• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Amy Hoogervorst

Integrative Health and Wellness Coach

  • WHAT IS HEALTH COACHING?
  • ABOUT AMY
  • SERVICES
  • BLOG
    • FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY
    • MIND-BODY CONNECTION
    • MOVEMENT, EXERCISE AND REST
    • NUTRITION
    • PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
    • RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNICATION
  • GET STARTED
    • SCHEDULE A FREE CALL
    • ACCESS FREE RESOURCES
    • VIEW ARCHIVED VIDEOS

Sep 2, 2017
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT· SELF CARE

What I Learned in Summer of 2017

 

learned-summer-2017-image-is-fresh-peach-and-ice-cream-with-spoon

Hi. I’ve missed you, and writing, and writing for you, during my break this summer. Before going headlong into fall, though, I decided I would take a cue from writer Emily P. Freeman, who encourages her readers to “pause to reflect on the past season before we move ahead into the future.”

So here we are.

These are 7 Things I Learned This Summer, in no particular order.

1. The world keeps turning even when we unplug from social media, politics, and the news.

Obviously, I knew this at heart. But I didn’t realize how much I needed to be away from it all for most of the 18 days we were in Switzerland. We lived at a scout center with other adults and youth from around the world. We spent many days sightseeing in nearby towns or hiking in the Alps. And what a gift. My soul rejoiced not only at the beauty of the people and place surrounding me, but also at the opportunity to truly live in the present. I returned home physically tired and mentally renewed. As writer Anne Lamott says, “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” May you have the opportunity to experience this in the days ahead.

2. Wunderlist is a great app for planning meals, not just sharing grocery lists.

what i learned summer 2017 - wunderlist

My in-laws visited for about 10 days this summer, bringing with them the usual change in dynamics when extra people are in the house. I knew from past experience that this was no time for making dinners on the fly (which, admittedly, is how I roll more often than not.) I used an app called Wunderlist, which is how Doug and I share our family grocery list with each other. In less than an hour, I thought through each day of their visit, wrote out a plan for each dinner including entrees and side dishes, and created a grocery list for those meals. Then I set a reminder to pop up at 9 a.m. every day, so I would remember to put something in the slow cooker or go pick up last-minute items at the store.

3. Churning and enjoying homemade ice cream with friends is worth all of the calories, carbs, and sugar that come with it.

what i learned summer 2017 - homemade ice cream

4. A sandwich baggie makes it simple to pack nutritional supplements for a trip.

Thanks to a tip from my friend Judy, my stress over packing for 3+ weeks almost dissolved. Packing my clothes was one thing, but how was I going to make sure I had all the other essentials? I took a day’s worth of vitamins/minerals, energy and sports drink powders, tea bags, and probiotics and packed them together in a single plastic sandwich bag. I packed one of these for each of 24 days, which once overseas made it easy to grab what I might need for the day and toss it into my backpack. What I didn’t use that day, I put in a separate bag and brought home.

what i learned summer 2017 - how to pack supplements

5. European bread is better than American bread.

I’m not sure how people with celiac disease or dairy intolerance live in Switzerland. I avoid both gluten and dairy in the United States, which helps reduce my allergies and improves my gut health. But I enjoyed both bread and dairy in Switzerland without ill effects. I think much of it comes down to the cows in the Berner Oberland being grass-fed, not corn-fed, and their wheat not being sprayed by glyphosate (Roundup) before harvest. Dr. Joanne Conaway talks about how these American practices affect our health in her book, “Why is America So Sick? Linking Digestive Health to Immunity and Hormonal Issues,” which I read this summer. I’m dismayed by what we’ve done to our food supply in the United States.

what i learned summer 2017 - european bread is better

6. Sometimes my faith leaks out through my eyes.

Majestic mountains. Human interactions. People persevering and supporting each other. My child playing “It is Well With My Soul” as part of a string ensemble at church. And my other son, after we drove together for two full days – 1,250 miles – toward his university, driving away from me and the airport curb and finishing the rest of the trip alone. Frederick Buechner says, “Whenever you find tears in your eyes, especially unexpected tears, it is well to pay the closest attention.” God is good. All the time.

what i learned - my faith leaks out

7. Even coaches need coaches.

This summer was full of opportunities for me to expand my comfort zone – tackling a high ropes/zipline course for the first time, then going indoor rock climbing. The first platform on the ropes course freaked me out. I wrote on my Instagram account about zipping past our fears, and how sometimes even coaches need coaches.

Now it’s your turn. What did you learn this summer? Comment below, or join my free, private “Faith and Sweat” Facebook group, where we can have a larger conversation.

Thanks for stopping by! I’m an integrative health coach, offering grace and space for a healthier you. I’d love to hear from you and get to know you better. If you’re new here and don’t want to miss a thing, be sure to CLICK HERE to subscribe to the newsletter and updates. 

 

Tweet
Share
Pin

Don’t Miss out

Join our newsletter to get all the latest!

Previous Post: « Got a Soda Habit You Can’t Kick?
Next Post: 31 Steps to a Healthier You: 2017 Challenge »

Primary Sidebar

MEET AMY

Hi! I'm Amy Hoogervorst, a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, integrative health coach, and creative entrepreneur offering grace and space for a healthier you. Read More…

Amy Hoogervorst is a ReCODE 2.0 Certified Health Coach. Badge is blue and green lettering primarily on a white background

Latest on the Blog

A Bredesen ReCODE coach helps people concerned about or living with cognitive decline implement lifestyle changes that are part of the Bredesen protocol. Colorful image depicts a brain with many synapses and activity

Recently I trained as a Bredesen ReCODE Coach, adding to my professional knowledge base and credentials as I look to help anyone concerned about their brain health. But my desire to prevent and reverse cognitive decline goes beyond a professional achievement. It’s deeply personal, too. About five years ago, someone close to me received a […]

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Latest on Instagram

Why is good sleep important? Let me count the ways Why is good sleep important? Let me count the ways ...

1. Good sleep improves immunity, as the cytokines produced during sleep help the immune system fight common infections such as colds and flu. Chronic sleep loss can increase risks for immunodeficiency.

2. Quality sleep this lowers the risk of serious health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Heart rate and blood pressure decrease during sleep, allowing the heart and vascular system to rest. Sleep also impacts the body's relationship with insulin. Seven+ hours of sleep a night helps regulate blood sugar.

3. Sleep benefits brain health by giving the brain a chance to grow, reorganize, restructure, and make new neural connections. A lack of sleep also impairs judgment and an ability to think quickly.

4. Sleep improves mood and helps people manage stress by reducing incidents of poor performance, muddied thinking, and low energy. Quality sleep also can reduce anxiety, depression, and other mental health strains.

5. Weight loss and maintenance are more successful with quality sleep. Short sleep of less than 7 hours per night has been linked to a greater risk of weight gain and may lead to greater food cravings and lower energy for other activities such as exercise.

Which of these health benefits of sleep interests you most?

(Information sourced from the National Sleep Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

#sleepforhealth #sleepbenefits #worldsleepday #qualitysleep #graceandspaceforahealthieryou #integrativehealthcoach #nbchwc #sleephealth #physicalhealth #mentalhealth #brainhealth
Wait. Pause. Notice. Be still. That's the message Wait. Pause. Notice. Be still.

That's the message I got this afternoon, when I looked up and noticed I'd been sitting in my parked car in front of this bush for a full five minutes. And I hadn't seen it.

I was absorbed by something else. My mind elsewhere, making a list and checking it twice, so to speak. And when I looked up, the beauty of this holly took my breath away. The way the light was hitting the leaves and berries at that moment, I had to get out of my car and snap a pic.

Almost immediately, I felt my shoulders relax, my heart open, my mind clear, even if only for a moment.

'Tis the season. For the hustle and bustle. Life on the hamster wheel. Automatic pilot. The checking off of lists. But that doesn't have to be the only way.

What's helped you - wait, pause, notice, be still - lately?

#gratefulforapause #breathe #graceandspaceforahealthieryou 
#mindfulawareness #pause #nature #notice #lifepractice #spiritualpractice #bestill #integrativehealthcoach
Been a while since we've done this together ... Wo Been a while since we've done this together ... Women's Wellness Walk in the Woods, this Saturday morning - who's interested? Send me a DM if you're in central NC - Durham, Chapel Hill area - and would like to get outside this weekend and explore an area trail in a small group. Nothing strenuous, and nothing boring. 😁 

#graceandspaceforahealthieryou #integrativehealthcoach #letsgo #wellnesswalk #getoutside #autumninnc #chapelhill #durhamnc #durm #trailwalk #freshair #movement #physicalactivity
"There are steps we can all take now to prevent th "There are steps we can all take now to prevent the cognitive decline that experts have long believed unavoidable and irreversible."
-Dale Bredesen, M.D.

If you're a subscriber to my Well Check e-letter, in your inbox this morning, you'll see this quote and a way to learn a bit more about why I trained this year as a certified Bredesen ReCODE health coach (and what that means.)

To subscribe, visit the link in my bio or amyhoogervorst.com/subscribe; I'll be sharing more about brain health in upcoming emails and articles.

September is World Alzheimer's Month, and this past Wednesday marked World Alzheimer's Day -  making this the perfect time to share both this update and my professional and personal desire to help make Alzheimer's a rare disease.

#quotes #worldalzheimersmonth2022 #worldalzheimersday #lifestylechange #bredesenprotocol #brainhealth #cognition #thewellcheck #graceandspaceforahealthieryou #integrativehealthcoach #nutrition #exercise #sleep #stress #detox #braintraining #supplements
Follow on Instagram

Tags

accountability anxiety best self books challenge choices coaching dreams exercise faith faith and sweat fitness friends goals grace and space for a healthier you habits health health coaching healthy eating healthy food healthy lifestyle holidays inflammation memories mindfulness mindset movement nutrition perseverance personal growth PhotoOrganize Me photos recipes resources rest self-care sleep social media stewardship stories stress sugar wellness what i learned Youngevity
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • DISCLOSURES
  • CONTACT
© 2023 Amy Hoogervorst - All Rights Reserved

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Amy Hoogervorst
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.