I’ve been in a slump this past week.
That’s what we called it in softball. A slump. A short (hopefully) amount of time when you are not performing your best. When you keep striking out. When you are just blah. (ever been there?)
My slump came on as a result of an intense parenting season, summer schedule, no quality time with the hubs and a lack of routine…all of which sandwiched together to create a downward spiraling attitude of overwhelm, exhaustion and an overall pissyness.
I wasn’t very fun to be around. 😉
So, I walked and talked.
I reached out to a few of my soul sisters, who listened with love and gave me the space to vent and process.
And when that was done, I could see clearly what I needed to get out of my slump.
See, part of shifting your mood or making any changes in your life at all, require that you know yourself well enough to know what you need to move towards what you want.
How do I feel now? → How do I want to feel? → What do I need to do in order to move towards that?
I knew what I needed.
- Early Mornings to Myself
I hate waking up at 5am. And, I love waking up at 5am. It’s in these pre-dawn hours that the quiet of the house encourages the quiet of my mind. I feel snuggled and safe inside a time that is just for me. No one needs anything from me. And I get to do whatever I want. Sometimes I meditate (though, not very often, because I usually fall back asleep), sometimes I work out, sometimes I write, but most often lately, I start working. And the feeling of fulfillment I get from getting a jumpstart on my work fills me like a bird bath in a rainstorm. An hour, two hours, sometimes four hours will pass before the kids are up and I turn into Mommy again. And when I do, I am lighter, brighter and more present than I would have been had I not given myself this time.
2. Movement:
I’ve been an athlete my whole life, so on the occasions that I go without running, walking, lifting, swimming, yoga or anything else that gets my body moving for a period of time, I feel it. First in my body and then in my mind. This can be tricky if you’re in a dark season, because when I feel a lot of heavy emotions, I do not feel like moving.
But…I know that’s exactly when I have to.
This morning, I went 45 minutes out of my way to go for a long run at my favorite preserve. It didn’t matter that it would make me start work significantly later. It didn’t matter that it was raining. All that mattered to me was that I moved my body in a way that felt amazing in a setting that I loved and brought me joy.
I pressed play on my new favorite money mindset book and ran until my 1 hour timer went off. I had no less than 20 incredible ideas for my business and my life and took action on a few of them on my drive home.
As I was taking a shower, my husband looked at me and said, “Wow! You look amazing! Must’ve been a great run.”
“Oh my gosh, babe,” I proclaimed, “I only need 3 things to be my best every day,” (my brain was already creating this email), “and moving is one of them.”
3. Sleep
I know you know this already. We all do. Though they’re helpful to know, we don’t need all the studies and statistics about how vital quality sleep is to our overall well-being…just a few nights of bad sleep will teach us that. But insomnia and sleep deprivation are still on the rise (which is why 7 out of my 20 podcasts are dedicated to help you sleep!)
The question becomes this…what can you do to ensure more of your nights are filled with good sleep? Having sleep meditations and sleep stories on hand are always a good tool. But what else? Does your routine need to change? Do you need to make some shifts in your household? Do you need to change some behaviors?
Quick story:
Bedtime with my girls has always been a challenge. I won’t get into the specifics…let’s just say that the vast majority of my worst mom moments have been during bedtime. So, when I was thinking about these 3 things I need to be my best, and early mornings to myself and sleep were on the list, I knew I needed a new solution to bedtime. So, I asked my husband to take over putting the kids to bed for a few nights.
It ain’t that pretty, and it surely isn’t getting done how I would do it, but…it’s getting done. Without me. So I can get some good sleep and set myself up early and make sure these three things are checked off my list each day.
How about you? What do you need to be your best? (hit reply and let me know…I love hearing from you!)
None of these things on my list happen easily. They all require that I put effort into making sure they occur. But it’s always worth the effort. Always.
Special Note: I don’t always get this right. I don’t always put in the effort. So, if any “shoulds” are coming up for you, wrapped in feelings of “not-enoughness,” throw it all aside and just start fresh today. 😉
If you’re not quite sure what you need, I have a meditation that might help.
Listen to this episode Here! ????
Oh, and here’s one that is sure to help you fall asleep (if sleep is one of your big needs!).
Wishing you tons of love and courage to be your BEST SELF today! 🙂
???? Katie
Listen to this episode Here! ????
Namaste, Beautiful…????
Katie Krimitsos
Creator of the Women’s Meditation Network
katie@womensmeditationnetwork.com
