Find Your Baseline: Get Out of a Rut and Back to Your Best Self

What practices and daily habits make you feel the most you?

The other week I was ready to cry at the drop of a dirty spoon on my clean floor. My workdays draggggggged on. I wanted to curl up in bed the minute I drudged home from work instead of watch The Office with my boyfriend.

What is my problem?! There’s nothing actually wrong.

Actually, there was something “wrong”. My routine was off. I wasn’t eating healthy, I was going to bed late, and I wasn’t exercising. I needed to get back to my baseline. I kept thinking, “what are the things that make me feel like my best and happiest self?”

Here’s what makes me tick.

1. Have something to look forward to every morning that gets you excited to get out of bed (morning coffee, cup of tea, smoothie – yes, clearly mine are all food-related!).
2. Spend at least 10-15 minutes meditating each day. (I’ll post more in depth on meditation another time, but it doesn’t have to be hard! I literally sit on my couch as soon as I wake up and listen to a guided meditation on the Insight Timer app).
3. Eat healthy! (This is SO individual and I’m not a health expert; I just know what works best for my body which is limiting my sugar/dairy/gluten intake. Do what works best for you. Eating more vegetables and decreasing your added sugar and processed food intake is a good place to start.)
4. Do something creative/stimulating each day (reading, writing, learning, drawing).
5. Give every day your best. Give it your all, but also know when enough is enough.
6. Work life balance. Take breaks throughout the day and leave the office at a decent time as often as possible so you have time to unwind at home.
7. Get enough sleep! 7+ hours whenever possible.
8. Move your body. Whether it’s a hard workout, stretching, or a walk. Just MOVE and get that pent up stress energy out of your body.
9. Do what you say you’re going to do. You build confidence and trust yourself when you follow through. If you say you’re going to work out five days this week, DO IT.
10. Put yourself together. Wear clothes that make you feel comfortable and confident.
11. Practice gratitude daily. Write at least three things you’re grateful for every morning. You’ll retrain your eye to find the good in all situations.

I try my best to maintain my baseline daily, but if there’s a day where I decide to eat pizza and sit on the couch instead of work out, am I going to berate myself for it? Hell no! I’ll thoroughly enjoy it and eat a salad later. Or I’ll be healthier tomorrow.

A healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body. Stressing over trying to be “perfect” all the time is counterproductive in the pursuit of wellness.

Life is a balancing act. It’s both indulgence and sacrifice. It’s about daily choices. Each choice we make is an opportunity to show ourselves love. Sometimes that love equals nachos but most times it equals nourishment. Our bodies and minds deserve the utmost care and respect. We’re worth it.

What are some of your daily must-dos to feel good?

With love,

Alissa