Back-to-School season: Creating a healthy routine

Dear friends,

Who ever said they can do without routine? Well, last week after 8 years…my juicer broke and my morning routine went into a tailspin. Cosmic timing, perhaps, because I just wrote a blog about how durable my juicer was? Or a message to myself about the importance of daily, healthy habits?

Regardless, I was completely thrown off. My daily green juice is integral to my health and happiness. It grounds me, keeps me regular and makes me a nicer person (at least that what my husband and son say…?!?). Luckily for all concerned, my new juicer just arrived! This seemingly small example illustrated to me the true importance of creating a daily routine and I want to share some tips here to help you establish a set of non-negotiables and a consistent routine.

As we head into back-to-school season, whether you have kids or not, this time of year always seems like one where we say good-bye to the warm, fluid days of summer and hunker down to a more structured routine. Our clothes become less flowy, the sky gets dark earlier and we crave an earlier bedtime.

The concept of creating routine and a schedule has been a popular topic with my clients lately. The summer of 2020 likely looked very different than past summers and what happens this fall remains to be seen. I’ve found that for myself, and for my clients, this uncertainty has led to increased anxiety and made routines and healthy habits more important than ever to keep us healthy and sane. Some of us may be returning to an office, or not. We may be home schooling kids while trying to juggle work from home and the daily to do’s of cooking, cleaning etc. One thing is certain, the fall of 2020 will look different than any other fall.

With all of these shifts it is easy to succumb to anxiety, lose a sense of structure and find yourself often running out of time. My key advice when thinking about healthy habits, or routines is to start by deciding what are your non-negotiables. What are the healthy routines that keep you sane and allow you to show up for yourself, your friends and your family? Embrace these routines and shape your day accordingly.

Like with food, I believe in bio-individuality when creating your routine. What works for me, may not work for you. And what worked last month may not work this month. I’ll share my non-negotiables as a starting place for you to create yours. Two of my non-negotiables are my morning routine and my Monday prioritization exercise.

The most important part of my day is my morning routine. It helps set the tone for the day and consists of lemon water first thing, movement (I love Melissa Wood Health), meditation, green juice, coffee and breakfast with my family. I avoid looking at my phone, social media or emails until after breakfast. I have found that this routine keeps me grounded versus being distracted and influenced by the outside world.

My Monday prioritization exercise involves writing out what I want to accomplish that week, in all facets of my life, from business to personal, from family to administration. I then write a daily to-do list. This strategy helps reduce overwhelm and keeps me focused. I also like doing this on an annual or quarterly basis to plot bigger projects that take more than a day or a week to accomplish. My husband and I just celebrated our one-year anniversary and we used it as an opportunity to decide (and dream!) about what we wish to achieve in the year ahead.

This prioritization exercise keeps me organized . I feel empowered and in control of my day versus always scrambling from one project to another. Of course, the best laid plans can and do get derailed. Your project is stalled. Your kid needs extra help with school. Your juicer breaks… etc. etc. How to deal? With all the flexibility and grace you can muster. Readjust, reallocate your time and move forward.

What are your non-negotiables? What does your morning routine look like? I’d love to work with you to create healthy habits and a daily routine that works for you. Click here to book a free, 50-minute session to start on your journey to wellness.

In the meantime, I am wishing you the best as we embark on the fall season!

Mandy