The Powerful Life Lesson My Cookie Jar Taught Me
Step by step guide to using your cookie jar to improve your health
One thing that many people don’t realize they do — probably because it is involuntary — is stress eating or emotional eating. Eating when bored or needing comfort. I realized that stress can make one reach for food only when I started working from home.
Thing is, emotional eating, though common, is not easy to admit. If someone asked me whether I was prone to this, I’d vehemently deny it. Yet, there was a time a few years ago — that ultimately led to my diabetes diagnosis — when I found myself snacking more often than I would have liked.
It isn’t as if I am a big snacker, but heavy workloads and the too-much-to-do list resulted in skipping meal times and grabbing what I could when my tummy rumbled. Also, I was alone at home and it just seemed easier than sitting down to a good meal.
Mind you, I did cook in the morning to pack lunch boxes and yet, I wouldn’t get around to eating mine on time. Instead, I would nibble at something from the kitchen shelf and have another coffee while I continued to work at my desk.
Oh well, hindsight is always 20/20
We know that indiscriminate eating leads to unhealthy weight gain. It just creeps up on you without warning. And then, one fine day, when you can’t get those buttons to meet on your jeans, you’ll wonder what the heck happened.
Okay, I solved that problem with elasticized waists. No, but seriously.
But that looks yum, does it not?
Not kidding.
The good news is, I’ve been able to arrest this habit by simply setting the alarm clock and taking a long hard look at my time management.
Rather than reach into the cookie jar to make up for a meal or because I needed a distraction or because I thought I needed a reward, maybe, surely there were other things I could do?
I decided to revamp my cookie jar
Habits are hard to break. So if you, like me, find yourself programmed to reach for that cookie jar, here is what you can do.
Using your cookie jar to stop emotional eating
Here’s a step-by-step guide
- Empty the cookie jar or any container whose contents you indulge in
- Clean it
- Add two more jars next to it on the same shelf
- Take a sheet of paper and make a list of all the things you wish you had the time to do. Make sure these activities are fun, enjoyable, help you relax
- Next to each item on the list, write down how much time you need to accomplish it — split this into 15 minutes, less than an hour, and more than an hour.
- Take another sheet of paper and cut it into small notes and make three sets, one for each jar
- For the first jar, fill the notes with the 15-minute tasks. For the second jar, the less-than-an-hour tasks and for the third, more-than-an-hour tasks.
- Fill the jars (first jar with 15-minute tasks, second with less-than-an-hour tasks and third with more-than-an-hour tasks)
- Label the jars accordingly
- Wondering what to write on those slips?
Well, here’s my list — you can add what rings your bells:
A long bath
Phone a friend (make sure you write a couple of names with numbers)
Soak my feet/pedicure
Enjoy a cup of coffee/juice/herbal tea
Read something
Listen to music
Go for a walk
Work on a crossword puzzle
Mend/sew a few things (I always have a basket ready)
Paint a pillow cover or T-shirt
Organize albums (music or photos)
Clean a bookshelf or kitchen shelf or declutter a small space
Jot down ideas for blog posts
And so on and so forth. Easy enough.
Some tips:
- Don’t list “checking email” because that can really suck you in, especially if you need to respond to them.
- Preferably, list things that take you away from your computer screen.
The next time you want to reach for your cookie jar
Here is what you do: based on how much time you have available, pick a note from one of these jars. And . . . just do it. You’ll be glad you did. It is a great way to get stuff done and uplift your spirits. Total win-win.
And if you have to snack, make it healthy. Keep a bowl of fruits and nuts ready. Please make sure you eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at the right times. Your body will thank you and reward you with good health. Did I say you must be active, too? Just did!
Do try this and tell me how it works.
Do you tend towards regretful snacking?
If yes, how do you tackle it?
If no, how do you tackle it?
I would love to hear your tips in the comments!
