Mother’s Day is over and it’s back to reality now, right?! I hope you got some rest on Sunday because that ship has sailed!

Working full-time, getting your kids where they need to go, going to appointments, running errands, squeezing in grocery shopping, preparing healthy meals, finding time to exercise…it’s exhausting!!!

And stress plays a huge part in gaining weight!

In a culture that celebrates hustle, it’s no wonder we’re on the go nonstop. How often you hear people bragging about how busy they are? It’s like a badge of honor.

Busyness shows you’re upstanding and respectable. Taking time to rest is lazy, unproductive and a waste of time.

The problem is, never ending stress causes your body to stay in “fight or flight” mode. Your body releases extra glucose (blood sugar) for energy – like if you have to run from a tiger. And when there’s no such big event, all that glucose gets stored as fat.

So you gain weight, and you gain weight and you gain more. stubborn. weight.

Taking time to slow down and reboot lets your body know the “danger” has passed and your system can go back to normal functioning.

Easier said than done, right? So how the hell do you actually make this happen in your crazy busy life?

Here are some easy suggestions that really work:

  1. Let go of guilt. Self care isn’t indulgent, it’s crucial!! When rest, you’re not doing “nothing.” You are taking good care of yourself, reducing your stress and restoring your energy so you can tackle everything on your long to-do list.
  2. Get more sleep. You need at least eight hours. Yes, I’m talking to you! Replying to emails and checking your social media can wait till tomorrow. When you sleep, your body and brain detox and repair themselves so you’ll be refreshed and energized the next day.
  3. Breathe and stretch. If you’re super busy at work, you can still steal moments of relaxation. Pause to take a few deep breaths at your desk or stand up and stretch. At lunchtime, leave the building and enjoy some time outside. Go for a walk around the block or find a patch of grass to eat you lunch in the sun.
  4. Schedule it in. You MUST block out regular time to recharge – daily and weekly. If you don’t, it aint gonna happen! You’ll end up filling every waking hour with activity, putting rest off until “tomorrow,” which never comes.

The busier you are, the more you need to schedule time for rest – no excuses!!!

How much time do you spend on self care? I’d love to hear if I’ve convinced you to take more down time and how you’re going to make it happen. Let me know by leaving a comment below.