7 Reasons moving into an RV was the best decision for my autoimmune disease
After graduating college I quickly moved into a one bedroom apartment. Three months later I found myself in the worst health of my life. I was at my heaviest weight and newly diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called ulcerative colitis. I worked on healing myself but the best step so far has been changing my living situation. After living in an apartment for three years I am now living in a 25ft RV with my boyfriend and I have never felt better! The following are the contributing factors to my improved health!
1. I found out what was important to me and prioritized it.
Downsizing into a 25 ft RV with 160 sq ft of living space meant going through what I owned and really thinking about what was serving me. I brought items into the RV that mattered and brought joy and healing into my life. Downsizing allowed me to shed items that were holding me back emotionally or that I no longer needed for my journey. Having only one drawer for nonessentials meant I was able to fill it with meaningful items such as oils, sage, journals, books, and crystals.
2. Improve my sleep
The sounds of nature! I use to live on the third floor of a building with no immediate access to the outside. Now I can open my many windows or step outside with ease. Each night I watch the sun go down, which is amazing for my circadian rhythm. Seeing the sunlight disappear allows my body to start winding down and get ready for sleep naturally. The quality of my sleep has also improved beyond measure. I have two windows right next to my head. I can open these windows and fall asleep to the sound of bugs chirping, taking me right back to late summer nights outside when I was growing up. Each morning sunlight comes right through our windows when it is time to wake up leaving me more energized throughout the day.
3. Improve my diet
Living in a small space makes me more intentional about the quantity and quality of the food I am buying. When I lived in an apartment by myself I had a massive fridge and would just buy things that grabbed my attention. I would also have food taking up space in the back of my fridge that was “just in case.” (Shoutout to that unopened jar of applesauce for that flare that never came!) With a slightly smaller fridge, I buy groceries each week with the intention that it can be used for multiple purposes. This forces me to plan my meals ahead of time and get creative with the few ingredients I do buy.
4. Being in nature
Moving into an RV as brought me closer to nature literally and figuratively. Being able to walk about 5 feet and land at my front door leads to some of the most beautiful places I have seen. These landscapes are energizing and breathtaking. I am able to ground myself into the earth each day benefiting my body.
5. Constantly moving/changing
When I had my first autoimmune flare up I quickly felt like I was stuck. It was hard for me to get up each morning and not remember a time without constant pain. By moving around it shows me how quickly things can change and pass. This lifestyle has given me a growth mindset that this “too shall pass” and that these symptoms I am feeling are temporary.
6. Cleanliness
Everything is exposed in the RV. There is no basement or space under my bed to put things I don’t want to deal with. We are constantly opening and closing cabinets, there is nowhere to hide. If something doesn’t have a purpose we get rid of it. It is vital to keep our space clean and tidy.
7. Possibilities
There is so much possibility about what is to come! I have the opportunity to move around and share my story as well as hear the story of those around me. There is so much space for me to grow and heal. I have an open road in front of me on my healing journey and I am so excited to see where it leads.
1 on 1 coaching spots are available with me! Email me at michelle@sunnysideupliving.com for a free 50-minute health consultation.
My name is Michelle Steinberg and I have trained to become a health coach at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City. It is the largest nutrition school in the world. As a health coach, I support individuals and groups of people in making nutritional and lifestyle changes to improve their health. Also working as an athletic trainer, personal trainer, yoga teacher, and Reiki instructor, I specialize in working with women who want to heal their lives.