Try these 5 tips to embrace a healthy, sustainable, balanced lifestyle today!

By guest blog writer Marissa Sharkey

Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Coach

support@marissasharkeynutrition.com

A balanced healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to look like $10 kale smoothies, eating no carbs, drinking nothing but alkaline water and waking up at 5am to run every morning so you can post your sweaty selfie after.

Some of these habits may work for some people if they prefer them, but balanced health habits that are sustainable are different for everyone. You know what else it can look like? Going for a walk outside in the sun because you’re too exhausted to go to your zumba class, drinking coffee with cream and sugar when you wake up, holding off on sending a text message because you don’t have the capacity to respond right away or ordering a steak with mashed potatoes and salad when you go out to dinner with a friend.

Frankly, you’ll more than likely feel happier, more connected to yourself and freer when you don't restrict the foods you love and use exercise as a badge of honor or to punish your body for what you ate. As a Registered Dietitian, I will always provide evidence based nutrition information to you as it is my mission to help others with creating their own version of a sustainable, healthy lifestyle.

These 5 tips below are just the tip of the iceberg of how to embrace a balanced healthy lifestyle. Let’s dig into these:

1. Drink water daily for hydration and to increase energy. Water is important for so many functions in the body and it can impact your mood as well as brain function when you’re dehydrated. But water doesn’t have to be alkaline and can come from food sources such as fruits. Coffee counts too as it is water based, but don’t rely on it solely to increase your energy or hydration. Unfortunately, this is a common struggle specifically for nurses during their shifts for a variety of reasons such as direct patient care and/or workplace restrictions.

2. Foods do not have moral value. Include all foods you enjoy. I will scream this from the rooftops - NO FOOD IS OFF LIMITS! Food does not have inherent characteristics of “good” or “bad” and it is just simply food. Yes, there are foods that have more nourishing benefits but it doesn’t make it morally “better” than others. Labeling foods this way is harmful and can negatively impact your relationship with food. Life is too short to have a poor relationship with food and not enjoy it.

3. Prioritize rest and self-care daily. This is a non negotiable. You are worth prioritizing and taking care of daily. Your loved ones will not benefit from you when you are not at your best. You cannot pour from an empty cup. Finding a routine you enjoy that nourishes you especially after a tough shift is crucial to your personal health and longevity in your career.

4. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep with a bedtime routine. Sleep is critical for optimal health. Getting adequate but quality sleep helps you handle stress better, keeps your immune system strong and reduces your risk of developing heart disease and diabetes. A bedtime routine with sleep hygiene practices helps you wind down and prepare yourself for better sleep. Nurses are less likely to make patient care related mistakes when they have adequate, good quality sleep.

5. Find movement you enjoy out of gratitude and love for your body. Exercise is beneficial for your body and mind but should not be used as a form of punishment for what we ate or dislike about our bodies. Finding movement you enjoy can give you confidence and inspire a better relationship. Exercise is crucial for injury prevention along with your energy and stamina during your shifts.

This is not medical advice and is for educational purposes only

Note to readers from Marissa Sharkey, Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Coach-

If you found these tips helpful or would like to learn more about nutrition and wellness, you can follow me at @nutritionwithmarissa on Instagram! I am a Nutrition Coach whose passion is helping Nurses prioritize their health so they can continue to live their happiest, healthiest lives.

If you struggle with creating and implementing balanced, sustainable health habits, I would be honored to support you in your journey! In my NURSE Nutrition Support Academy Program, as your Coach we will work together 1:1 to develop habits that are customized to your needs in the realms of nutrition, self-care/mindset, exercise/movement and sleep/rest. You are worth taking care of and investing in. After all, you provide high quality care to your patients, but who takes care of you?

Marissa Sharkey, RD

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