Healthy Lifestyle

Multitasking vs Mindfulness

I've been spending a lot of time reflecting on my life.  I have a lot to be thankful for and I have so many blessings and miracles that I am fortunate to surround myself with on a daily basis!  Recently, I have been spending some quality time reflecting on multitasking vs mindfulness.  For a while, I thought that the more things I could be multitasking with, the more productive I would feel in the end because I would seemingly get more tasks "done"/checked off.  In the evenings, I would pride myself on my ability to work on a project (typically diamond art something), watch tv, respond to messages, and enjoy a snack (sometimes more things)! I would flow between the different activities as the time suggested shifting.  However, over time I realized that I felt anxious despite completing things and I began to wonder if maybe I should be doing more things to be more productive and the spiral of negative thoughts ensued.  In the last 3 years, I have developed a strong relationship with my meditation practices and I truly find so much value in the times that I can completely immerse myself in the meditations.  On an average day, I get in at least two 7-10 minute meditation sessions and it helps me to reset and balance myself out.  I can't encourage others enough of the value of meditation and breath work.  It has been a main staple in my healing journey.

That being said, I'm coming to realize that a new healthier habit is beginning to emerge as I tweak and reflect how I approach my less structured time.  For me, the art of being present and remaining present has been better represented by my focus on one task at a time.  This allows me to put forth as much of my energy as possible to quickly and efficiently completing the chosen task.  Then, I reward myself with a brief time of a "fun" activity (lately has been working on some of my diamond art projects or coloring) and have another less desirable task lined up and ready to follow and remind myself that I can come back to something fun again soon!  It has also helped me to be more focused and directed with my less desirable tasks (usually chores); I'm able to focus and get it done so I can get back to "relaxing"!  

Obviously everyone is different and I still multitask but I try to be more calculated with what activities I multitask with while reminding myself, "How will this help me in the long run?".   Life is all about finding our balance and it takes time and lots of patience to figure out what works best for you at the time!

Finch for Self Care (app)

Sometimes life gets challenging and it causes you to eventually sink lower and lower.  You find yourself slowly slipping away and becoming so focused on the daily grind and what "needs" to get done for work, or the house, or the kids.  We find ourselves gradually losing ourselves to the things that we thought were important but it takes a mind shift to realize that if you're not taking care of yourself, you're not going to be at your best in all of these other ways you're trying!  I have been struggling with severe anxiety and severe depression for a while now and with the support of a great medical and wholistic team, I feel like I have a decent regimen of medications and supplements to allow my body to heal. 

However, focusing on self care and self love activities has been game changer for me!  We know that it takes a minimum of 21 days to create a new habit.  This app, Finch, has been the best thing to help me get myself back on track and focusing on the small parts of my day that need to be done in order to be more productive in other areas of my life.  I am not a paid promoter for this app, simply a dedicated and loyal user.  You begin your adventure as a small bird and as you complete your goals, you complete quests that help you to raise your bird into an adult.  You establish a few basic goals (the app recommends some so you don't have to think of them if you don't have the brain power to do that at first; you can always edit your goals and add new ones.  As you complete goals, you will eventually get enough energy to send your bird on an adventure for the day (6 hours) and as you complete goals during this time, your friend will return home faster!  My favorite feature is the ability to connect with friends and to be encouraged to send each other some good vibes!  I actually started sharing the app with my kiddos first!  My 11 year old niece and I connected and it made my heart so happy to be able to just send her a quick hug to let her know that I love her!  Then I introduced it to my kids and my 5 year old is the most faithful user!  We both love it when we get good vibes from one another and she is learning to be more accountable and take responsibility for her own self care! 

Below, you'll see a slideshow of some screenshots of my own personal Finch account and some of the awesome features it has to offer.  I do need to note that this app does have a paid version that unlocks "better" daily rewards and the ability to send a few unique vibes but we have been satisfied with the free version.  It's definitely one of my favorite apps that I use daily!

Ideal You - Empowering Yourself with Food

I just want to brag on this program and how much it's changed my life!  It gave me back control of my life in more ways than one!  I have always struggled with my weight, thanks to depression, anxiety, and fear of failure.  I was at my lowest I've ever felt in my life back in the fall of 2022.  I have heard this advertisement on the radio for years about this amazing program called Ideal You so I finally decided to bite the bullet and sign up for the consultation and see what it was all about.  I was nervous and apprehensive when I started the program but nothing else had worked for me in the past so what's one more healthy eating plan to try?  This plan is uniquely tailored to each client and provides you with undivided attention (which was a huge selling point for me) as well as regular check ins with your coach!  I feel so much more motivated with this program than any other program has provided me in the past (and believe me, I tried a lot and several of them multiple times)!

The program begins with a 40 day lose phase where you have a specific list (which is provided by your own personal health coach) that is full of lean proteins, fruits and veggies.  The coaches are all very supportive in answering questions (and believe me, I have asked a zillion questions) and providing suggestions and ideas to keep you on track.  There are weekly check-ins with your coach where you can talk about what's been working and what you need support in.  It's such an amazing feeling to watch all of the numbers moving in the directions that they should be!  Not only are we re-teaching our bodies to enjoy the healthy foods but you're also resetting your metabolism that has been out of whack from years of unhealthy choices.  

Depending on your individual plan will determine what the duration of your plan looks like but you do transition gradually through a series of controlled and carefully monitored phases where you learn how to add back in certain foods and eventually move to a maintencce phase.  This program taught me that I was in control of what I eat and the purpose for eating (for nutrition and nourishment...the other emotional eating can be replaced with other healthier habits)!  

I had a major breakthrough in my personal life as I began my second lose phase with Ideal You in dealing with some generational trauma that I have overcome and feel so much more empowered to tackle!  I am so excited to share more with you as we go along! I'll definitely try to post meals and recipes gradually of the foods that have carried me through and are now the foods I crave (I really don't even enjoy a lot of my old "favorite foods")! 

Empower yourself today by reaching out to Ideal You (https://www.idealyou.us/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb)!  If you sign up and tell them I sent you (Katie Judy) we both will get $200!  Then when you fall in love with this program, you can share it with your friends and then you both will get $200 and a lifetime of control and healthy habits!

Check out the Fun with Food page for meal ideas!