I developed this blog post in partnership with the Almond Board of California. Who doesn’t love almonds? As always, my opinions remain my own.
It’s me and almonds vs my busy day. I think we’re winning.
Just like a lot of you, I have so much to do from the moment I open my eyes in the morning! I’ve been making an effort to own my everyday by being organized and prepared. It makes a huge difference in my stress levels and overall effectiveness at work and parenting.
I recently helped California Almonds create a fun Decision Tree game to give busy people like us ideas for how to own our days with smart decisions. It’s simple: Play the game, and, as you click through the decision tree, you’ll find out what helpful suggestions I have for you to help you own your everyday, every day!
Here’s how I use almonds to own my day:
Since I’m a total night owl, my first answer on the decision tree is to hit the snooze button versus jumping out of bed before my alarm. Are there any parents who jump out of bed before the alarm? I’m grabbing every last bit of sleep that I can get!
Once I get out of bed, my days tend to vary. Sometimes I run to the gym without breakfast, and sometimes I sit down (okay, maybe stand in the kitchen, don’t judge me!) to breakfast. When I hit the gym before breakfast, I do manage to grab a handful of almonds on my way out the door. My faves for the morning are roasted almonds.
My mornings after the kids are at school are generally calm and quiet, which is how I like them. I used to have a full-time job at a clinic with a 40-minute commute. I’m grateful that I now have a job that allows me to work mostly from home! If I do have meetings, I generally will use an app to order my coffee so I keep myself on schedule. It’s a huge help!
During the course of the day while I’m writing, I like the crunch of sweet and spicy almonds. I know that if I have a handful of those at around 3, I’ll be good until dinner. I sometimes pair them with a piece of fruit. One recommendation that I consistently make to my clients is to eat a snack in the mid-afternoon. Almonds are considered a good fit with many popular diet plans because they provide stellar satiety and plentiful nutrients per calorie. That means you can satisfy your hunger without compromising your health. Almonds leave us less at risk for the post-work ravenous kitchen rampage when we get home. They also have 4 grams of hunger-slaying fiber per serving (FYI: a serving is 23 almonds) to keep you on track.
One of the things I like in the decision tree is the idea of a ‘tech break’ in the middle of the day, since I do tend to get distracted for hours when I’m working. Putting my devices aside and getting out for a walk is the best self-care habit when my days demand extended sitting for writing and counselling clients.
My results from playing the Decision Tree game?
Completely on point:
While you have a balanced routine and pay close attention to detail, you should be mindful of your purpose in each of the activities that you juggle. When you start your day, review your goals and how they align with your purpose.
That’s what I call real-life owning it. Staying healthy, physically and mentally.
Curious to see how you’ll do in the Decision Tree? Play it here and share your results with me using #OwnYourEveryday.