What Happens When Things Don’t Go According to Plan?

ARGH! Is that a word you find yourself saying repeatedly? It might be because you have just spent time cleaning the house, the kids come home and it’s a mess within 5 mins. Maybe you’ve put the laundry on only to discover that you’ve an item of clothing you’ve missed or maybe something happens in your morning, that knocks your schedule off completely. The plan you’d put in place at the weekend, the one you’d spent a good hour developing, has now been knocked for six.

What happens? A monumental feeling of OVERWHELM? Actions … you reach for food. The sweet treats, the crisps, the things you know you can have but NOT as frequently as you find yourself eating them. Maybe it’s a feeling of angst internally, a butterfly sensation in your tummy or the constant chatter in your head. These are all normal but what can we do about them?

Recognition of these triggers is critical. Once you recognise them, you can begin to combat them. Instead of reaching for the packet of biscuits and munching your way through the entire packet, ask yourself how you are going to feel afterwards? The chances are you are SOO going to enjoy them in the moment but the afterthoughts are only going to add to that feeling of guilt.

Take control. Take a moment or two (or however long it takes) to regroup. My suggestions:

1. Go for a walk.
2. Replan your day (what has happened, has happened and there is nothing you can do about that).
3. Make some tasty, nutritious snacks – celery, apple, humous … you know, the foods that fuel your body.
4. Take a moment to listen to an uplifting podcast.
5. Call a friend – chatting is one of the best of the ways to combat those feelings.

Know that you can take control. The day maybe didn’t start the way you wanted it to but you have the power to change that. Everything we do, we can change; we can make it better. Allow yourself to be in the moment and then find the solutions.

Our strength comes from within. We are not perfect and embracing our imperfection is key.

I believe in you, now you take a moment to believe in you too.

xx