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I’m a master of doing everything as fast as possible:
I take less time in the shower than my husband and can completely my entire morning routine in less than 12 minutes (yes, I’ve timed it and yes, this is from getting out of bed to being showered, make-uped, and dressed for the day).
I am NEVER rarely one of those people who hold up the line at the store while they look for their wallet or count out 95 cents in change… and you will laugh, but I put everything on the counter with the on top, so the cashier can scan things easier.
My breakfast is an incredibly boring combination of one or two things (tea or coffee, toasted English muffin with peanut butter, egg white omelet or Greek yogurt with berries) and I’ve figured out the optimal way to make it so that it’s ready in 2-3 minutes and consumed in about as much.
As I was wolfing it down the other morning I was flipping through an issue of Body and Soul Magazine and one of the articles I skimmed through talked about mindful eating:
Before digging in to your next favorite meal, turn your attention to your plate. Notice how the food looks and how your body responds. Then take a bite, noticing the smell, texture, and taste. Pay attention to how it changes in your mouth when you chew it.
My first instinct was to skip reading the rest of the article and dismiss this advice as completely ridiculous for an insanely busy working mom like me. But as I thought about it, I realized that taking a few more minutes to eat my breakfast in the morning, to actually EAT it instead of wolfing it down, to enjoy these few minutes of me time vs. rush through every step making sure that I am doing it as fast as possible would not ruin my entire schedule. It most definitely would make me feel less frazzled and this would be a very good thing.
It’s been about a week since I read the article and I tried to slow down during my breakfast once, which is a big feat. It was a much more pleasant experience, you know, being able to actually taste the food and all, and when I returned to work I did feel more… grounded, I guess. Catching up on my blog browsing today I read a post on the GoodyBlog about potential health and weight-loss benefits of slow eating, which is exactly the type of stuff I need to be reading to stick with my mindful breakfast eating.
Do you rush around through your days or is there something you slow down for?
This entry was posted on Sunday, May 25th, 2008 at 9:47 pm and is filed under Uncategorized, Work/Life Balance, Your life.
Tags: breakfast, morning routine, slow eating, work-life balance
May 26th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
I used to have myhair cut exactly like yours! Isn’t it the easiest possible haircut on the planet!?!! That’s how you get out of the house in 12 minutes!!
I, too, could benefit from slowing down eating. I teach high school and am wolfing down a Nutirgrain bar, or some such processed crap, as the tardy bell is ringing.
May 26th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
I rush through my day too. Breakfast?? What breakfast? I usually “wolf down” coffee and a power bar. BUT… I do slow down and take time for daily affirmations and meditations.
I have found it is so important to stay spiritually grounded. Taking personal time to pray, meditate, reflect (whatever works best for you) helps keep us connected in mind, body and spirit.
May 26th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Jessica –I cut my hair like this before my daughter was born and it was one of the greatest things I did to save time:)
Michelle — I completely agree. One thing I try to do every day is to go for a short walk — it really helps me clear my mind (unless I multitask and do a call at the same time).
May 27th, 2008 at 12:44 am
Before I entered Mommyhood, I was a mindful eater and I journaled everything I ate during my pregnancy and actually lost 17 pounds during the first trimester, then maintained and overall from start to finish only gained 7 pounds during the pregnancy. Then I just went into overdrive with taking care of my baby and my aging parents who were in and out of hospitals, rehabs and nursing homes and oh yeah — my fulltime job.
I ate every morning for a long time. Now it’s just my daughter and I and I rarely eat breakfast and only eat at my desk or in front of the TV and have gained about 15 pounds or more.
After reading your piece, I would like to try it all again because I need to be around and be healthy for me and my daughter. And I know that it’s not hard once you start.
Thanks,
Sharyn
May 27th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Totally agree with you hear. One of my new year’s resolutions this year — and every year — is to eat more slowly. I know I eat less that way and realize I’m full and don’t feel so crazed.
Just doing it is tough!
May 27th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
I love that you wrote about this Nataly- obviously because I’m a nutritionist. I think this is one of the biggest issues with weight management simply because when we eat fast we aren’t satisfied so we keep eating despite being full. When you slow down it allows you to truly feel satisfied with what you ate instead of wanting more.
This simple concept is actually huge for health and weight management.
Congrats to you Sharyn for your experience with this and losing weight- that’s a great story.
May 27th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Hate the buck the trend of busy moms doing everything at top speed, but I’m unfashionably slow when it comes to breakfast. Maybe because I’m from another country?? Anyway, I insist upon a sit-down breakfast with toast and coffee every day and I have to be franticly late before I’m forced to skip it. I think that my breakfast routine contributes something towards my sanity, such as it is.
May 27th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
No wonder it is said.. eat your breakfast like a king. oh! sorry like a queen
May 27th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
You totally suffer from TUI- Time/Urgency Impatience Syndrom. I recently blogged about this, http://chroniclesofamom.blogspot.com/2008/04/tui.html. I have it too. If you find any “cure” let me know!