Counter the Impact of Life’s Many Demands With Intentional, Restorative Practices
A life of balance looks different for everyone. For some, completing a hard workout and eating a nourishing meal may be soothing and restorative.
For others, updating a personal budget and meeting up with friends for a night of enriching conversation might be just what the doctor ordered. In this series, we celebrate the many ways through which we can come to centeredness by spotlighting women who are intentional about cultivating joy and balance through their own unique practices.
Be Active
I begin every day with some form of exercise – one that causes my breath to become louder than my thoughts. Some days this takes longer than others, but it always requires a fair amount of sweat. I have found that not judging my success with metrics and comparisons but with effort and meaning guarantees me an improved outlook regardless of the outcome. All of this transforms my daily sweaty pursuit from a routine to a welcomed ritual to which I apply as much gratitude as I do grit.
Nourish Yourself
I no longer reward myself with things that are bad for me. I’ve decided that all my successes, big or small, deserve a validation that will sustain me and satisfy me in the moment. Healthy, plant-based foods always leave me feeling grateful instead of regretful. And when it comes to mindset, I attempt to turn all my “have-tos” into “get-tos.” I now know that what I put in my body and mind determines what I get out. It’s the one place I truly have “skin in the game.”
The Gift of Sleep
I value sleep. After many years of fighting sleep by either getting too little or too much, I now listen to my body more than my mind and seem to be able to get just what I need. By doing little things like setting my alarm to tell me when to go to sleep instead of when to get up, I’ve made sleep a commodity instead of a calamity.
