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I hope your weekend has been a good one and that you feel rested and ready for the new week!
I feel like this past month went by really fast, even though the time change really got to me for a few days…waking up in the dark again was rough;) I get my 7th grader off to school before 7am each day and we were both missing the daylight in the morning. Other than that, I went to Hobby Lobby with a friend last week and snagged a couple of goodies for the house, and got reminded how nice it is to put down a to-do list and just have FUN. I’ve been working on incorporating more fun into my days, in big and small ways. I think days filled with obligations only are basically against the point of life, which is to fully experience things and enjoy, you know? I’ll chat about adding more fun in below.
I also received the first does of the vaccine two weeks ago, I woke up with a sore arm and was slightly more tired for a day or so, but all in all I am happy to have that. I will get the second dose next month and I’m just feeling hopeful. (My husband got the vaccine earlier this year as he is in the military.) This isn’t a message to say get it or not, I have no opinion on your body and only do what I think is good for mine. It just felt right for me at this time.
Let’s get right into 3 things to think about this week!
1) I talked above about adding more fun into our days, and it has been a game changer for me lately. I think I talked a few weeks ago about this book and discovering your energy type. I took this test to help me figure it out and turns out, I am a Type 1 (which surprised me!) Type one people are fun loving and like to laugh and can seem ‘ditzy,’ embracing this side can be challenging. I know I always wanted to be seen as more serious and responsible and put together, but I truly think a lot of anxiety comes from NOT being your true and authentic self. The more I have let this settle in I’ve found that it feels really good to embrace who I am deep inside, something I am not sure I have ever fully done. I’ve always liked to have enough free time to do what I love (paint, read, write, etc,) and having a schedule that doesn’t have room for this really overwhelms me. When I have too much on my calendar I just end up putting my head down and doing it, but I am never present and always feel like I am just checking things off the list. Now obviously, life is full of this stuff! I have kids and I work from home and there are obligations, but I can add FUN into as well.
Lately I have been adding fun things into my day when it is more packed with obligations. Need to go to the grocery store? Maybe I can stop by a book shop and browse before or after. Need to work out (because it helps me mentally?) Maybe I can add a walk outside with the kids instead of that gym class. Have to go on an errand that is super boring? Why not grab a special lunch to go after to make it special? These are all random things, and when my kids were smaller it was more difficult to get out and about, but just adding in fun things for me has made life more exciting. The thing is we DESERVE to have things to look forward to. They can be small like an iced coffee at a cute coffee shop, or bigger like an upcoming trip. So many of us do everything for others and forget ourselves, but that is what cause burnout and overwhelm and a sense of ‘here’s another week of the same thing.”
How can you add some FUN into your week this week? Can you think of one thing that sounds exciting and can you schedule it?
2) The other day I saw a picture of myself taken by someone else and the first thing I thought was, ‘Ugh, do my legs really look like that?” I’m sure we can all relate, we feel a certain way and then a photo or a glance in the mirror can undermine it all, and the negative thoughts rush in. I have been working hard this year to become more ‘body neutral,’ and understanding that feeling good about yourself is not about being perfect, but in how we think. After seeing this picture I felt bad for a few hours, and then I read something the next day that really helped me.
The next time you notice a negative thought I want you to write down (or think) the opposite. For instance, turn “my legs look so big,” to “I love how strong my legs are.” You can do this for ANYTHING! I know I have a lot of negative thoughts in my head, we all do. The key is to notice them and replace them with better thoughts. Because honestly, these more positive thoughts feel better! I feel better when I think about how strong my legs are versus what they look like. The idea is to slowly train your brain to focus on the good, and not the old limiting ideas that our brains give us that are really just your subconscious mind and not good for you. Our limiting beliefs and negative thoughts hold us back rather than push us forward, they are our brains way of keeping us comfortable and ‘safe,’ which is a lie.
What are your negative thoughts, and how can you turn them into positive ones?
3) I read recently about coming up with a list fo five things you need to do everyday. These are non negotiable habits and routines that we do daily that support our current and future selves. Most of these things we are already doing, but writing them down and checking them off can be really life affirming. Here are five things I do daily:
*First thing I do when I wake up and wait for me coffee to brew is I drink one cup of water with my Metamucil (old lady alert!) I like this habit of drinking water first thing, and the Metamucil is good for gut health (which is tied to brain health.)
*I always wash my face, brush teeth, and apply some type of makeup. When I do this it feels like I transition from morning to day, and even if I am wearing sweatpants at home, I feel like I made an effort. Most often I do get dressed, as that helps my mindset, but even just a little mascara and eyebrow pencil makes me feel ready for anything (and sometimes that is my couch and a good book!)
*I make my bed daily. This is such a small thing and takes two minutes, but it not only makes my bedroom look neater, I love getting into a made bed at night!
*Each day I take a softgel of my CBD, which I get from Equilibria. I find I notice when I don’t take it more than when I do! I order the monthly subscription and get either the softgels or the drops, they both work great. The gels are longer lasting I find, but take a bit to feel the effects. The drops are more instant but wear off faster. I often use both as well, depending on the day!
*I drink at least 64 oz of water a day. I have a big water bottle that I fill at least twice and finish, and often drink more. I learned years ago from my chiropractor that water is the KEY to how our bodies function and feel. Anytime I would visit and tell him something hurt he would immediately ask me if I was drinking water. Now I do the same to my kids;)
What five this can you do daily? Big or small?
