Some days are just a slog, aren’t they?
You know the kind I mean.
There’s nothing in particular that’s wrong but everything seems to be a little more challenging that it needs to be. You probably have time to do the things you need to do but you aren’t particularly enthused about them. Your energy is a bit low and nothing is really appealing to you at the moment.
You feel like you are trudging through mud and that the day is going to go on forever.
This is an excellent time to choose extra self-kindness, to take breaks when you can, to remove any unnecessary items on your to do list, and to go easy when it comes to your practice session today.
It’s a good time to go back to basics, to pare down you practice and any other work to the bare essentials, the things that will meet your most fundamental requirements without adding any additional weight to your day.
If I have to write on a sloggy day, I start by freewriting or brainstorming. (Sometimes my first sentences is ‘Ugh, I don’t want to write today…)
If I need to draw, I’ll start with a basket of stars – an easy and recurring drawing for me.
If I’m practicing Taekwon-Do, I’ll do front punches and sidekicks – two movements that require muscle memory but not a lot of brainpower at this point.
If I’m trying to do yoga, I’ll do downward dog and warrior II – two of my favourite poses that let me pay attention to some of the areas of my body that need it most often.
And, if I am trying to write a blog post, I’ll talk about how it is ok to feel like you are slogging through your day, and then I’ll remind my readers about the importance of self-kindness, the value going easy on yourself, and how going back to the basics is useful and still counts as a practice session.
Maybe going back to basics will give you a burst of energy that lifts that slog feeling and you’ll go on to do more. Maybe your very basic practice will be all you can manage today. Either of those things are perfectly ok.
And you know what else is ok? Realizing that even the basics aren’t possible today and you just need to rest.
Go ahead and experiment by giving the basics a whirl but trust yourself to know what you need today and every day. Most of the time you’ll be able to tell the difference between when you feel like ‘I just need to push myself a little’ and when you feel like (to borrow a Dorothy Parker quote) ‘What fresh hell is this?’
Today’s Invitation
So, as you can tell, if your day feels like a slog, you aren’t alone. My metaphorical boots are covered in mud and I swear that I am getting a twinge in my wrist from checking my watch over and over. *
Today, I’m inviting you to meet yourself where you are – go easy if you need or want to, challenge yourself that feels good to you, or grab a blanket and take a nap if that’s the right option for you right now. All of those approaches are part of the big picture of building a habit that serves you well.
Here’s my ‘back to basics’ basket of stars that I am offering to you for your efforts today, no matter what those efforts are.
Your hard work counts.
*For the record, I am perfectly fine, it’s just one of those days that feel like a slog. I’m taking good care of myself and sticking with the basics for every task I have on my list, including this post. 💚
For the second year in a row, I’ll be posting a Go Team! message every day in January to encourage us as we build new habits or maintain existing ones. It’s cumbersome to try to include every possibility in every sentence so please assume that I am offering you kindness, understanding, and encouragement for your efforts right now. You matter, your needs matter, and your efforts count, no matter where you are applying them. You are doing the best you can, with the resources you have, in all kinds of difficult situations and I wish you ease. ⭐💚 PS – Some of the posts for this year may be similar to posts from last year but I think we can roll with it.
