Busy Bee Wellness with Marina

I love the mornings and firmly believe that they have a big impact on your day. Creating a consistent and positive routine can be difficult, especially when you're busy. If you're interested in doing this, here are a few things you can do to implement one at the beginning of your day.  First, you have to get up. You do not have to wake up at the crack of dawn (even though sunrises are so lovely😉) but give yourself time to have a morning routine. I wouldn't recommend sleeping till 12 either. I generally wake up between 6 & 8, depending on how I'm feeling and what I am doing that day. By rule of thumb, I like to be up at least two hours before I have to leave the house, as long as I am not sacrificing too much sleep. That also means you have to go to bed early enough to accommodate your morning schedule.  Figure out what your non-negotiables are. If I wake up late there are a few things I do not leave out of my routine. Everything else is something I am okay with sta...

 Have you ever experienced the "slump?" I don't know if I've mentioned this yet but I've been trying to get back into running. My boyfriend and I are both training and planning to run a marathon (or half) next April. However, I've just been getting back to it this week after about two weeks off even though I really didn't feel like it. It is hard to get back on the horse, no matter what it is for, running or not. There is no denying it. Here are 3 tips I used to feel motivated again.  Find some people who inspire you and get into their content. Watch videos, listen to podcasts, check out their social media posts, and more. They often have the best tips for reaching your goals if they align with their brand and the journeys that they share can help inspire you to continue.  Another thing you can do is materialize your vision of your goal. I recommend vision boards and journaling your progress. This helps keep yourself accountable and in line with your own g...

 Okay, we're all here. We all understand the importance of self-care and feel the need for it. Maybe you've even cut out the time for it too but no what? What can you do that is going to help you relax, clear your mind, and care for your body? Here are a few of my favorite methods to do just that! To take care of my body, I love taking Epsom salt baths. It's great for relaxing your muscles and removing toxins from your body. I have loved lavender-scented salts especially. On nights that I have trouble sleeping, taking a bath like this typically does the trick. To elevate your bath even more, light a candle, make some tea, and turn on some instrumental music or a show. It's like sitting in your own personal spa. To take care of mind, journaling is a great tool. Sometimes all we need to get ourselves out of our own heads is to get everything in our heads out on paper, or just out in general. If writing isn't your thing, do video or audio diaries. If I don't materi...

As my mom always says, abs are made in the kitchen. A large part of being and staying fit is in what you eat. However, being busy can make this very difficult. I discovered a few easy recipes I could prep beforehand or quickly before leaving for school or work. My Favorite Salad! Any mixed greens you choose Crumbled goat cheese Walnuts Grilled Chicken Blueberries Any oil-based dressing of your choice - I like to choose something on the sweet side This salad is so delicious; all you have to do is throw the ingredients together and enjoy! It is nourishing and refreshing, combining all the important things; protein, leafy greens, carbs, and more! The Best Turkey Sandwich! Sourdough Bread Mayonnaise - preferably one made with avocado oil as it is less toxic and inflammatory Sliced Cheese - I often choose pepper jack Turkey or whatever meat you choose - Deli Meat is fine, I prefer the ones from the deli counter at the grocery instead of the more processed ones in the refrigerated section. I...

 Motivation is a difficult thing. I'm getting away from the idea that it is something that you have to have. Sure, it's nice to make progress towards your goal when you are in the right mood but you will never always feel like that. I feel like the most personal growth happens when we don't feel like working on ourselves but we do it anyway. Discipline is key. It is an art that doesn't get enough practice and attention. It's the idea that we can make things happen for ourselves no matter what obstacle, such as a lack of motivation. However, I am not saying that it's a simple thing either. It is quite literally mind over everything. So, how do I find the motivation to work out and take care of myself on top of work and school? The short answer is, I didn't. I wrote it into my weekly and daily schedules. It didn't have to be something I wanted to do, it was something I had to do. I know that I feel better and do better when I follow my schedule and take ti...

While trying to juggle my school, work, and personal life, I found it difficult to find time for some self-care each week. It doesn't have to be a lot - a little self-care can make all the difference in preserving your mental health. These 3 practices help you prioritize yourself and organize your time. Make Lots of Lists: I make new to-do lists every day. I write down what has to be done today and what all needs to be done on other days of the week.  If we write down what we try to keep straight in our heads, it clears our heads and allows us to think about ourselves.  Plan out your weeks and days: Every week, I plan my days out. I know exactly what I am going to do and when I am going to do it. When it comes to self-care, I block time for it too. I set times to have meditation, physical activity, and more. If I don't make the time, it doesn't happen because I get so caught up other things to do. Set your phone down: Our phones are one of the biggest thieves of our time. C...

    Welcome back, friends! In May 2023, I rode the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, a bike ride that is roughly 50 miles long in Colorado from Durango to Silverton. It was one of the hardest and most rewarding things I have ever done. I defeated two mountain passes higher than 10,000 feet on this point-to-point ride, with more than 6,000 feet of vertical climb and two descents. I cried at the top of the last mountain pass and when I finished as well. Although, this means that during my sophomore year of college, I was working many hours a week and training for my race on top of my studies.This was half the battle of the whole thing.     How did I find time to do it all? Well, I started with a planner. My time was budgeted in there perfectly. I made sure to get a planner that was weekly/daily so that I could have the time blocking feature for each day. I recommend you do the same. (Day Designer has great options) Each Sunday I filled in when I would be at work, school...