Balancing everything in my life was my biggest struggle. I’m 33, and my husband, Justin, and I have two kids, five-year-old Oliver and Luke who’s three. I didn’t have a good work life balance. I’m a pharmacist, and Justin’s a nurse. I love my job, but it’s been difficult making time for the kids. I was sad that I was missing out on their childhood. After a 12 hour shift, I was too tired to do much with them. And I wanted more time for my marriage. You have to be mindful of your relationship — you can’t just say, “Hey, we’ll come back to each other when the children turn 18.”
I wasn’t eating well.
I’m Indian and I’d eat a ton of rice with my curry. At work I’d grab fried chicken from the deli. I wasn’t working out consistently. And I wasn’t feeling confident in my body.
The turning point for me came when my dad had a heart attack.
I’m very close to my parents, and It was pretty scary. Dad always seemed healthy and spent a ton of time at the gym. But he was a type 1 diabetic. I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant, and I felt I had a higher risk of health problems. I wanted to change my lifestyle, so I downloaded the Thrive app.
I started drinking a lot of water.
My husband and I began cooking together. He’s a really good cook and I’m learning from him! We’ll go on pinterest and find recipes. We just made Adobo pepper chicken. We’ll make salmon in the airfryer with lemon, and have it with cauliflower rice and broccoli. My parents live nearby, and they make a lot of delicious Indian food like beef or chicken curry.
I do two mile walking videos; I walk fast and it feels so good to get moving.
Your body needs a little shakeup. And the boys and I do goofy dancing to Taylor Swift songs like “Shake it Off.” I get scared that my husband will record a goofy video! But we have a lot of fun. We also walk around the neighborhood, and our kids will be on their bicycles. It’s much better for everyone than being in front of the T.V. .
My favorite thing to do is clean my house.
I put on Taylor Swift and find it very relaxing. Also, I enjoy having a clean house.
Justin and I started going on dates once a month.
We’ll drop off the boys with my parents — they’re such a support. We recently went for brunch at a restaurant Justin’s friend owns. We still talk about the boys when we’re out, but we know we can’t go through life without paying attention to each other. We’ll watch a T.V. show when the boys are asleep, like “The Great British Baking Show.” We love cooking competitions!
I used to struggle with sleep.
I had a habit of scrolling on my phone at night. Now I listen to podcasts instead. I take a shower, relax, and go to bed earlier. Sleeping well has had a positive impact on my work. I don’t feel like I’m dragging all day.
At work, I’m extra helpful.
Many patients have been with us for a long time. A few days ago, an older man was picking up a new fancy insulin pen, and I took an extra second to explain to him and his daughter how to use it. If you spend a little extra time, you create a positive vibe, which is great for patients.
I started a little garden in the backyard — that’s my “me time.”
I’ve planted tomatoes, cucumbers, and my favorite herb, parsley. I’d never tried this before but I decided that growing your own garden is better than buying veggies from the grocery store. Also, we’re showing the boys that if you put in the labor, you’ll see the results and see where food comes from.
Reading articles on the Thrive app shifts my perspective.
It’s so good to know you’re not the only one going through struggles. And I realized you don’t
have to reach a certain point to be happy. I don’t do everything 100 percent all the time — like eating properly and going to the gym. But I know what I do is enough. I have more energy for my kids and a positive outlook.
— Chinnu Simon, Walmart Supercenter #2804, Oklahoma City, OK; $5K Winner