Life Balance While in PA School
Hello and happy f**kn post midterms. Sorry I have been completely MIA on my nutrition blog, been trying to survive!! I’m gonna touch on life/stress/workouts/and how to balance it all while in school. I have successfully been working out 4-5 times a week for 45 minutes or more everyday, so here is my tips (yes, I’m just better than you duh).
Wake up early and pay someone else to force you to do it
It sucks. It totally sucks. I know it does!!! I wake up around 0430 everyday, which seems insane (and it is) but it is the only way I will workout. If I don’t get up and do it right away, I will not be doing it at all.
If you invest money into working out (and you’re cheap), then you will go to it. I get charged $10 if I skip the workout class I schedule, aka I am going to the class. If I don’t skip it, then maybe I can go get a coffee with the $10 I saved. Girl math!
Meal prep, meal prep, meal prep
I am being so freaking serious about meal prepping. You need to do it. I know it’s a lot of work, but seriously. You need to eat - especially during school.
Your brain needs at least 130 g of carbs a day to run at its highest potential, otherwise you will resort to ketones and aka not be as smart (jk but that’s what I say).
Meal prepping some carbs, protein, and healthy fats to keep you going throughout the day is sooooo important. Trying your best to not snack constantly all day, and instead eating an actual meal helps me tremendously.
Stick to your routine and schedule - aka don’t give in to peer pressure!
I try to do my best to balance around going and doing some fun things, but also maintaining my routine. I know what time I need to be in bed and what time I need to be up, and I stick to that. If that means I need to drink early-evening-drink/day-drink, so be it! I am sticking to my routine.
Sleeping and how to prioritize it
You need sleep while in a stressful time. Not only does it help you perform better in school, it will also help you with weight gain, stress levels, etc.
Sleep is CRITICAL for learning and and overall health. Please, please, please, if you take one thing out of this blog - take that sleep is going to help you way more than you think.
I always try to get ready for bed a half hour before trying to sleep. I think this helps me get in the mindset to go to sleep. This can be different for everyone! Some people enjoy drinking tea, others enjoy doing a skin care routine, whatever works!
Get an alarm clock. I got a “sunrise” alarm clock from walmart for $12 (thanks Ev!), and it is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. THink about it, you don’t roll over to turn your alarm off on your phone and then proceed to look at it for ten minutes straight, instead you can maybe leave the phone on the nightstand until you’re up and at’em.
Why you might gain weight while in an extremely stressful time
Your cortisol levels are probably insane, but that’s okay! Stress happens!! Remember that this is a season, not an entire life. Your whole life will not be this state of stress, it will all turn out okay.
Honestly, I remind myself of this daily during school. When I am so stressed that I feel sick to my stomach, I remind myself that eventually this will all be okay. Whether it be on the path that you are on now, or a different one, things will be fine. This has taken tons of weight off my shoulders by just remembering that it will all workout regardless of the outcome of school or whatever stressor you may have.
Much love,
Jadon
