“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Will Durant
I am writing this at the end of the summer holidays. My kid is about to go to school, and we have spent the last month visiting family, enjoying treats and days out, and throwing rules out of the window. It has also been a very social time, with outdoor hangouts with friends and family crammed into the spaces between work and child play. And so, because of that, habits and schedules have fallen apart.
We are conscious of this. Indeed, we knew this would happen, and are OK with letting it happen. That said, with all the indulgence that came with August, our bodies feel tired, not as well-nourished as we would like, and in need of some love and respect. My body is screaming out for some mindful attention. Some vegetables. Some sleep. Some steady exercise. It is time to lock back into some important habits to get myself, body and soul, functioning in a comfortable, stable place once more.
1. Working Out
Exercise is one of those habits that can appear lofty and unattainable, especially if you don’t really like sporting activity or have mobility issues. However, exercise can be as simple as a walk. What I really mean is that moving more, whether it’s cleaning the house a bit every day, walking the station instead of getting the bus, or using the manual whisk instead of the electric one, will make your body feel more engaged and energised.
2. A Conscious Diet
I’m not advocating a diet, cutting out foods or demonising meals that you enjoy and make your heart sing. No. However, if you are anything like me, you can sometimes feel like you are losing control over what you are eating. I’m referring, really, to passive eating. When I’m not paying attention to what I’m putting in my mouth, in other words, not eating consciously, I often feel lethargic and slightly out of control. I control this by going back to square one. I meal plan for the week, putting thought into the meals that I plan. Yes, this generally means that my intake is more balanced, but most importantly it gives me a sense of control over my nutrition; another step to making my life feel more ordered and comfortable.
3. Your Habitat
The place you come back to at the end of the day, to relax and unwind, can get out of hand fast if you are busy. I have had a whip around this morning… vacuumed, put my sones toys away, sorted through a few papers… and now the lounge from which I work feels much more uplifting. I sometimes forget how much mess and clutter affects my mood, and a regular morning tidy-up can result in a very tidy house in just a few days.
These are all habits that help me feel more secure. Perhaps spend a moment dwelling on which habits you have let go of that you would benefit from rediscovering.
4. Relationships
One of the habits that have been trickier to get into of late is making the effort to connect with others. Once we had all been in lockdown for a while, there was little we could say to one another, as it had all been said. It is an effort to reconnect with those we love and miss, but an effort probably far less strenuous than you might think. It starts with a text.
5. Meditation and Mindful Moments
Meditation is one of the easiest ways to keep your mind clear and all the noise in your head in check. It is something, as referenced in last week’s post, that can be easily employed in times of mental stress when many thoughts are cluttering up your mind. However, regular meditation, even five minutes a day, will go a long way to prevent such build-up of mental clutter from ever occurring. A simple focus on the breath, in a quiet place, every day will be enough to make your daily existence more focussed and clear-headed.
By Chris Thomson
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