Keeping organic, whole foods in our home; easy peasy. Making healthy meals; I’m all over that. Using plant-based cleaners throughout the house; that’s child’s play. But taking vitamins and supplements, that is right where I completely fall apart.
I can line up the pretty bottles on my counter top where I will see them each morning, and I will say, “Yep, I’m going to take those tomorrow!” But you know and I know and even my toothless, hairless, ancient chihuahua knows I will walk right by them and not take one single capsule. This has been especially problematic as I am on the recovery end of a very long and massive surgery that took a turn with complications that landed me in the hospital for 8 days. Taking my supplements is vital to regaining my health, my strength and my longevity.
But how? How do I, a woman whose failure to take supplements is long and well documented, make a drastic change in habits? Well, here’s how I did it and maybe it will work for you.
1. Admit they are important
So, here’s the thing. For years, supplements felt like an “extra”, like they weren’t really necessary to achieve optimum health, and they wouldn’t really do that much for me. After this recent total depletion of my health, I was humbled. Some of these supplements (like my prescription potassium), they are literally life or death. But others are just truly and deeply important to supporting my health and healing. From arnica to turmeric to vitamin C, they all help support and sustain my body as it goes through this journey back to vitality.
2. Get a pill organizer
There’s a lot to take. Right now, because of my situation, there are a lot of pills to take. One day there will be fewer, but for now, I need to stay organized and on top of things. My week-long pill organizer is one of my most important tools. I prep my supplements the way fitness junkies prep their meals: Every Sunday I plan and portion and prep for the week ahead, that way I’m never stuck saying, “ I don’t have time to figure this out.”
3. Use modern technology
Unless you’re a hardcore off-the-grid survivalist, you probably have a smart phone. Put that baby to use. I set a timer, or rather multiple timers, to keep me on schedule and on top of my regimen. You have enough things to remember in a day (or in my case, my short term memory is shot) so make it easy on yourself and set simple reminders to pop up for each of your doses.
