Hello there! If you’re reading for the first time or just stopping by for the fun, I’m doing a “Happy Holidays” wellness challenge to help you cultivate more health and happiness the rest of 2014. Catch up on the details on how to join and win the prizes. Or if it already sounds like a good idea, sign up below.
This week’s post is a guest contribution from a dear friend of mine, Leslie Schilling. She runs a super cool and helpful service called “Your Supper Solution” and she is doing a giveaway for a free trial subscription. Read on to learn more.
When Leslie and I were brainstorming content ideas, I loved the idea of “help” because most people are afraid to ask for it, even though we ALL need it. Frankly, I actually believe that women struggle with assuming that it’s OK to have excessive responsibility fall on our plate and then we should feel guilty for asking for help.
I have Sheryl Sandberg to thank when she said in Lean In (and I’m paraphrasing here, but it goes something like this).
It’s not your job to do it all and delegate stuff. Your loved ones need to step up to the plate and take responsibility instead of waiting for YOU to delegate it. It’s their job too.
Then she brilliantly goes on to say something like don’t try to control the process when someone is helping because that just makes them want to give up. I agree, let people help, their way, not your way. Get out of their way and take the help.
Here’s more from Leslie!
You Can Do It Challenge: Keep You Holiday Sanity and Ask for Help
During the holidays it’s easy to say “oh well, I’ll resolve to eat better in the New Year.” Don’t let the stress of the holidays flip the “tis the season” insanity switch.
Maintaining self-care planning and self-care time are essential to feeling energized and healthy during the holiday season. One of the forgotten self-care strategies that just might help you keep your holiday sanity is asking for help!
We totally forget that we can enlist others to support us in our self-care efforts. Remember, the answer is always no until you ask!
Here are a few ways to ask for help:
- Ask family members to sit down for a “business” meeting weekly to discuss schedules and needs for the week. By getting this info in advance, you plan your self-care times, grocery runs, gym stops, etc…
- Ask a friend, family member or coworker to share the lunch load. If I bring you a tasty, balanced lunch on Monday, your pal can bring one for you on Tuesday.
- Ask family members to pitch in with getting meals on the table. Did you know that when kids spend more time assisting with meal preparation, they’re more likely to try new foods? They help you, you help them… Slap a bow on that!
- Ask a family member or friend to give you the gift of time. If my husband gave me the gift of getting my little one ready two mornings a week so I could hit the gym or go for a walk, it would be fantastic! You bet that’s on my “ask for help” list for a happy holiday.
- Ask a help around the house. If you’re like me, sometimes it can be hard to relax when the house is messy or out of order. Ask family members to pitch in and have specific duties each day. If your budget permits, hire a service to help keep the house clean. This is the best money I’ve spent over the last two years. It’s been worth the budget tweaks to not fret over saber-tooth dust bunnies.
- And last but not least, ask for help with meal planning. This may be one of the most crucial self-care strategies. It doesn’t matter if you’re feeding one or a large family, you’ve got to have at least dinners planned. Knowing what’s coming for dinner can help you fuel well all day long. If you find this is a task you just can’t tackle, don’t fret, just ask me for help! I’m the queen of dinner menu planning. My monthly dinner menu services helps you get dinner on the table seven nights a week and creatively incorporates leftovers. Want to know more? Check out YourSupperSolution.com
Enter to Win
Want to win a free membership? Leave a comment below about how you can use help with meal planning and you could be chosen to win a free trial membership. (Winners will be chosen at random by Rebecca and notified over e-mail.)
Save Big Now
Ready to ask for meal planning help now? Use the coupon code: SNTFF2014 for 50% your first month at YourSupperSolution.com. You sure won’t need a diet-related resolution because you’ll have a plan.
Now go on. Ask someone to help you today!
About Leslie
Leslie is a Memphis-based dietitian specializing in disordered eating and sport nutrition. She owns Schilling Nutrition Therapy, LLC, and YourSupperSolution.com. Leslie is the nutritionist for the Memphis Grizzlies NBA team. She uses social media and her speaking platforms to deliver science-based, non-diet lifestyle messages with a dash of humor.
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