Mocha Banana Muffins & Letting Yourself Have a Self Care Day (or Week!)

I almost just didn't write a second post for this week because I'm literally exhausted! Like the exhausted feeling you have on Friday evening after a long week...except it's only Thursday (Wednesday as I'm writing this)! And I have still a lot going on this week. All good things and all things that I'm excited for. Just things that involve a lot of time and effort. Tonight I'm speaking to Paul's classmates (dental school students) all about healthy practices while in grad school. And then Saturday I'm putting on a wellness event at a local cafe here in Westchester all about practices for feeling healthier and more balanced around food and eating. Like I said, all good things...just a lot in one week. I'll be glad when this week is over!

So, that being said, I'd say one thing I'm learning this week is what it looks like to be intuitive with how I spend my time and how I listen to my body's needs for rest. For me that looked like sleeping in, skipping the gym, baking some banana muffins, and just being still. Just like with being intuitive with eating, our bodies give us pretty clear signals when we need to rest, and it's our job to listen to that.

To add to it, this week's been all thrown off with our car in the shop, so we didn't go to the gym, so we slept in a little later, and have been staying up a little later...you get the idea. I haven't been doing my hair, barely putting any makeup on, living in sweats and scrubs. It's silly, but the little things seem to throw off my week the most! I will say, though, I feel like all of this happened for a reason because it's helped me realize that I really needed the extra sleep and my body really craved rest instead of planned exercise. I still managed to go for some walks this week because, well our car has been out of commission, and also I feel best when I do some kind of movement. But just knowing that I can allow myself to walk and didn't feel the pressure for planned exercise like going to the gym was so freeing.

These are things I never would have let myself experience in the past. I was so caught up in the pressure I put on myself to exercise and that pressure also translated to feeling the need to wake up at a certain time for fear of being "lazy". I still deal with that sometimes, but it's something I'm working on. It's been so cool to see how learning to be intuitive with my eating has, amazingly enough, transferred to other areas of my life too! I can let myself sleep in, enjoy some baking therapy, and pamper myself with a face mask, new fancy tea, and diffusing essential oils.          

Where before I would have felt guilty for taking a day off of exercise, would have been horrified by an entire week off, I now can actually enjoy letting myself relax. It's such a good feeling! No little nagging voice in the back of my head telling me I should be doing more or I should work out. No need to even make excuses for not going to the gym. Just me, being still, being me. So nice!

Like I said, in the same way that your body gives you messages about how to eat, it also gives messages about how to go about your day. So I'm trying to be more mindful about how I go about my week, giving myself permission to rest and do things that help to recharge me. Here's some ways I've been focusing on my own self care this week... 

Peaceful walks listening to podcasts that don't make me think too much. 

Finishing a show on Netflix (we just finished Royal Pains!)

Drinking wine in the middle of the week to celebrate getting our car back!

Spending more time in my morning devotionals (I'm currently reading 100 Days to Brave and it's AMAZING!)

Diffusing Stress Away & Lavender all day long!

Partaking in some "baking therapy" (you guys reap the benefit with a new recipe below :) )

Drinking my new favorite tea before bed (it's called Yellow & Blue by Harney & Sons-- basically lavender and chamomile, soo good!) 

Just know, as someone who was an adrenaline junkie, but really just motivated by the fear of losing control, the best way to stay in control is by giving up control. And when you do, you're truly able to relax and be YOU! And...there's nothing wrong with taking a day off and letting yourself have a day (or week) of self care!

Enjoy some baking therapy, yourself and make these Mocha Banana Muffins with me! If you make them, be sure to tag @victoriayates.nutrition on instagram so I can see your creations :)

Mocha Banana Muffins

Makes: 12ish muffins           Prep & Cook time: 30 minutes

⅓ cup melted coconut oil

½ cup maple syrup

3 bananas, mashed

2 eggs

¼ cup milk of choice or water (I used almond milk)

1 Tbs ground flax seed

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon cinnamon

1 ¾ cups white whole wheat flour

⅓ cup old-fashioned oats

1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 Tbs instant espresso

Directions:  Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Line or grease muffin tin.In a large bowl, beat the coconut oil and maple syrup together with a whisk. Add the eggs and beat well. Mix in remaining ingredients up until chocolate chips until just combined. Stir in chocolate and espresso slightly, to somewhat swirl in espresso. Bake muffins for 22 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into a muffin comes out clean.Place the muffin tin on a cooling rack to cool.