym, and even turned my bedroom floor into a makeshift yoga studio for morning sessions. And you know what? I found joy in the novelty of it all. I particularly enjoyed the peaceful start to my days with yoga.
Amidst the chaos, I rediscovered an old lesson that is still true. Embrace change. Find new ways to infuse positivity into your routines. And you can maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Embrace Life’s “Ands”:
I’m all about adapting and rolling with the punches. I allow myself to have my moments of frustration, and I also make a conscious effort to keep moving forward.
During my recent renovation chaos, I stuck to my routine as best I could. I met with my trainer, went for walks, did what I could to stay on track…and I spent time being frustrated about the potential knee replacement that was not in my plans.
Because here’s the truth: life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s full of ups and downs, and it’s okay to feel a little off-kilter sometimes. It’s okay to be frustrated or disappointed as long as you keep moving forward. That’s the beauty of the word “and”—you can take the time to process your feelings and still make progress.
“Embrace change. Find new ways to infuse positivity into your routines.”
Practice A Positive Mindset To Build Resilience:
Let me share an example from one of my favorite clients – someone who has taught me invaluable lessons about resilience and the power of a positive mindset.
My client has faced numerous medical procedures and surgeries, all while navigating countless ups and downs. Despite the challenges, they are always focused on the future with positivity. This mindset has enabled them to prioritize their well-being consistently.
We work on internalizing the importance of nourishing their body with good food – fuel that supports their overall health and recovery. They also prioritize movement, recognizing that progress may fluctuate from day to day, but the key is to keep moving forward and taking care of themself.
What truly inspires me about this client is their openness to new ideas and willingness to keep trying, even when things don’t go as planned. They embody resilience, understanding that not every day will be perfect, but each new day offers an opportunity to begin again.
Have your “and” moments. Then embrace a positive mindset, and focus on what you can do right now to move forward. This is what resilience looks like in the midst of life’s chaos.
You Are Not Alone On The Path To A Healthy Lifestyle:
And lastly, you don’t have to do it all on your own. You deserve support on your journey to a healthier lifestyle! Ask a friend to be your accountability buddy, or join a group that you can learn and grow with.
Additional resources can be found in Dawn’s bio below.
Did you enjoy this article? Become a Kuel Life Member today to support our Community. Sign-up for our Sunday newsletter and get your content delivered straight to your inbox.
About The Author:
Dawn McGee is a Nutrition Evangelist and Lazy Cook. She is super passionate about putting the fun back into being healthy and does that by teaching women how to eat to serve their body, brain, and soul so that they can get off the sidelines and back to doing all of the things that bring them joy. She works with women who are ready to make their health a priority and just need someone to help them get started and guide them through the process.
Dawn has been coaching clients in person, online, in groups, and in a 1:1 capacity for more than a dozen years. Prior to becoming a nutrition and fitness coach, she spent over 25 years in the high-tech industry, so she truly understands the life of busy professional women.
Join her free group www.facebook.com/groups/NeverDiet and follow her on IG @dmnutrition and on FB @dmnutritioncoach to hear about all the other fun stuff she has (and get a ton of free + valuable info) If you’re ready to cut through the noise, grab her free guide to 7 Nutrition Lies here –> Free Guide: 7 Nutrition Lies We’ve All Been Fed
