Stop the rush

I got tired of feeling rushed. I know I’m not a morning person, so it already feels like a struggle to wake up, get ready, take my dog out, feed him, walk him and feed me. There’s barely time to sit on the toilet, let’s be honest. I felt overwhelmed with all that I have to do. I knew that since I just like sleep so much, some things have got to give. Again, I’m a work-in-progress, and I try to enjoy a few moments of stillness and aliveness despite the rush.

As for evening routine, at first I was so uncomfortable with not really having a routine or activities, so this summer I started to schedule activities for me to do, pretty much to fill up my time. Now, I’m learning that I look forward to some balance because I was feeling exhausted and didn’t have as much time to decompress (read: take a bath, cuddle with my dog, read, daydream).

The truth was I was not comfortable with having unscheduled time, which led me to overbook myself. I took a deep breath and realized I do have a choice. So, I started to imagine a different possibility. I don’t have to be attached to yoga on Monday nights. I can choose to go on a different day when my schedule is more free. I just needed breathing space. On a day that I knew I had to be in extra early for work and stayed later, I made sure to clear my evening, so that I had breathing room. Yes, that meant I didn’t have to please my counselor and could ask to reschedule our session.

This past summer was about exploring and stretching my creativity in the form of re-learning piano, befriending the discomfort of taking care of my dog and all the responsibilities that came with it, lots of reflecting, making plans, prioritizing self-care through quality time with friends and most importantly, learning to be okay with just being.

And now it’s the end of summer, and I hope you intentionally make time for yourself. Take yourself on a date and write down what you’ve learned about yourself over the summer. Growth comes from reflection and action. You have a choice. You deserve a life of inner peace, joy and wonder.