How To Simplify Life For Self Care...
+ a card pull for the week ahead <3
My body is doing that thing that bodies do when it’s winking at you and saying “Hey there! You’re stressed. Relax or I will take over even more!” so what do I do? Return back to the basics… Simple food, simple schedule, simple movement, simple expectations, simplifying.
What does that actually mean in practice for folks having this same experience or feeling your body telling you it’s time to return back to the basics? Here are my very humble tips but things I know work for me and others in my community.
Simple food. I make basic meals. A protein, a carb and vegetables. Tonight, I made pan seared some chicken and cut up veggies for a Greek salad. Some days, it looks like warming up a Publix one meal for 25 minutes. Other days, it looks like a heating up some Kevin’s chicken and putting a steam fresh vegetable packet in the microwave. I am queen of a simple microwaved meal (or ordering out when I see fit lol).
Simple schedule. In times like these, I take a look at my schedule and cancel anything that isn’t necessary for at least a month. I reschedule or maybe I don’t, if I realize it’s not the right time for whatever I had scheduled. Work wise, I ask for my team to fill in where they can because guess what, your girl is a CEO and a HUMAN so work has to wait or if fitting, you’ll see one of my team members instead of me. Health is the actual wealth.
Simple movement. When someone tells you to work out in times of stress, it really sounds like they’re cursing you out… Or is that just my experience? Anywho, I lean into simple movements because I’m not doing a HIIT workout when I’m stressed. I’m more likely to take a walk, dance to my favorite music, stretch my body for 30 minutes and other movement that feels joyful and not so performance based.
Simple expectations. With all of this comes simpler expectations but not without self accountability. During high times of stress recovery, expectations and accountability helps me see my way through. For me, it’s getting back to my dot journal, which includes only 1-3 goals a day for work (if any at all depending on my mood lol), a mood tracker/gratitude space, habit tracker and weekly goals (including a massage and self care activities). However, I will mention I am autistic so routine and order gives me support as I take care of myself. For you, accountability may be daily conversation with a friend or partner, check in’s with your therapist or spiritual care provide or a daily journal entry.
Simplifying. I find it meditative to take things “tea kettle slow”. Tea kettle slow includes literally boiling water for your tea versus the speedy Keurig, using a dot journal to get my eyes off of my computer screen and long to do lists in evernote and looking up herbal information in one of my books versus asking Google. I love technology and the ways we have advanced and I think we all are absorbing too much information and stimulation 98% of the time lol
Lastly, the choice to return back to the basics can and will include some boundary creating and implementation. Let folks know what you are doing, ask for help where you need it and be aware of what is your responsibility and what you have made your responsibility that isn’t actually yours. Like Toni Morrison says…
“You are your best thing.”
Our weekly reading card (now two cards because two fell out of the deck) is from the Moonology Messages Oracle by Yasmin Boland..
Stay Free (& Tea Kettle Slow),
Sabia <3