What I learned about my brain health spending a few months in Sweden

I’ve just had the best months of my life visiting family and friends in Sweden (where my dad is from).
It was almost 2 months of non-stop socializing, partying and enjoying the sun out in the archipelago.
It truly was amazing.
But here’s what I learned about myself and my brain…
I need balance.
You see, all of that fun, drinks, food and little exercise took its toll.  I didn’t get sick (it’s been 2  years since I’ve had even so much as a cold), but I definitely wasn’t 100%.
I’ve spent the last 2 years of my life being the healthiest I’ve ever been. I’ve worked out 4-5 times a week, had healthy smoothies every morning, sleeping at least 8 hours a night and drinking very little.
Because of this almost perfect routine, I have accomplished in the last 14 months what most people can’t do in a lifetime.
That streak ended 2 months ago.
You see, the bags came back under my eyes my productivity and motivation were nowhere near where they were just a few months ago.  My sleep was restless and my attention span suffered.
I obviously wouldn’t trade this summer for anything. But I knew there had to be a way to have it all.
So, I’ve spent the last few days figuring out how I can be very healthy, but still have fun and not be such a robot about my routines (they were in fact a bit boring and not me).
Here’s what I came up with on how to balance it all:
1)      I do enjoy a couple glasses of wine when out with friends or family. As long as I keep it to just a couple glasses once or twice a week, I am not going to beat myself up over it. In fact, the red wine is good for my brain.
2)      Sleep, sleep, sleep.  I’m an 8-9 hour girl.  I can easily keep up high levels of productivity if I get my quality sleep.
3)      Enjoy smaller portions of food. I didn’t gain any weight the last couple of months simply because Swedes eat so healthy (tons of fish) and their portions are small.  I still can’t believe how HUGE our portion sizes are in the states.
4)      Weight training is FAR more effective at keeping slim than cardio exercise.  I can do 15-20 minutes of weight training and it’s like an hour jog.
5)      Meditation is key. Many times the last couple of months I was so out of balance that I started to let negative, sloppy thoughts creep in. A good 15 minute mediation saved me from re-wiring old thought patterns that I have long since conquered.
6)      Consistently take my MindBoost. Even when I was tired and run down after an eventful weekend, my MindBoost gave me the energy and the daily reminder that I must take care of my brain.
I can thankfully say that getting back into a balanced state only took a week. Now I know I don’t have to be little Miss Perfect Health anymore to keep in a very healthy and balanced state.
Thank goodness.
To your brain health,
Julia
Simple Smart Science