Happy Friday, my friends! It’s been another hectic week at work, and the weather has been hot and muggy, which means fewer outdoor walks with my pup, Azula. Fewer, but definitely not zero, because she would never tolerate such a thing.
I’m still in a really solid routine of peppering self care throughout my week, which I think has really helped me avoid getting (too) overwhelmed with all the tasks on my plate. Let’s get into what’s been working this week!
The Week in Joyful Movement
I’m in the second-to-last week of the Bad Yogi Rituals program, and this has been the first full week where I’ve really loved every single practice. I don’t know if I’ve gotten stronger, more used to her teaching style, or if this week just happened to be a good fit for me, but I’ve really enjoyed having my butt kicked on the mat this week.
Because of how the program is structued, I get to repeat those same classes next week to finish out the program and I am stoked. I’m a little sad to see it end, though of course I could do it again at any time now that I have the program.
Next week, Kick-It by Eliza is starting their summer program, Take 20: Happy Girl Summer. I really liked the Take 20 series they did last summer, only a little bit because more than 20 minutes of kickboxing-inspired cardio kicks my butt. I’m looking forward to starting this program and using it as crosstraining once half-marathon training starts in a couple of weeks.
The Rest of the Week
I’ve got a number of solid self-care rituals going strong right now, which is one of my favorite feelings. In the mornings, I start my day with a quick face wash before I do my dog mom duties and prep my breakfast. This is a new thing I’ve implemented since reading about it in Radiance Rituals, and it weirdly makes a huge difference to roll into my morning routine with a freshly cleansed face.
Once Azula is fed and the coffee is brewed, I read my self-care book (I’m rotating between Radiance Rituals and Witchcraft Therapy at the moment) while drinking my coffee. Then, my daily yoga for Rituals and Azula goes on her walk (usually my husband is up by this point and goes with us, too).
I’ve always loved my mornings, and these little tweaks have made them even more energizing. Evening rituals, on the other hand, have not really ever been my strong suit. I am working on them at last, though, and take a few minutes to jot down some key points from the day in my Jane Austen line-a-day journal, then note at least 3 things I’m grateful for in my more general journal. This is a nice way to reflect on the day before I settle in with my podcast to fall asleep.
These are all pretty simple things, but I feel like being consistent with them has really made a difference in how I feel day to day. My energy levels feel like they’re recovering a bit from my state of burnout and most days, I feel like a person again.
That’s all from me this week! I’m looking forward to a long weekend of rest and reading. How did you take care of yourself this week, friends?
Running Into Joy 