A Little August Reflection and Reset
I have not felt like writing over the past month. Even my daily journaling practice has taken a hit. Only short paragraphs here and there have been written. I could say I haven't had the time. I have been busy but I've had the time. What I haven't had is the mental capacity to do so.
90% of my days off, up to press, in August have been spent with my family decluttering and packing up a three story house to downsize to a bungalow in another county.
I moved a few times as a kid, though I can't remember those times at all. But I have moved several times in my late teens and twenties. Whether it's because I've forgotten the ins and outs of the experience or I've been looking at the experience in a different light. I don’t know.
But, this time, helping to move someone else, it's been mentally and physically taxing. It's made me glad I've decided to stay put in my own home for the long term. By the middle of the month I was getting close to being burnt out. That much, it was impacting me at work. Because of this I asked if I could take some days as annual leave.
My writing might have taken a pause. I might have taken all my spare time to help my family. I might have asked for extra time off work to be able to recoup. But all that time with my family and making things slightly easier for them has been worth it.
I would do it all over again if it was needed.
During this time my routines have taken a hit. I’ve kept up with my walking and Zumba classes. I’ve been writing here and there, to the point I look back and only see the start of pieces. I’ve been doing meditations most days. My evening routine has been non-existent. Only parts of my daily jobs have been getting done.
Having my days outside of the routines has helped me see some that need to be relaxed and others that need to be re-instated. The majority of my morning routine and my daily jobs have become ingrained as habits into my every day. I do them without a second thought.
I like the fact I have a commonplace notebook with me to be able to write things that come to mind. I feel I’m getting some writing in without having to have a sit down practice. Although, I feel I need to re-instate the journaling into my evening routine. And an evening routine as a whole.
Now that I have some time for myself again, there are some things in the upcoming two weeks that I would like to get out of:
Get back into my evening routine
Be more mindful and bake/cook from scratch for my eating
Rest - watch films + TV shows, play games, puzzle and read
Do some writing
Get back into my exercising habit
These are some of the things that will help ground me and return back to a stable energy level.
I was able to make a start yesterday evening after I finished work. I painted my nails and put on a film before making a start on my evening routine. That helped me feel motivated.
Though my energy levels are low today, I have been resting with films and books, having a little pick me up with a little bit of writing. There are times like these that I have to remind myself that I don’t have to do it all at once. That I’m able to pace myself and enjoy life at the same time.
Until next time,
Tami x
Life & Books with Tami Siobhan is my online diary. I’m sharing my thoughts on life, media and travel. Join me to read snippets created by my tangled web of a mind.