Category: meditation

advice · fitness · habits · holiday fitness · holidays · meditation · mindfulness · self care

Making Space 2024: December 22

Christine Hennebury

Hi there, Space Makers!

Today is a good day to ask yourself three questions as you envision the days ahead:

How do I want to feel?

In an ideal world, what would need to happen for me to feel that way?

And, finally, since we don’t live in an ideal world…

What is the shortcut to feeling the way I want to feel?

While I know that I can’t necessarily control how I feel at a given moment, I always find it helpful to ask these questions when I am busy, stressed, or have a lot to do.

Focusing on how I want to feel (and how to create my best chances to feel that way) helps me to figure out my priorities. It helps me to identify key tasks and to make decisions about the other items on my list.

For example, on Friday, I had a get-together for a group of close friends and I had envisioned serving a few special snacks and making something really cool for our gift exchange.

Alas, my Friday went a bit sideways, as days sometimes do, and I found myself at 3:30 with a lot of tasks and not nearly enough time to do them.

So, I asked myself how I wanted to feel that evening and I settled on ‘relaxed.’

And I knew I wouldn’t feel relaxed if I tried to rush through my too-long list.

In fact, having lots of experience with trying to push through too many tasks in too little time (I don’t always remember to ask myself the important questions above), I knew that that would result in me feeling flustered, bedraggled and kinda cranky as the party started. And that is not a recipe for a good time – it is no fun having to ‘catch up’ to everyone else’s relaxation levels!

So, I thought about what I needed to feel relaxed and settled on the shortest possible list to create those conditions. I did a bit of tidying up, took the dog for a walk while I brainstormed a quick but fun thing for the gift exchange, decided on a quick supper and a shortened version of the special snacks.

And I got dressed for the party as soon as it was feasible instead of leaving it until the last minute. That way, no matter what else got done, I was already ready for the fun part of the evening.

It ended up being a really fun night that was made even better by the fact that I was relaxed right from the start.

Now, I recognize that my party example is pretty low stakes compared to some of the other things you or I might be trying to get done between now and the end of the year but I think that using ‘How do I want to feel?’ as a guideline could be beneficial now matter how complicated the situation might be.

You may not be able to generate the perfect conditions to feel the way you want to feel but I think you’ll be able to give yourself a little more space and to reduce your stress a bit.

Whether you start with the questions above or try something completely different, I wish you ease and lots of space for yourself today. 💚

Now, onto our suggested practices:

For our movement today, here’s Dr. Andrea Furlan with Senior Fitness Made Simple: 10 Minute Chair Routine

Still image description: the instructor, who is wearing exercise clothes, is seated in a chair and leaning over to one side to stretch the side of her body. There is an end table next to her and the exercise space has a wooden floor and beige walls.

Our mindfulness practice for today is a 5 Minute Meditation for Relaxation and Positive Energy from Lavendaire

Still image description: The instructor is sitting cross legged on a couch with her eyes closed, her face relaxed, and her arms position do that the backs of her hands are resting on her knees and one of her gingers is curled to meet her thumb. Everything in the photo is in a restful shade – grey, green, or white.

ADHD · fitness · holiday fitness · holidays · meditation · self care

Making Space 2024: December 17

Christine Hennebury

Hi Space Makers!

So, after my lovely slow start yesterday morning, things got hectic.

In fact, I kind of feel like I have been on a hamster wheel ever since.

None of this hecticness was a result of my slow start though because none of this stuff could have gotten done yesterday morning.

It’s all just a frustrating convergence of a bunch of small things with bad timing thrown in.

No crises, just low key hassle and some rushing around.

And I hate it.

But, let me tell ya, I am so happy and grateful that I drew a card and listened to ghost stories yesterday morning instead of churning through my to do list.

Imagine if I had really pushed myself yesterday morning and then I had all this hassle – I would be totally exhausted by now.

I have definitely learned a lesson about taking breaks when they arrive* and I can feel the difference that calm morning made in my brain even amidst the other hassle.

Speaking of the hassle, though, I have also been trying to pause and take a few deep breaths every so often and that’s also been helpful.

Don’t worry, I’m not going to be one of those people who says ‘Stress is all in your mind. It’s all in your attitude!’ because while there is some truth in that, it is also rather unhelpful and puts blame on an already stressed person.

No one needs that.

But here’s what I will say – some extra stress can be generated by our own thoughts and stopping for deep breaths on the regular can help reduce that pressing, busy feeling.

Deep breaths are more of a pause than a break but they do make a difference.

So, Space Making Friends, if you are feeling straggly and hassled today, I hope you can find a moment to pause and breathe.**

Now, with the story of Christine’s pauses complete, let’s have a look at our suggested practices for today.

I wish you ease and clarity today and always. 💚

Here a 10 Minute Cardio/Strength Workout from Yes2Next to try out today;

Still images shows the instructors, a mother daughter team. The mother who is a senior, is seated for the workout, and the daughter, who is middle-aged, is standing. They are both wearing exercise clothes.

And here’s a 5 Minute Guided Meditation for Clearing Blockages and Negativity from Great Meditations

Still image is a cartoon graphic of a person seated cross-legged in meditation.

*Yes, I will definitely have to learn this lesson again. Let’s just accept that and move on.

**Some of my coaching clients find it fun to breathe in deeply and the exhale while saying a curse word – might be worth a try if your brain fights you on the idea of pausing.

advice · holiday fitness · holidays · meditation · mindfulness · rest · self care · yoga

Making Space 2024: December 15

Christine Hennebury

Hello Space Makers!

Here we are at December 15th almost halfway through the month and I think this is a good time to take a breather.

Yes, I know that you probably can’t just take today off and rest completely but I am hoping that you can keep an eye out for possibilities for more rest and then take them when they arise.

And I am hoping you can give your brain a break and go easy on yourself today. Sidenote: check out this great advice from Tatiana Chisholm on Instagram

So, with the idea of giving your brain a break – something I am hoping to carry forward beyond today – I have been thinking about what I can dial back on.

Now, to be clear, while I am someone who always has a lot on the go, I am not someone who goes in for elaborate celebrations or over-the-top events.

I am, however, someone with ADHD who can’t always accurately calculate the time/energy/effort that will be required to do the things I have set out to do and, as a result, I can get overwhelmed with even the fun or interesting things I had hoped to do.

So, dialing back often becomes a VERY important process for me* and it may be useful for you, too.

If you are finding that the thoughts of the weeks ahead are exhausting you already, perhaps there are places where you can dial things back so you have more energy for the things that are really important to you.

For me, dialing back often involves identifying the most minimal version of the task that will still count as done.

So if, for example, I was planning a dinner for my friends and I had envisioned cooking something elaborate, my dialed-back version might involve ordering food, cooking something in the slow cooker, or changing the gathering to a games night instead. I would still get the fun of hanging out with my friends but I could take away the parts that feels overwhelming.

Or if I had a report due and I had planned on designing a cover and doing some more elaborate formatting, a dialed-back version might mean a black and white digital version. (Or I might ask someone else to design the cover and do the formatting.**)

If decorating felt too overwhelming, I might just pick a few key items to put up around the house and leave the rest for another year. If you make the decision to only put up a few things then you close the loop on decorating and it doesn’t hang over you as a task undone.

Dialing back on these things is not about depriving yourself, it’s about giving yourself more space and more energy to do the things that are actually important to you right now.

Dialing back is choosing which things are fine to stay small so you will have room to go big in other areas.

Not everything needs to go up to 11 – some things will serve you perfectly well at level 5, 3, 1, or even 0.

And even though there are often other people involved in these things, I often find that my overwhelm has arisen internally, that I am the one who has the vision that is too big for the time available. So, for me, the key is usually in taking the time to notice the dials on my tasks and then turning them in a direction that suits me best.

If you find that the same thing happens with your dials, I hope that you can adjust them as needed.

And as you figure these things out today (or whenever!), I wish you ease and as much peace of mind as you can muster.

And with rest and ‘dialing back’ in mind, here are our suggested practices for today. Please remember that you are the boss of you and that I am hoping you will do what serves you best, whether it involves these videos or something else entirely.

Please be kind to yourselves, Space Makers!

For our movement practice today, here’s Restful Movement (Theme: Community) from Queer Yoga North:

Still image description: a brightly-coloured title card featuring graphics of a rainbow, a series of hearts in rainbow colours, various brightly-coloured polygons, and a drawing of a white cat in a rainbow bow tie. The title of the video is in a handwritten font on the right side and the background of the image is a vibrant green.

And for our mindfulness practice, here’s a restful Body Scan Mindfulness Meditation by Adam Rosen – Knee Pain & Arthritis Information:

Still image description: a photo in the forest with the trunks of giant trees all around with big spaces in between them, most of the trees are too tall to see their branches and the scene is very light for a forest floor so the top branches must have space between them as well. . Some trees appear to be redwoods but others seem to be evergreens with mossy trunks. There are rocks, fallen logs, and fallen needles on the forest floor.

*Yes, I also work on trying to understand the scale and scope of my tasks but sometimes I don’t realize that I haven’t done that until it is far too late.

** If your budget allows, consider this your permission to hire someone to do some aspects of your tasks for you – even household tasks. Lots of people need extra money this time of year and I have often hired a friend to help with tasks I was dreading or that I couldn’t get around to. I have also traded annoying tasks with friends so, for example, I could make their phone calls while they ran my errands.

advice · cardio · holiday fitness · holidays · meditation · mindfulness · self care

Making Space 2024: December 12

Christine Hennebury

Hey Space Makers,

I’m feeling rather scattered today.

I’ve had two migraines this week so I had to adjust my plans accordingly and now I have ended up with a day full of loose tasks, open loops, and a lot of waiting on bits of information so I can complete some of those tasks and close some of those loops.

This is not a fun feeling for anyone, I’m sure. For someone with ADHD, this kind of day can feel really out of control and bring up all kinds of bad feelings from before I knew why I had to work differently.

In the first few posts for this week, I was referring to managing expectations of future events but today, I am going to give myself what I need (in post form) and remind myself (and you) that it is a good idea to manage expectations in the moment (or at least in the short term), too.

What does that mean for me today?

It means acknowledging that my day is kind of a game of pick-up-sticks but that I don’t have to win the game, I just have to play it.

It means accepting that my plans for the day may shift around and some sticks may fall.

It means I may have to be strategic about which sticks I pick up – either going for the easy ones at the edges or being really careful with the ones that are worth the most points.

It means that I may have to lift up all the sticks and drop them again to get a different layout.

It means that each stick I can move matters, even if I can’t pick them all up.

And to step away from the analogy a little, it means that I have to add some extra fun elements into my day, I have to take lots of short breaks, and I have to pay attention to my progress* rather than focusing on finishing anything in particular.

Perhaps your day is less brain-scattering than mine but it is still a good idea to be kind to yourself about your expectations of yourself today.

Make whatever allowances and accommodations you need to in order to do the tasks that are most important to you and to your well-being.

And no matter what metaphorical game you are playing today, I wish you ease and peace of mind.

With that said, let’s have a look at today’s suggested videos:

Today’s movement practice is a 7 Minute Feel Good Workout at Home – Full Body Low Cardio Boost Energy video from Lucy Wyndham-Read. In this video, she’s adding a fun VR style element that shows her doing all the movements in virtual natural spaces. It’s a bit of a ‘real person in a cartoon world’ type of thing but very enjoyable.

Still image description: The instructor, a woman with white skin and light brown hair wearing black leggings, sneakers, and a pink t-shirt, is walking with her elbows bent and her hands clasped near her face. The rest of the image is a field of virtual flowers and there are mountains in the background. The title of the video is overlaid on the image at the top and to the right.

Our mindfulness practice for today is a 3 Minute Breathing Meditation from Medistate Mind – I especially liked watching the (animated, I presume?) water in this one.

Still image description: a person sitting with their back to the camera on a dock surrounded with calm water at sunset. The title of the video is overlaid on the right hand side of the image.

*On days like this I usually find a way to create a visual record of my progress in addition to crossing things off my list. Usually I draw a series of circles (or stars!) on my notebook and colour in one circle/star for every work session I complete. I use an app called Repeat Timer that lets me set a recurring cycle of 13 minutes work and 2 minutes rest for set periods of time. I like 13 minute sessions because 10 mins is too short and 15 is too long and because 13 has always been a lucky number for me.

advice · cardio · fitness · holiday fitness · holidays · meditation · mindfulness · self care

Making Space 2024: December 10

Christine Hennebury

Hey Space Creators!

For today, I would like to invite you to remove something from your list of December/End of Year tasks.

I can only assume that, like me, you have a few tasks on your tangible or mental lists that you are planning to do if you have time.

I’m hoping that you will consider removing one of them today.

Now, I am NOT suggesting that you remove something you really enjoy and that you are hoping will be able to get done in a spare moment. I think those kinds of joyful things can stay on your list.

Instead, I am talking about those tasks that it would be nice if they got done but you also don’t have a lot invested in them. Or tasks that someone else has pushed off on to you. Or tasks that take more effort than the value they add.

Those kinds of tasks take up mental space and they keep an open loop in our brains and are generally annoying but they aren’t all that important to get done right now.

Try to take a few moments today to evaluate those tasks that are hanging around in the back of your brain or at the bottom of your list and pick one that you are NOT going to do. Something that you can just release entirely.

(If you feel weird about deciding not to do them at all, try scheduling them for sometime in late January and see how your brain feels about that.)

Making that kind of decision in advance will help reduce that ‘gotta do ALL OF THE THINGS” feeling and it will free up some mental space.

Taking that item (or items! Go ahead and pick more if you can) off your list will be a step toward realistic expectations for yourself AND it will remove a little bit of the ‘December deadline’ feeling that we often get caught up in this time of the year.

And not only will current you get some space, future you can also feel good about the decision because when a little window of time opens up for them they won’t feel like they *should* (blech! I hate that word!) be doing that thing.

You will have already made the decision for them and they can do something fun instead. That’s a great gift for future you.

So, with all of that said, let’s have a look at our practice suggestions for Tuesday, December 10:

Today’s movement practice is Express Cardio Routine| 10 Minute At-Home Low Impact Workout from the channel for the SWEAT app – remember that you can just do part of it if 10 minutes is too much for you today.

Still image description: The instructor – a woman with white skin, her brown hair in a ponytail- is wearing a sports bra, shorts, and white sneakers, while doing Mountain Climbers on a blue mat in a studio with light brown laminate flooring, white walls, and plants in the corner. The title of the video is overlaid on the background of the image and the name of the channel is overlaid in white on the bottom left.

And for our meditation today, we have 5 Minutes to Calm Your Overthinking Mind (Guided Meditation) from 5 Minutes by Great Meditation.

Still image is a cartoon drawing of a woman with light brown skin and long black hair in black leggings and a cropped tank top is seated with her legs crossed and her arms bent at the elbows and extended towards her knees. Her hands are lightly curled so her thumb and first finger are almost touching. She looks serene. The title of the video is in the upper right of the image.

If these videos don’t appeal to you or don’t meet your needs at the moment, then please do something else that helps your day (and your brain) feel more spacious.

I just want you to have room for yourself in your day-to-day life.

Wishing you ease, as always.

advice · fitness · holiday fitness · holidays · meditation · mindfulness · motivation · self care

Making Space 2024: December 8

Christine Hennebury4 Comments

Hello, hello!

Welcome to Day 8!

How did things go with your Weekend Fun Plan?

Did you fit it into your day yesterday?

Do you have it planned for today?

Did it have to be rescheduled?

Did you have to change it in any way?

Did you manage to have some fun no matter what?

Personally, I had to shift my WFP a little and do parts of the craft yesterday and then finish it today.

Breaking it into two parts was actually a space-making move for me because I was tired yesterday and didn’t have the focus I needed to do the more detailed parts of the project.

If I had pushed myself to keep going, it wouldn’t have felt like I was creating space, I would have felt rushed and cranky.

And, obviously, those are not the feelings I was going for!

Anyway, I hope your WFP worked out/is working out the way you need/needed it to and that you were kind to yourself in the process.

Actually, I would like you to be kind to yourself in every process but that, in itself, is something that takes a lot of practice!

Speaking of processes and practice, our movement practice for today is a 10 Minute Full Body Pilates Workout with Jessica Valent.

Remember that the key here is to take a few minutes for movement – you can adapt her movements, just do a few, or you can do something else entirely.

You are the boss of you!

Still image description shows the instructor outside on a sunny day, lying on a blue mat in a grassy field surrounded by trees. She is in exercise clothes and she is extending one leg along the ground while the other one is extended toward the sky and she is holding onto the calf of her raised leg. Her face is toward the camera and she’s smiling.

And today’s mindfulness practice is a short meditation that National Center on Health, Physical Activity, and Disability in the US created for National Relaxation Day (August 15) a couple of years ago.

Still image is of waves crashing against a rocking shore on a sunny day.

Whether you do these videos or something else entirely, I hope you find space and ease today, and always.

advice · fitness · habits · holiday fitness · holidays · meditation · mindfulness

Making Space 2024: December 7

Christine Hennebury

Sooooo, here we are at Day 7!

Today, I’d like to remind you that little spaces are good.

Sometimes, I write off taking little breaks because I imagine that, if I just keep puttering along, a bigger space will open up and I will be able to REALLY relax.

And sure, that works out sometimes but mostly I find that if I don’t take those little breaks, if I don’t enjoy those little spaces in my schedule, I am too tired to enjoy the big ones that do come along.

So, my space making friends, please, please, please, stop and chat with your friend, write in your journal, do a couple of stretches, savour your cup of tea or coffee, do a two minute drawing.

Those small spaces are good for you.

Yes, it’s still important to seek bigger spaces, longer rest, and more fun, but let’s not dismiss the restorative power of those little spaces.

Please do what you can to take good care of yourself by taking those breaks whenever you find (or make!) them.

Now, onto your Weekend Fun Plan.

I don’t know whether you planned your Weekend Fun for yesterday, today, or tomorrow, but I hope it goes off without a hitch and you have a delightful time.

BUT

What if you get to your time for Weekend Fun and you can’t actually do the thing?

May you’re sick or your kid needs you or you couldn’t get the thing you needed to make it work.

First, let me say that I’m sorry it didn’t work and that it is ok for you to be grumpy about it.

Second, once your initial frustration eases a little, you could try a modified version of your Weekend Fun and see how it feels.

Finally, if your Weekend Fun Plan cannot happen this weekend, please reschedule it.

Yes, I do mean reschedule.

Please don’t just abandon it or put it off until you get around to it.

Pick a different time and plan to do it then.*

I promise it will feel much different than hoping you’ll get to it at some point.

A changed plan is way better than an abandoned one.

And whether you get your Weekend Fun or whether you have to change or reschedule it, I wish you ease and self-kindness in the process.

Now, onto today’s smal spaces –

For our movement practice today, here’s Yes2Next with a Seated Core Workout.

Still image: A senior mother and her middle aged daughter seated in chairs with their legs extended forward. The mother has her arms crossed flat to her chest, the daughter has her arms extended. There is a light coloured rug beneath their chairs.

And here’s our mindfulness practice for today – Minute Meditation to Drop Into the Present Moment from Mindful Moments with Katie.

Still image description: a cartoon depiction of a person sitting cross-legged on a couch with their arms extended overhead. On the left side of the image is an orange blob with the title of the video on it in white. There is a blue background in the image.

Have fun out there! 💚🌟💚

*and if that time doesn’t work, re-reschedule! Your fun is worth the effort.

advice · holiday fitness · holidays · meditation · self care

Making Space 2024: December 3

Christine Hennebury

Hello, hello!

Here we are at Day 3!

How have you been doing with the plan to make some space for yourself over the past two days?

Don’t worry if it has been tricky to find wiggle room – we can just keep practicing. 🙂

Before we get into the exercise and meditation suggestions for today, let’s do another small step on the Weekend Fun Plan.

Yesterday, you picked some small, fun thing that you wanted to do on the weekend.

(You didn’t get a chance to pick something? Well, I’ve got some good news for you – this is not a test and it is not a timed exercise. You can pick something now!)

So, once you have your fun thing picked out, let’s figure out a time when you are most likely to be able to do it.

What is your time like on the weekend? Do you have scheduled activities? Do you have to work around other people and/or other people’s activities? Is your activity time-based? (For example: Making yourself a fancy lunch will usually have to happen at lunch time and walking around to look at holiday lights will usually be more fun after dark.) What kind of energy will you need for your fun thing? (For example: You can journal for a few minutes before bed but that’s not an ideal time to do an intense workout.)

You don’t have to address every possible aspect here, just get a rough idea of the best timing for your fun and make note of it on your calendar/schedule/post-it note/mental map.

Look at us taking care of ourselves in advance! Go Team Us!

Meanwhile, let’s also take care of ourselves today.

Please remember that I am not insisting that you must do these videos – they are just a suggestion to save you the hassle of trying to find videos for yourselves. Please do whatever *you* want to do that will help your day feel a bit more spacious.

First up, we have a video from MadFit called ‘5 MIN MIDDAY ENERGY BOOST (A workout for when you feel like taking a nap)‘ Normally, my strongly pro-nap stance would be against anything that prevents you from taking a nap but I grudgingly admit that naps are not *always* the solution and sometimes some movement can help you feel almost as good as a nap.

still image from the video shows the instructor in exercise clothes with one hand on her hip and one arm stretched overhead, text next to her reads 5 MIN Energy Boost

And our meditation suggestion for today is ‘5 Minute Meditation Music to Focus Your Mind’ from 5 Minutes By Great Meditation. Lately, I have especially enjoyed meditation tracks that are just music and I really liked this one today.

still image from the video shows a person sitting back-on the camera facing the sun rising over a wooded hill in the distance. The person is cross-legged with their forearms resting on the knees and their index fingers are touching their thumbs on each hand, forming a circle. The grass in front of them and the trees to the sides are slightly lit by the sun.

No matter how much (or how little) space you make for yourself today, I wish you ease and some peace of mind.

Your well-being is at least as important as anything else on your list and you deserve your own attention.

💚

advice · meditation · rest · self care

Making Space 2024: December 2

Christine Hennebury

Hey Team,

As you make your way through the first Monday in December, I have a little challenge for you.

I know, I know, the last thing you want is something else to do BUT this is only tiny and it will totally be worth it.

I would like you to pick a small, fun thing that you like to do that you will be able to do sometime next weekend.

It can be really small – drinking a cup of tea while listening to music, going for a walk, or doing some colouring- or it can be a bit bigger but ideally will take you less than half an hour.

Then, throughout this week, we are going to figure out how to make it easier for you to make space for that task on your weekend.

(Since ADHD makes it challenging for me to break projects into tasks AND tends to make me overthink my free time, I’ll be planning this small, fun thing along with you, of course.)

These small, fun moments are the kinds of things that not only give us a little breathing room but they can also be the things that make us feel seasonal.* idea here is that we will give ourselves a little something to look forward to and we will set ourselves up for success by creating space for it bit by bit as we go along.

As we make some space for future us, we can also make space for the us of today by giving these videos (or another exercise/meditation of your choice) a whirl.

We start with a Christmas-themed dance workout from The Fitness Marshall

Still image shows three people with big smiles in an outdoor setting that has a red and green and snowflake effect overlaid on it. The person in front has his hands at shoulder height, palms towards us and fingers splayed outward. The two people in back on either side have their arms overhead, crossed at the wrists to make themselves into a ‘tree’ shape.

Our meditation today is from Nature Harmony TV and features just the sound of waves and paddling as someone canoes across a body of water. (If you need to pee, go before you start this meditation!)

Still image shows a calm body of water with land and a lighthouse in the distance on a bright but not super-sunny day.

Whether you do these videos, videos of your choosing, or something else entirely, I hope you can make some space for yourself today and I wish you ease 💚

*For example, when I think of good feelings in December my mind often goes to sitting in a specific chair in my living room, with a mug of tea in hand, looking out through our patio door at the lights on the patio rail. That’s not normally something I would think to consciously choose to do but if I don’t DECIDE to do it, I can get so caught up in other tasks that I FORGET to take those few moments.

health · holiday fitness · meditation · mindfulness · yoga

Making Space 2024: December 1

Christine Hennebury

Hey Team,

It’s December 1st and we’re back with the another edition of Making Space, a series of (mostly) short posts designed to encourage you to make a little space for yourself this month.

No matter what you celebrate (or don’t celebrate!), December is one of those months of ambient stress and busy-ness. There are so many posts and articles full of lists and ideas about how to do more, more, more, and so much discussion of finishing things before the end of the year, or getting ‘the most’ out of the rest of 2024, that it is enough to make your head spin.

Now, I am NOT pretending that you aren’t busy.

And I am not going to be doing any vaguely condescending posts about how if you *just* change your attitude then all the hecticness will just melt away.

Instead, I am going to acknowledge that we all have a lot going on at this point in the year AND I am going to invite you to make a little space for yourself in your days.

Each day, I will post a short exercise/physical activity video and a short meditation/mindfulness video that you can do if you WANT to.

If the videos I post don’t appeal to you, I hope that you will still create some space for yourself and pick something *YOU* like to do.

(Taking a nap, texting a friend, drinking a very slow cup of tea, lying on the floor staring at the ceiling – those all count as making space.)

Giving yourself that space is worthwhile and important, even if you have to ditch something else from your to do list.

So, with all of that said, let’s start on the right foot (ha!) with this short video ‘Foot Stretch for Healthy Feet‘ from Yoga with Bird.

A YouTube video of foot yoga – the still image shows a woman sitting on a yoga mat with her legs crossed and she is massaging her left foot with both hands.

And here’s 1 minute of drawing meditation/mindfulness from Tamara Michael. If you don’t have a pen and paper handy, you could draw with your finger or just breath in and out along with her drawing.

A YouTube video of a drawing meditation that shows a person’s hands drawing lines and dots on a white coil-bound sketchpad. They draw a squiggly line downward for breathing in and a series of dots next to that line for breathing out.

I hope you are able to make the space you need in your day.

Wishing you ease today and always. 💚