Unplug to Renew Your Sanity

Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you." —Anne Lamott.

Two weeks ago, I was stuck, frozen, and anxious. I knew I needed to do something to get out of this rut, but I did not know what to do. In the past, I would have been stuck in my head while lying on the couch for weeks.  

But this time, I wanted to take action.  I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.  My diet was a mess from overeating every day.  My house was a disaster and cluttered.  Anxiety was taking over my life and wreaking havoc.  I couldn’t live this way for another day.

I decided to tackle my food issues first.  I read that intermittent fasting could help you to lose weight, lower glucose levels, and lower cholesterol.  This got my attention because I needed to improve all three areas.  I hoped it would work, but I desperately needed it to work.

I chose an app called Simple to guide me through the process and track everything.  It suggested I start by picking my fasting and eating windows for the day.  I chose 16:8, which means I fast for 16 hours and eat for 8 hours each day.  It sounded simple, but I wasn’t sure if I could stick with it.  It was worth trying as I needed to make a change.

I began my first fast that night by opening a fast on the app.  I figured I would be asleep for most of the fast, so it shouldn’t be that bad.  The app encouraged me to check in with the AI coach. I also asked questions throughout the day.  I had a ton of questions, so I used this feature constantly.  I felt supported and fasted for 16 hours on my first try.  I felt pretty good, so I was super excited.

During your eating window, you log your meals by telling the app the ingredients you ate, and the app scores your meal. You don’t need to weigh anything. If I didn’t score as high as I wanted, I would go to the coaching section and ask how to make my meals healthier. This made a massive difference for me.

With the app's guidance, I ate more fruits and vegetables, healthy fat sources, and protein. I was feeling great and not having any trouble with my fasting window. I started having more energy, so I made a recipe the coach gave me. The meal was delicious and healthy.

Now that eating healthier had improved my energy levels, I decided to tackle the house. I started with my bedroom as I spend much of my time there.

Once my bedroom was done, I moved to the living room, and I felt more confident in my cleaning abilities. I tidied up and vacuumed, and it looked much better.

Next up was the kitchen, and I was intimidated by how much I needed to do. I decided to take it slow and get rid of everything that needed to go to another room. Next, I loaded and ran the dishwasher. After that, I wiped down all the counters and organized the recyclables. My final step was to sweep and clean the floors. The kitchen was sparkling, and I felt accomplished.

My final step to regaining my life was to resume working out.  I started by taking a walk in the park.  The next day, I talked myself into going to the gym to walk on the treadmill because it was too hot to walk outside.  The following day, I went to the gym for a yoga class.  I can confidently say that I was back in a routine.

All of these changes drastically improved my mental health and self-care. The most crucial step is just to do something. While you might not have the same circumstances as me, you can probably remember when you felt stuck.