OH, THAT DARNED VICIOUS CYCLE... AGAIN

I blog often about self-care, discipline, balance and healthy choices – it's probably no surprise that they can be a struggle for me, as well.

We can get ourselves into an unhealthy (vicious) cycle that robs us of self-care and interferes with our plan for success. Here's a vulnerable example from my personal repertoire…

There’s a moment after dinner on school nights that I either do or don’t listen to my wise voice and body telling me, “I’m tired. Go on up to bed.”

When I heed the warning – I lay my clothes out for the next morning, get into bed and turn out the lights – my sleep is sound, my morning is effortless, and I feel good!

When I don’t, I am making the choice to disconnect from myself (whether I'm aware of it or not at the time).

At that point, all bets are off... At least until I get back on track.

Pantry snacks are fair game and seem to pair well with a binge-worthy Netflix show.

It's when I’m stressed, overwhelmed, lonely, upset, tired, or unaware of how I am feeling – that I am susceptible to turning on the television and sinking into my living room couch.

Curling up on the couch with the remote control in one hand and a bowl of salty sweets in the other, I am lulled to sleep. I wake up in the middle of the night, make my way down the hall and up the stairs, slowly climb into bed... keenly aware that I have sabotaged the healthiest of all habits: 8 hours of restful sleep.

In this particular cycle, I hit snooze a few times. While I almost always do my morning routine, on these mornings I’m late and rushed. I certainly short-change myself on my full self-care routine.

Admittedly, this cycle is no way to set myself up for success. While I might have gained immediate gratification, I certainly lost in terms of long-term satisfaction.

The truth is that it takes discomfort, a desire to stop, some humility, intention and being present (mindful), asking for help and resolving whatever's got me off track to get back to a self-care routine that enables me to feel good physically, mentally and emotionally.

 Which vicious cycle sometimes torments you? Book a call with me and let me know.