Ready or not, summer is over. Even if you don’t have kids, summer usually includes Summer Fridays (half days at work,) a vacation or two, and many days lounging poolside or oceanside (where you were supposed to be working virtually?🤔).
So, how do we get back into the swing of things this fall? Here are my best 4 tips!
1. Self Care
I have talked about it so many times. Still, it remains true! As our lives get busier and more demanding, the more tenacious we need to be in making sure we take care of ourselves. This includes:
Daily habits (at least 20 min): Meditation, stretching, working out, going on a walk, reading a book, gratitude journaling, or just staring out the window for 20 minutes and being present. It really doesn't matter, just make sure you are doing one thing for yourself, and only for yourself, a day.
Weekly habits: This could be dance classes, pottery, singing, seeing friends, date night, golf, or whatever takes a little more time and is essential to your well-being.
Monthly habits: Dinner parties with friends, seeing a matinee, going to the opera, visiting family that are farther away. Anything that keeps you happy and can even serve as a reward for the month.
2. Take Breaks
This is probably one of the hardest things for me to practice and still takes a lot of conscious thought to do. Still, breaks are extremely important.
Give yourself a lunch. I have now made sure that I put an hour lunch break in my schedule every day and actually shut my computer off and be present during my meal for at least 20 minutes during that time. I am working up to the complete hour, but still, I seem to always use a large portion of that time to catch up from my morning.
Give yourself some downtime at the end of your workday to just relax. This, I am very good at doing and have done it for years. It's so engrained now in our house that when Belen (my seven-year-old) comes home from school she says, “Mommy, I need a break!” Even just 20 minutes for this works. You can do whatever helps you to relax and destress.
Take a break whenever else you need it, even if it's just five minutes to walk around the block or your home. Take it and know it is making you more productive.
3. Start your morning with the energy you need.
This can be anything from blasting the radio to pounding it at the gym, or if you are like me, it can be simply moving slowly with no sound, and making a nice latte.
Whatever it is, it should start your morning in a way that resonates with your energy. Just make sure that you make it a habit and stick to it.
4. Have a bedtime routine.
Whether that is 5 minutes or 50 minutes, create a routine that helps you appreciate your day and gets you ready for the next.
Mine is pretty simple, I wash my face and teeth, get my pajamas on, and write my 5 items of gratitude. Whereas I know other routine possibilities that can add 15-20 minutes of reading, meditation, or even yoga.
Whatever is your way of saying “thank you” for the day and getting ready for sleep, make it your habit.
I wish us all well as we get back into gear with fuller work weeks and many of us getting our kids back on a school schedule. May we all really take a moment to make sure we have the energy to be productive and enjoy ourselves.
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Written by MerriLyn Gibbs