Bored, Busy, or Burned Out— Creating Space in Routines
We could all use a little reminder to slow down, take a deep breath, and make some space in our day to be intentional.
Creeping into the dog days of summer can leave most of us feeling some type of way about our routines. For some it signals the upcoming shift in the “back to school” rush, for others it may be the close of the weekend getaways or travel crunch. No matter the cause, it’s safe to say that we could all use a little reminder to slow down, take a deep breath, and make some space in our day to be intentional. Here are some easy ways to begin:
Intention Setting
It can be so easy to get swept up in the running, or the working, or the weather, that all the sudden we aren’t quite sure which way is up. A very simple and powerful way to stay grounded is to bring some attention to what you want out of your day and who you want it for. By setting an intention when you rise as part of your “ready routine” you are creating an opportunity for your day to give you what you need.
A few examples of intentions might be:
“Today I will look for moments of joy.”
“I am going to allow balance to
“I will choose to honor myself and my boundaries today.”
“I intend to show others kindness today.”
“Today I will be gentle with myself and those around me.”
The most important thing with intentions is knowing what your desired outcome is and choosing something that you feel you could be successful at doing.
2. Attitude of Gratitude
How often do we get to the end of the day, shut the lights off, and ruminate on the never-ending list of what needs to be done, what wasn’t done well enough, or what we forgot altogether? Getting stuck in this routine often keeps us focused on what is missing or depleted, rather than building up our reserves of gratitude and appreciation. A quick and easy antidote to this is to build in moments at the end of our day to list the things that went well or that you’re grateful for.
Some ways we can do this would be:
Visualizing the best parts of the day- this can be done in a mindful moment alone or with those that you share your day with.
Journaling the things you’re grateful for- often a practice done alone, writing out the moments you felt the most gratitude during your day gives you the chance to actually see what went well and revisit those things over time.
Grateful statements may sound something like:
“Today I really loved that the sun was shining when I woke up”
“My favorite moment of the day was when I got to laugh so hard my belly ached because of the joke I heard”
“Something really special about today was getting time to have that tasty treat this morning.”
“I am grateful for everything my body does for me.”
3. Checking In
We’ve all been asked “How are you?” and responded “Oh I’m fine!” or “Hanging in there” without too much more of a thought. Taking a moment to check in with yourself is a great practice to increase your understanding of how you are actually feeling, which then allows you to see areas that are working, not working, or could use some more attention. Some exercises may be more literal or physical, some may be more metaphorical and allow room to play and be curious.
Self Check Ins might go like this:
Body Scan- Are my shoulders relaxed? Is my jaw clenched? Is my breathing fast or slow? Where am I holding tension?
Feelings Assessment- What am I feeling? Am I (frustrated, miserable, apathetic, etc) or is there another emotion that fits better?
Temperature Check- What was the metaphorical weather like today (where stormy might mean a difficult day, and clear skies might mean everything went well)? What song would describe my mood today?
Regardless of where you begin, start simple. By giving yourself the time and intention of beginning this practice, you are allowing yourself the space to become more curious about and connected to the people and things around you. Give yourself the permission to try, and more importantly, to mess up!