AtoZ Holistic Self-care: K is for Kindle (one day late)

Musings

Apr 13

Some say it takes 7 days to form a habit, others say 21. Atthe beginning of winter, I posted a Winter Wellness Bucket List that included afew intentions that I easily wrapped into one. I spent 20 minutes each morningunder a sun lamp listening to meditation music, drinking hot tea, and workingon a jigsaw puzzle. The habit formed quickly, and I enjoyed the calm, peaceful morningritual.

As Spring arrived, I was in the midst of wrapping up animportant, intense project I’d worked on all winter. The last week or so entaileda few “all-nighters,” which through off my morning ritual and my sleep-eat-exercisepatterns.

And I learned quickly that while it may take 7 days or 21days or 3 months to form a habit – it takes no time at all to completely letone crash and burn.

Almost a month into Spring and two weeks since the projectdeadline and my sleep-eat-exercise and morning routine have not returned.

I’m not beating myself about it – but rather, I’m focusingon today’s word: Kindle

Kindle is synonymous with verbs like spark, arouse, ignite,encourage, excite, activate, pique.

And so, as the weather warms and I transition into new ritualsand habits for the season, I watch and ask myself how I will kindle physical well-being,energy, productivity, and joy.

Body:

Physically, I try to be attentive to which forms of movementencourage more movement. Which sleep-eat-exercise patterns and habits make mefeel alive and which drain me? What happens in my body when I eat too much, toolate, or too little? While I can operate on virtually no sleep when I must, doesthis kindle joy and productivity? Is it more energizing to take long 5-milewalks at one time each day – or will it spark better self-care to break it upthroughout the day?

Mind:

During the week of the project deadline, social media and cablenews took a back seat to everything else. I noted that, despite the deadline –I had more energy to handle the rest of life. I often use social media as an opportunityto zone-out for 10 minutes, to refocus and return to work ready for anotherhour or so of productivity. Evening news, which kindled an eagerness to make adifference in the world, has become redundant and deflating. What previouslyhad piqued my interest and lit a fire in me, now saps my focus and frustratesmy efforts to be productive.

And so, I remain attentive. As trees wake from dormancy and greenreturns to the garden, a welcome the smile of the daffodils and note – what kindlesmy curiosity, drives my productivity, encourages me to make a difference in theworld?