Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I know what to do—I just can’t seem to do it”? Maybe you’ve blamed yourself for lacking discipline, motivation, or willpower. It’s easy to feel like you’re failing at your health goals, especially when you’re doing everything you think you should be doing.
But what if the issue isn’t laziness or lack of effort?
What if it’s simply that you’re overloaded?
The Truth: It’s Not About Motivation, It’s About Your Environment
We see this all the time with our clients, particularly during the summer months when schedules are chaotic, vacations are planned, and life just feels a little more unstructured. Between work, family obligations, social events, and everything in between, it’s easy to lose track of your health. And that’s okay.
Here’s the thing—when you’re juggling multiple priorities, your brain goes into survival mode. And in survival mode, your nervous system’s main goal is simply to get through the day. It’s not concerned with making healthy choices or sticking to a strict diet. When your brain is overwhelmed, it’s hard to focus on long-term goals, like fitness or healthy eating.
So, let’s pause for a moment and look at the bigger picture: health is not just about what you eat or how much you work out. It’s about how you feel inside—mentally, emotionally, and physically. If you’re feeling stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed, it’s going to be much harder to stay on track.
Why Your Body Responds to Stress (and How You Can Change It)
When stress levels are high, your body operates in a “fight or flight” state, which means your body doesn’t care about your fitness goals. It’s focused on getting through the moment. That’s why, even though you might know what you should do, it feels impossible to follow through.
Instead of pushing through and blaming yourself, it’s time to take a step back and create a space where your body feels calm and safe enough to make intentional decisions.
How to Create Safety in Your Body and Mind
Here’s how to give yourself the space to start making those better choices:
- Pause & Check-In:
It’s essential to carve out time to check in with yourself. A few minutes of stillness throughout your day can make a big difference. Put your phone down, step away from the distractions, and ask yourself:- What do I need right now?
- Have I eaten enough real food today?
- Am I holding tension in my body?
This simple exercise can help you reset and refocus.
- Allow Yourself to Feel Supported:
You don’t have to do this alone. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s okay to ask for help. Whether it’s your family, your friends, or a nutrition coach, having someone to support you can help take the pressure off and guide you toward your goals. - Nourish Your Body with Real Food:
Eating whole, nutrient-dense foods supports your body in feeling calm and balanced. Avoid the quick fixes or extreme diets that leave you feeling deprived or stressed out. Instead, aim for a balanced approach—one that fuels your body and mind, and helps reduce the mental load.
The key takeaway is that your health journey doesn’t have to be perfect. It just needs to keep moving forward. Even on your busiest days, you can find moments to nourish your body and mind. Remember, small consistent actions add up over time.
You don’t need to be perfect to improve your health, but you do need to feel supported—internally and externally. It’s not about following the latest diet trend or hitting every workout—it’s about integrating habits into your real life.
You’re not broken. You’re not lazy. You’re just human—and you deserve health that honors that.
If you’re tired of trying to figure this out on your own and want to make lasting changes that fit into your life, we’re here to help. Our coaching is about finding what works for you, not forcing you into a rigid plan. We’ll support you every step of the way—no shame, no pressure, just real solutions that work for your life.
🌱 Book your FREE INTRO today to talk about how we can support your health journey. Let’s find a plan that actually feels good for YOU.