Self Reset: slowing down and getting reconnected
IDK about you, but I feel like I’ve been spending the first couple of weeks of the new year trying to ease myself into a slower pace.
I had a lot of projects and busy schedule in 2022, and was feeling rushed to come up with my 2023 goals and be ‘organized’ going into the new year, and create a full calendar of content, and so on and on… and I’m like no… I’m starting to feel burnt out. I realized that its ok for me to take a step back to chill, recharge, and finish my life coach training classes before adding more to my plate.
Which brings me to today’s chat topic about needing a lil self reset: slowing down and getting reconnected.
We’ll walk through the power of listening to what you need, how I’ve been resetting in my personal life, and I’ll share an affirmation and a few of journal prompts to help you get one step closer to your own reset if you need it.
First I want to talk about mindset because our thoughts / emotions / actions are tied so closely together - for example: if we have a thought that a task or experience will be difficult, it’s possible we’ll start to have emotions of reluctance and overwhelm, and that can lead to the action of procrastination (or in-action if you will).
(MINDSET)
I was thinking I needed to keep grinding. Last year I hit the ground running and got SO much done. Sometimes the negative side about accomplishing your goals is feeling the need to keep the momentum going.
I realized that it’s ok to not be like I was last year, to be as “disciplined”. That spoke more to the perfectionist inside of me, and today I’m ok with not being that. By the end of last year I learned that going wide-ass open 100% of the time isn’t realistic, and deciding to listen to what I need instead of trying to match or beat the intensity I had at the same time last year is a huge win. And you know what I say about that? That’s on GROWTH y’all! That is on growth.
It helps to know where your limits are, like how will you know when you’re doin too much? Personally, when I’m feeling overwhelmed about anything and everything… or being super short with my loved ones… or not feeling excited to create something is a huge one. How do you know when you’ve reached your limits?
Sometimes I think we don’t want to accept the fact that we are not super human and can’t get it all done all the time. That we can’t always be creative and productive and consistent. We need times of rest, and it’s ok to meet ourselves where we are. At the end of the day, we know ourselves better than anyone else does. It’s up to us to be our own advocate and prioritize whatever we need, especially if it’s rest. And hey sometimes.. you don’t need rest, maybe you need to take action ~ but listening to what your soul needs is the key.
(ACTION)
But how do we know what our soul needs? Sure we can look up a “that girl” routine on tiktok, but what Madelynn from New Jersey does may not resonate with you. Like if you’re feeling burnt out, juicing and waking up at 5am probably ain’t gonna happen..
Something I’ve done the last few years that’s helped me get a much needed break and reconnect with myself is associating January as a month of ~ healing ~.
This year I’m doing just that by:
Participating in Dry January. Last January was my first attempt and ended up going dry through February as well. I love how clear headed I felt and less anxious I was, plus the money I saved, how fit I got, and just not wasting my weekends hungover. I think this is a new tradition for me and love this as a reset - it helps me get more in touch with my spiritual side and
Journaling every day. When I started my first gratitude journal in 2018, it * truly * changed my life. It gave me perspective and it helped shift my thoughts to find the positive in everything. I eventually stopped journaling consistently, and while I def write weekly there’s something special and powerful about daily journaling. I used The Five Minute Journal prompts as a guide and that’s what I write in my journal each day, but you can totally get creative and think of daily prompts that are exciting for you.
Going to bed earlier, and waking up a little earlier. I’m notoriously not a morning person, but I also just feel like that’s what I tell myself so it gives me an excuse to keep pressing snooze. However, I’m finding that having a vibe-y quiet morning to myself feels SO good. It helps me not feel so rushed during my day and gives me a chance to connect with myself before I start my day and interact with other people. I feel like I’m less likely to absorb people’s energy if I’ve had a chance to “meet with myself” first.. if that resonates with you. My AMs and PMs are all about reconnecting to myself, and now it makes waking up earlier and getting ready for bed more fun and something I’m excited to do.
Starting a new book (I’m currently reading The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle). Last year I read a new book each month. Well, most months I did but towards the end of 2022 I had given myself a break from it but missed getting lost in a new book and being inspired by whatever I was reading. I’m trying to read before bed and in the mornings so I spend less time watching tv or scrolling on my phone.
Planning to do something fun/relaxing every Friday (either a Mal Date, Girls night, Date night, or Family night). I was really missing and needing those moments of connection with the ones I love most, and I know when I’m too busy to make plans it has an impact on my mental health and overall enjoyment of life.
Cutting out the “extra” and focusing on what gives me energy. We only have so much energy in a day, and I was realizing that scrolling social media, reading the news, binging tv was completely draining me. All of this outside stimulation can make me feel overwhelmed, and it definitely sucks the energy out of me. Things that are giving me energy at the moment include short meditations, walks outside, cranking up my oil diffuser (lol seriously), going to yoga on the weekend, listening to uplifting music,
Rethinking my to-do list. Being realistic about what I actually want to get done and can get done versus “should” get done, and essentially prioritizing rest above all else. Last year I was trying to do as much as I could with every minute of my free time, and that just isn’t sustainable. Getting real with myself and reprioritizing to create more space has been a game changer and for me feels like a true testament of self-love as someone who loves to take action.
Feeling my feelings. I honestly cry pretty regularly anyway, but I’m welcoming it into my life even more right now. I feel like that helps to build our intuition and get to know ourselves on a deeper level. And actually if I’m being totally honest, when I’m really busy it can be hard to find the time to even tell what I’m feeling… and only find time to cry when I go on a long drive so mayyybe I’ve staying busy so I don’t even have the time to recognize what I’m feeling lol and that’s the whole point right there.
(SELF-LOVE)
Affirmation: I listen to myself, and what my body truly needs. If I need to slow down and take a rest, I welcome it with gratitude and love. I am intentional about coming back to the present moment and finding ways throughout my day to add wellness, find joy, and create a deeper connection with myself. I give myself permission to live a life of ease. Without pressure or the “need” to do anything.
Journal Prompts:
On a scale of 1 to 10 how connected do you feel to yourself at the moment?
What would help you feel more connected?
What areas of your life feel like they need more space to breathe?
What self-love ritual or experience in general have you been craving lately?
Peppy’s tarot of the week
This week…we got the 3 of Swords and as per biddy tarot… this card means:
Grief, Hurt, Emotional Pain.
When the Three of Swords turns up in a Tarot reading, it signals that you are feeling deeply hurt and disappointed. Your heart has been pierced by the sharp blades of others’ hurtful words, actions and intentions, and they have inflicted intense emotions of pain, sadness, grief, and heartbreak. These events are often unexpected and come out of the blue, making them even more painful. The Three of Swords is also about an emotional release. When you have suffered a major setback or loss, now is an excellent time to have a good cry. Expressing your sadness is part of the cleansing process and letting it all out will help you move on to better times. Allow yourself the opportunity to experience these emotions, no matter how painful. Cry, shout, or scream at the top of your lungs. Do whatever it takes to express your anger or pain as this will help the emotions flow through (and out of) you.
Don’t forget! You can listen to the podcast version of this blog post here.
