With summer finally here, how can we step off the treadmill without compromising on feeling well?
Regardless of whether your daily routine is linked to the school calendar, that cyclical beat of the term drum is deep within most of us - and last week the summer holidays well and truly began in my head!
Longer nights mean a sense of expanded space. The light lends itself to socialising, celebrating with those you love too. You may have time booked away to break routine and take real rest. But, for all of us, there will be an inevitable juggling! And, if we’re not careful, the prioritisation of others or other commitments over ourselves.
Last year, my summer passed in a blur of busy. I hurtled back into September feeling depleted, sluggish and in real need of some self care. This year I am determined to do things differently. These are the practices I’m putting in place to ensure the joy I get from others doesn’t impact the respect I need to show my body and mind:
1.
Journal every morning for 10 minutes; I’m working on making this a joyful ritual. I make a warm brew (see below!), take my supplements and then I’ve positioned a chair to look out of the window so I can let my thoughts flow. I’m working through the beautiful workbook created by therapeutic coach and LIMINAL expert Henny Flynn, and I have found using the meditations before writing transformational.
2.
Stick to my supplement routine: I’ve found having Gut-Instinct and Mood-Food by the kettle when I make my morning hot lemon and ginger brew ensures it is part of my daily ritual and hooked to a conscious act of self care. I have also put 10 Gut Instinct capsules in a fabric zipped earring pouch I’d kept in my go-to tote bag so I know I always have some if I’m eating out too.
3.
Start the day with a PFF breakfast: PFF is an acronym used to describe the most nutritious start to the day we can gift ourselves - protein rich, fibrous and full of good fats. A PFF breakfast feeds our guts, balances blood sugar and supports our hormone balance. From sourdough with salmon, poached eggs and greens to mashed avocado and seeds on toast, tofu ‘poke’ bowls or greek yoghurt and kefir ladened with nuts, berries and seeds, the combinations are versatile and delicious too.
4.
Read fiction and read it in printed form: Are you also tired of that highly informative, ‘self-improvement’ voice in your head? I estimated last week that it would take me 7 months to get through my library of ‘must-listen’ podcast episodes! I love them but I also can’t remember the last time I took a walk, did a workout, did the washing up…without someone else’s voice in my head! I’m going to read books. They’re going to be fiction. And they’re going to be on paper too!
5.
Move outside: Exercise right now, for me, is a priority. I need it for my thinking mind - and recently, I’ve found it really hard to get back into the routine. I’m tired but I know that moving will energise me. I’m taking my weights and resistance bands outside. I’m going to move every day. Small steps. Focused on breath, clearing my mind and listening to what my body needs.
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