I’ve noticed two interesting things about how I’m approaching my wellness.
1. I was thinking yesterday that my lunch contains some cheese and that maybe that’s not super healthy for me. once I got that idea in my head I couldn’t get it out, So I didn’t make my regular lunch yesterday. This was in fact so complicated that I just didn’t have lunch at all. So by the evening I was starving hungry and I was incredibly tired and I ended up eating crackers and cheese for dinner. So I ended up eating the cheese anyway and ended up not eating all the vegetables and protein I eat during lunch. Not super awesome.
2. As our schedule worked out it looks like I’m going to go climbing three times this week. This means I’m going to have less time to be able to exercise outside of that. Because of the way I set up my plan this means I won’t be able to check off everything I have. Instead of realizing that my goal is to get a bunch of exercise everyday I’m getting stuck on the specific exercise. Because of the kind of exercise climbing is I’m actually going to end up having more exercise this week than usual. I need to have my goals to be flexible enough such that I’m still fulfilling the high level goal without getting stuck in the specific ways I do it. So if the goal is some form of movement every day then I need to let go of the sub goals.
So there you are. It’s been interesting to see the ways in which I can sabotage myself and my wellness goals. But that’s part of the point of this project. So I can pay attention and learn and hopefully do better.
One of the things I’ve been noticing with this project is how multi-sensory experiences can really be magical. This cancel looks wonderful, smells delicious, and makes a crackle that reminds me of being at a campground. What a joy.
One of the side benefits of this project has been the variety in my exercise routine. I am now doing climbing, biking, strength, yoga, stretching and walking each week. And I like the idea of this diversity even if I do less of each.
I wonder how j can create a similar practice with nutrition. And with soul care and skin care. I have to think more about this. The Peloton app helps a lot with the former, I wish there was something similar for all the other areas.
Really grateful for this project today. When I do more things on my list, I start the day grounded and calm and centered. It works every single time.
As we walk into March, my OLW class will have a commitment for every day in March and I am wondering whether that’s the push I need to progress in a sub area that I would like but am not progressing enough.
Or if I should pick something completely different.
Or if I should give myself credit for what I am already doing.
We came home from our trip today and all I could think about was how I wanted to go climbing.
usually when we’re back from a trip like this all I want to do is rest and be alone. But now we have our Sunday routine and I really miss the climbing when we don’t do it.
So I told my introvert itself to be quiet, took a little nap and then a shower and went back out to do some climbing.
Of course it was worth it because it’s worth it every single time. And now I’m resting in a bath, grateful for this day.
There’s always magic in going out and doing the thing.
I continue to be excited about this project and all the ways in which it’s encouraging me to push myself or make small changes towards prioritizing wellness.
It’s been such a gift.
I love that it allows me to appreciate and celebrate what I am doing without punishing myself for what I am not doing.
That might not sound like a big deal but it’s a huge deal to someone who tends to focus on the negative more often than not.
One of the things I’ve learned when it comes to wellness is that we don’t all care about the same things and value the same things.
I have friends who consider putting make up on in the morning or making their bed in the morning part of their wellness journey. Those would not make it on my list. But getting my hair done would.
To be fair, it wouldn’t have five years ago. Back then, I’d get my hair done once every 4-5 months and that was plenty. Now it’s a monthly appointment and one I look forward to. Something that makes me feel happy and helps me feel more comfortable in my body.
I used to be very judgemental about how people should get to spend their time and energy. And I’ve learned that we each walk our paths and it is not up to me to say how others are walking theirs. I am learning how to walk mine and how to define what wellness means to me.