My wife and I were chatting yesterday about how whenever we feel like we are in a rut, it's almost always because we stopped taking care of "basic shit".
Basic shit includes -
- Sleeping well
- Time in the morning to relax, meditate, plan, and get ready for the day
- Walking outside and/or exercising
- Taking a lunch break and breaks during work
- Winding down from work and doing other things we enjoy
- Taking some alone time to think reflect, read, write
- Drinking enough water and eating healthy
- Doing the chores to keep our homes and lives in order
- Keeping phone, social media, and TV time low
- Relaxing and self-care nighttime rituals like tea, board games, reading, journaling
- Using weekends well to do fun stuff, wind down, and do chores
- Connecting regularly with close friends and family
- Focusing on what you have, balance, and what's in control. Not overdoing, overcommitting, being obsessed, greedy, jealous, fearful, judgemental, or worried
- Having something exciting to look forward to
But despite knowing this intellectually, we all tend to slip on this basic shit. For us, it usually happens when there's a disruption like a vacation, COVID/remote work, busy time at work, or some unplanned emergency or issue. Sometimes it's just a slow decline with no particular cause.
I'm trying a few things that help -
- Recognizing regularly that basic shit is important
- Having a daily checklist of basic shit. Not only is it a good intentional reminder, but checking off things makes us feel good too.
- Being conscious of disruptions and being even more intentional about basic shit during those times.
- Restarting on basic shit when we are in a rut. Being okay with paying or signing up for special classes, trainers, events, EAs to get over the hump.
- Flagging when we see each other slipping.