3 Strategies to Keep Moving Forward on Your Intuitive Eating Journey (even when life gets tough)

If you have learned one thing in the past two years, it’s to expect the unexpected. You may think that you have everything under control and then something unexpected happens and throws you off course. As they say, life happens.

These unforeseen changes can affect every aspect of your life, including your Intuitive Eating journey. No matter where you are on your Intuitive Eating journey, stressful life events are bound to occur. It’s okay to feel stressed or anxious, but you don’t want to lose yourself to life’s surprises.

For many, food is a coping mechanism for stress. Turning to comfort foods and ignoring your hunger and satiety signals however is not the answer. I encourage you to stay focused on your health rather than slipping back into old ways. So next time you find yourself in this situation, what can you do to keep going?

Try these 3 Strategies:

1. Remind Yourself Why You Started this Journey

Remind yourself why you decided to start on this journey. Instead of taking time to make excuses as to why you cannot do this or that, put that energy towards focusing on the reasons you embarked on your Intuitive Eating journey. Write down your motivation and the messages your body is sending you. You will gain clarity and feel motivated to continue moving forward.

Why did you embark on your Intuitive Eating journey?

Was it to feel better in your body?

Was it to improve your overall health?

Chances are your “why” still resonates somewhere within you, even on your darkest days. Let this motivate you. Some days are easier than others but if you keep your “why” in focus, you can navigate the bumps along the way.

2. Prioritize Your Needs

When life gets hectic it can be easy to prioritize work or your significant other’s wants and put your own needs on the backburner. You can only help others once you have helped yourself. Become the best you that you can be by prioritizing your own needs. That may mean making a list of goals, tasks to tackle, or taking a mental health day. Each step in the right direction is an important one.

You can make the most of each day by scheduling time for your priorities into your daily routine. There is a time for work, a time for taking care of the needs of others, and a time to care for yourself. This includes time to sit down for meals and to be engaged, mindful, and do nothing but focus on your food.

3. Find a New Outlet for Stress

There are many healthy ways to deal with stress that does not entail food. Take time to unwind each day, whether that is exercising, taking a bath, or catching up with a friend. You may need to try several activities before you find one that helps you relax. Even just taking 15 minutes to vent to a friend or to decompress your thoughts onto paper will benefit your day and your overall goals. When you let go of pent-up emotions, you will clear your mind and allow more room for mindfulness.

The truth is life comes at you fast. You cannot go back in time, but you can make the most of your present and future. Homing in on your Intuitive Eating and mindfulness will help you navigate through life’s obstacles and keep you on the path to being the best version of yourself.

Always remember, when you are feeling low, there is nowhere to go but up! If you keep your focus and mindfulness, you will find inner peace.