Tag: ADHD

A small drawing of a cartoonish gold star with a smiling face Go Team 2026: You Can Pick Something Fun
ADHD · Go Team · goals · habits · motivation · self care

Go Team 2026: You Can Pick Something Fun

Christine Hennebury

Hey Team!

Here we are in day two of 2026, and I have a reminder for you when it comes to new habits, resolutions, and activities:

YOU CAN PICK SOMETHING FUN.

I know, I know! We get so many messages this time of year about crushing our goals, and about dedication and determination, and about how hard we must work to be better, better, better.

And to that, I say, “Meh.”

If that kind of approach inspires you, then please forge ahead.

BUT

If that kind of talk makes you feel kind of tired and worn out before you even start, then please remember that your new year doesn’t have to be filled with that stuff.

You can choose a fun path that will lead you where you want to go.*

That might mean picking fun or whimsical activities or it might mean being fun and whimsical while doing a more straightforward activity.

If you wanted a fun or whimsical fitness goal, you could try a new dance video every week or you could challenge yourself to find specific items on your walks (kind of like a scavenger hunt.)

If you want to get stronger instead of lifting weights, you could pick items around your house that you’re going to practice lifting.

If you want/have to do ordinary activities and you can’t find a fun version, you can choose fun outfits or accessories, specific music or podcasts, or ask someone fun to keep you company while you get things done.

The main message here is that trying new things, taking on new habits, adding to your fitness or your wellness levels, does not have to be a slog.

I just want you to be kind to yourself, to be good to yourself, and to be able to expand your life in ways that will be satisfying for you, without feeling like the whole thing is a punishment.

Expanding your life may take effort, it may take focus, but it doesn’t have to be awful.

The days of “no pain, no gain” are long behind us.

When it comes to any fitness or wellness goal you might have this year, there is probably a fun way for you to achieve it, or, at the very least a way, to have more fun in the process.**

REMEMBER: Just because something is fun doesn’t mean it’s not working.

So, Team, please be kind to yourselves out there and try to make things a little more fun when you can.

Go Team Us!

Here’s a happy gold star for your efforts today:

A small drawing of a cartoonish gold star with a smiling face

PS – I have been seeing a lot of people using punch cards and bingo cards to keep track of their plans and resolutions this year and that seems like a pretty easy way to add some fun to the process. If drawing isn’t your thing, you could type your plans into blocks in a table/spreadsheet or you could use a site like this one.

*For example, a few years ago, one friend of mine decided to spend the year trying different types of tea and another friend resolved to add more colour to her wardrobe. Now, those aren’t fitness goals, but I could argue that they are wellness goals. And pursuing those goals definitely added more fun to my friends’ lives.

**I get that not every part of every thing can be fun, some tasks and activities just have to be endured, but we don’t have to use that as an organizing principle for every goal.

A drawing of a metallic gold star Go Team 2026: Three Things
ADHD · advice · Go Team · habits · motivation · self care

Go Team 2026: Three Things

Christine Hennebury2 Comments

Hey Team,

Welcome to 2026! Look at you, rocking this new year already!

As you probably know, every January I post daily encouragement posts to help all of us (including me!) find our footing in the new year.

These posts aren’t just cheering you on (but I do a fair bit of that!), they are intended as gentle reminders that it is ok to find things challenging and that doing things in your own time and your own speed is a great way to approach new ideas.

And to get us started, here are three important ideas that will be woven through this month of posts:

1) You’re good. Just as you are. You don’t need to be fixed.

I get really squicked out by the whole ‘New Year. New You!’ and ‘Improve Yourself!’ and ‘Become A New Person’ vibe that permeates this time of year.

I know that most people probably don’t take it as literally as I do (Neurodivergent? Me? Whatever do you mean?) but, to me, it feels like those messages are telling people that they aren’t enough, that there is something wrong with them, that they need to be ‘better.’

I don’t love that for us.

So, instead, I would like you to know that you are GREAT as you are.

Sure, there are things in your life, in your approach, or in your day-to-day that are frustrating, tiring, or unsatisfying, and you may want to shift those things to make your life smoother, more fun, or more interesting but those things aren’t YOU.

There is NOTHING wrong with YOU.

You can expand your life and your routines and your capacity in any way you choose.

If those expansions help you feel good or help you feel more satisfied, forge ahead.

But please, please, please, don’t feel that you NEED to do these things to be good enough.

You are already good enough. You are, in fact, great and anything else you do is just adding to your magnificence.*

2) The daily gold stars are for everyone. You have nothing to prove.

You can approach the new year in whatever way works for you and I will award you gold stars for your efforts.

(Yes, I know that many people only expect gold stars for results but my ADHD and I do not approve of that. We have little or no control over our results, and results take a long time. Our efforts though? We have control over those and they are happening right now. So I like to award gold stars for our efforts – big and small – so we can feel encouraged to keep moving towards the things we want for ourselves.)

If you find the ‘clean slate’ feeling encouraging and helpful, then go right ahead with your goals and plans and activities. Gold stars for you!

If you find all of that a bit overwhelming and you want to move slowly into the new year, the meander along at your own pace. Gold stars for you!

If you are just carrying on with what already works? Gold stars for you!

If you are waiting to figure things out? Gold stars for you!

Gold stars are for effort of any size or shape.

Even the teeniest effort counts AND your effort doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.

3) You don’t have to have everything figured out to get started.

I know, some people have their plans for the year all set out and they are ready to dive right in on their schedule right away.

Others have just a vague idea of some things they might want to do this year but the details are sketchy at best. **

And many of us fall somewhere in between those two.

But here’s the thing, you can move towards the future you want either way.

If you have a plan, do the next step in your plan.

If you are just working from a vague idea, then you can do anything and it will help you wrap your mind around your goal.

For example, if you want to get stronger but you don’t know exactly what that means for you yet, then do one leg lift or one arm circle. Sure, it won’t make you instantly stronger but it is a step in that direction and it gives you a little bit of momentum.

Or if you want to have a meditation practice, you can take one long, slow, breath and focus carefully while you do. It won’t give you instant inner peace but it’s not going to do you any harm and it will probably feel pretty good. And, again, you’ll have done SOMETHING that moves you closer to where you want to go.

And really, even the most detailed plan is just doing the same thing – it’s ok to figure things out day by day.

So, Team, there are three key elements to get you started and here is your first gold star.

Please remember that you get a gold star for your efforts no matter what those efforts look like today.

You may have jumped out of bed for a workout, you may have decided to spend a little extra time breathing slowly over your tea this morning, or you may do anything in between or beyond – any of those efforts are about taking good care of yourself and they earn you this gold star.

Go Team Us!

Please be kind to yourself out there.

A drawing of a metallic gold star

*For any readers (like me) who have to immediately react to comments like this with a “You don’t know who is reading this! They may not be great!” or with a bunch of thoughts about why this doesn’t apply to them, consider these two things

1) Great doesn’t mean perfect. When I say that my readers are great, I mean that they have lots of great things about them and that they are fundamentally good people doing the best they can with the resources they have. I firmly believe that most people are pretty damn great but they just don’t realize it.

2)If you think that my comment about *YOU* being great doesn’t really apply then maybe you can consider the possibility that it *might* apply instead of trying to tell yourself that it is a fact. Maybe approach it like this: “What if Christine was right and I am doing better than I realize? How would I do things differently if that was the case?”

** This is where my ‘Planuary’ approach to the year can come in handy.

A dog is curled up on a cluttered bed. Some Calm Amidst The Chaos
ADHD · fitness · habits · meditation · mindfulness · self care

Some Calm Amidst The Chaos

Christine Hennebury4 Comments

I’ve been writing the Making Space series daily every December for 5 years and, as it goes with these things, I am probably the person who needs the advice the most.

I am just as likely as anyone (maybe even more likely?) to get caught up in how much I could be doing and forget that there is just one person doing all the stuff I put on my list.*

My ever-expanding to do list is the result of the combination my ADHD-related challenges with time/capacity/prioritization and the ambient pressure that comes along this time of year.

Writing the Making Space posts have been helpful for me every year – a daily reminder that making space for myself in my own life is a valuable and worthwhile endeavour AND a practice that actually forces me to focus on a task (writing) that I enjoy.

I also find that the movement and mindfulness practices help, of course. Even though I don’t always complete those specific practices on those specific days, the structure of seeking them out to share with you reminds me to include at least some movement and a little meditation on even my busiest days.

But, despite how helpful all of that has been in the past, this year feels different – in a good way.

This year, I feel far more calm in December than I ever have.

Now, there are lots of contributing factors here – my kids are both in their 20s, my freelance work has been better distributed this year, I have gotten better at planning and prioritizing- but, aside from (because of?) all of that, I have found myself leaning into my movement and mindfulness practices and feeling much better because of it.

When I feel tense, I’ve been asking myself how my body needs to move right now.

When I feel stressed, I’ve been asking myself to pause and breathe.

And, yes, I have been doing this to a certain degree for a long while, this year seeking movement and mindfulness has been a more automatic, more consistent response to those feelings of tension and stress.

It feels really good to respond in those ways so often, so directly.

And I am proud of myself for getting to this point.

My practices may not be perfect but they do allow me to take better care of myself and that’s really the best case scenario, isn’t it?

*Yes, there is holiday teamwork at my house but I am talking about the stuff I tend to pile on to my to do list, not the stuff that actually must be done for our house to function and have the holiday we want to have.

s small drawing of the number 20 Making Space 2025: Day 20
ADHD · fitness · holiday fitness · mindfulness · self care

Making Space 2025: Day 20

Christine Hennebury

Hey Everyone,

Today, I’d like to invite you to notice all the stuff you HAVE gotten done this month.

With so much ambient busy-ness and pressure in December, almost everyone gets tangled in the length of their to do lists and how much remains to be done.

I think December 20th is a great day to take a look back at what you have actually done so far.

And I’d like you to remember that all of this is on top of your regular tasks.

And I’m hoping you’ll include all of the stuff that kind of got rolled into your to do list along the way – the phone calls, the extra emails, the add-on errands, helping your coworker find that file, picking up the napkins for the party – all the small additions that all took time and energy and planning and money.

Whether you make a mental list or a physical list of your work since December started, I hope you’ll take a moment to congratulate yourself and offer yourself a gold star for all of that hard work.

In case you don’t have a gold star handy, here’s one you can use:

A star made of holiday lights shining in the darkness
My husband, Steve, took this photo in Port de Grave about 8 years. One of the ways that people in that area celebrate the holiday season is by decorating their boats with lights. Image description: a large star made of gold(ish) lights decorates the side of a boat’s cabin at night. There is a lighted net on the deck of the boat and sailboats in the background have lights strung on their lines (rigging?).

The goal of this exercise is not just to show you a big list, it’s to help you make some space in your brain by seeing that some things (a lot of things) are, indeed, done.

And I would like to remind you of two things: that you are doing the very best that you can with the resources you have AND that you don’t have to do every single remaining thing on your list. I

t’s ok to choose your peace of mind and your own enjoyment of the rest of the month over the sense of pressure and perfection that this season seems to create.

And however you make space for yourself today, I wish you ease and a sense of contentment.

Here’s our movement practice for today:

The still image of this Beginner Abs – No Equipment video from NourishMoveLove shows the title on the right side and, on the left, an image of the instructor – a person with light skin with their long hair in a ponytail, wearing a black tank top, black leggings, and blueish green shoes – is demonstrating one of the exercises. They are facing the camera and extending their right arm to touch their right toes – both of which are extended toward the camera – while supporting themselves on the side of their left knee and lower leg and their left forearm and raising themselves off their yoga mat.

And our mindfulness practice for today:

The still image for this Guided 12 Minute Mindfulness Meditation by Doctor Julie Smith shows a close-up of the instructor, a woman with a slight smile who is wearing a yellowish brown hooded sweater. She has light skin, dark eyes, and long hair that is brown with blonde at the ends. The title of the video is on the right side and in the blurred background you can see a large painting with brightly coloured dots, a shelf with decorative items on it, and a tripod for a light or camera.

a drawing of the number 19 Making Space 2025: Day 19
ADHD · fitness · holiday fitness · mindfulness · self care

Making Space 2025: Day 19

Christine Hennebury

Hey everyone,

Sometimes I worry about being repetitive with my posts (and I worry about being repetitive in my comments about being repetitive…yes, I will overthink just about anything) but then I remember how often I need to remind myself about certain things. And since I doubt I am alone in that, I’m going to just carry on with saying something I probably have already said.

Today is a good day to decide what done looks like.

Or, to follow Jennifer Louden‘s framework, this a good day to set some Conditions of Enoughness

Between work, volunteer commitments, our personal lives, and any holidays we are celebrating this month, most of us have a lot of tasks and projects going we are trying to (or hoping to!) get to at the moment.

And we probably have a ‘perfect’ version of each of them in our heads.

Personally, that tends to take up a lot of my mental space because I keep subconsciously hoping that I will be able to get to that perfect version of each task and project.

This is, of course, impossible.

And the only way for me to reclaim that mental space is to decide what version of that task and project I am actually going to attempt (and, in fact, if I am going to attempt any version at all!)

By drawing a line under the possibilities for each task/project, by deciding the Conditions of Enoughness for each one, I can give myself some peace of mind because I know what the end point looks like.

So far today, I have decided that ‘getting started’ on two work projects means ‘making a list of ideas for each one and then setting a reminder to check them in January.’ And that non-urgent stack of papers can be stored for now instead of taking the time to sort them (and probably get distracted by the contents which would extend the time for the task.) And I can choose a slightly simpler card design for my gifts for my friends – the message of love will be the same but I won’t need to wait for the paint to dry and that makes things significantly easier.

I’d like to invite you to try this out for any projects and tasks that you have spinning around you at the moment.

What could ‘done’ look like?

What’s the most straightforward version of that task or project that you could be satisfied with for now?

How can you make this whole thing easier on yourself while still feeling good about it?

Sidenote: We could also consider who we could ask to help us and what form that help might take. This isn’t always possible but it’s worth considering.

Whether you choose to draw lines under things (or set Conditions of Enoughness) today, whether you choose to do the practices below, or you choose to do something else entirely, I wish you ease and space in your day.

Today, I have included two movement practices for you to choose from so you can enjoy whichever one feels more appealing to you in the moment.

In the still image from this 6 Minute Neck Mobility and Upper Body Stretch video from Move Coalition, the instructor is exercising on a mat on a low wooden platform outside in a grassy area with trees in the background. Their skin is lightly tanned, they have their brown hair in a ponytail, and they are wearing a black sports top and black shorts. They are demonstrating one of the exercises with their right knee and shoulder on the mat, their right arm is extended toward the camera, their left leg is extended back from their body and the ball of their left foot is on the mat, their left arm is extended towards the sky and they are looking upwards towards their right hand while the back of their head rests on the mat.
In this still image for 6-Minute Gentle Mobility for Hamstrings, Quads, & Hips by Dr. Kristie Ennis , the left side of the image is blue and has black text reading ‘Loosen Up Your Legs’ and the right side of the image shows the instructor, a smiling, light-skinned person with a tan and shoulder-length blonde hair who is wearing a black sports bra and shiny blue shorts, demonstrating one of the exercises on a pink yoga mat in a room with white walls and a grey floor. Their upper body is upright and their legs are both out to their left as they rest on their right hip. Both legs are flat on the floor at 90 degrees and their left knee is pointing to the camera while the bottom of their left foot faces the back wall, their right knee is pointing to the right and the bottom of their right foot is facing towards the left.

And here’s your mindfulness practice for today:

The still image for this 5 Minute Mindful Breathing video from Medistate Mind shows a scene in silhouette on the left and in the background and the title of the video in brown letters in the foreground on the right. On the left side is the silhouette of a person sitting crossed-legged with their hands raised and meeting palm to palm in prayer above their head. In the somewhat distant background is the outline of buildings and streetlights without many distinguishing features.
A small drawing of the number 18. Making Space 2025: Day 18
ADHD · fitness · holiday fitness · mindfulness · self care

Making Space 2025: Day 18

Christine Hennebury

Hey Everyone,

Despite yesterday’s list revision, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed this morning and I could feel myself tipping towards that kind of mental-wheel-spinning that happens when I can’t prioritize.

(I also refer to this as my brain’s ’if I can’t do everything then I won’t do anything’ mode.)

Luckily, I caught myself before the wheels started going too fast and I dragged up a piece of advice my sister and I hand back and forth as needed.

‘Pick something fun or pick something you’ll be really glad to have done.’

So, I am happy to say that I have now finished cleaning my fridge (glad to have that done!) and I picked up a really silly gift for my youngest kid (big fun!)

And, as a bonus, my tasks for this afternoon feel really clear.

So, Team, I would like to invite you borrow that piece of advice and help get the next part of your day started with something fun or something good to get done.

I suspect it will work well even if you aren’t feeling overwhelmed. 🙂

Whether you create mental space the same way I did, whether you choose the movement or meditation below, or whether you do something completely different, I wish you as much ease as possible today and always.

*****

Here’s our movement practice suggestion for today:

In the still image from this “7 Minute Nia® Dance Break with Meredith Amato: “Steal Drums”” from Nia Technique, the instructor is in the foreground extending their fist towards the camera. They have light skin, long brown hair pulled back into a bun, and they are smiling, they are wearing an orange sleeveless shirt. There are two other people in black shirts who can be partially seen in the background (there are additional people in the video) and the studio wall (brick with large windows) is visible behind them.

And here’s our mindfulness practice suggestion for today:

In the still image for this 5-minute Meditation from the CDC a person is seated outside on a cloudy day in a wicker ‘egg’ style chair with pink cushions and a blue blanket behind them. The person, who has short brown hair, light brown skin, and is wearing a pink sweater and white pants, is seated upright with their wrists resting on their knees and their hands hanging a little between their knees. They look restful and happy. There are a variety of plants on stands and in pots surrounding them and judging from the background, they are on a raised balcony of some sort.
Small drawing of the number 17. Making Space 2025: Day 17
ADHD · fitness · habits · holiday fitness · mindfulness · rest · self care

Making Space 2025: Day 17

Christine Hennebury

Hey everyone,

I don’t know about you but the time has come for me to rewrite my list!

Earlier in the month me didn’t know what I know about how the month has unfolded so far and I need to make some adjustments to her plans.

Past me was much better at making lists than she once was.

Before medication and practice and developing more reasonable expectations, she would have planned to show up in superhero mode every day in December and by now she would have been exhausted.

This year’s planning was pretty reasonable but it obviously couldn’t fully account for bad weather, a few off days, and a little extra work that came my way so I had to adjust things on the fly.

Now, at a little over halfway through the month, I want to take a few minutes to adapt my list to my current reality so I can match my time, my priorities, and my expectations.

And I would like to invite you to do the same.

The key element here is to avoid judging ourselves for a) the size of our initial lists b) not getting everything done c) changing our plans.

Making a new list is not a sign of failure, it is a recalibration based on new information.

And while you are recalibration, please remember to include fun and rest on your to do list.

You don’t have to fill every waking moment with tasks – even if they are things you want to do.

And if anyone argues with you on that, send them to me – I’ll deal with ’em.

Anyway, Team, I am wishing you ease as you make space for yourselves today.

Go Team Us!

Here is our movement practice suggestion for today:

The still image for this ’10 Minute Chair Cardio Workout’ from Caroline Jordan there are two people exercising on chairs in the foreground, the title of the video is above, and, in the somewhat blurred background, you can see a couple of end tables with plants on them, some free weights, a exercise roller, and two exercise balls. Both people are smiling while doing a side extension with their left arms extended over their heads and to the right and their left legs extended outward to the left. The person in front has long blond hair (in a high ponytail), light skin, and she is wearing a black tanktop and blue leggings. The person slightly behind has long black hair, light skin, and is wearing a white tanktop and blue leggings.

And here’s our mindfulness practice suggestion for today:

The still image from this 10 Minute Guided Meditation – Just As You Are video from Great Meditation shows a drawing of a person sitting in a cross-legged meditation position with their hands on their knees, palms upwards, with their thumb and index fingers forming a circle on each hand. The person has brown skin and dark brown curly hair, their eyes are closed and they look peaceful and contemplative.
A drawing of the number 16. Making Space 2025: Day 16
ADHD · holiday fitness · mindfulness · self care

Making Space 2025: Day 16

Christine Hennebury

Hey Everyone,

Today, I want to invite you to create some mental space by finding company for some of your tasks.

Note: This is often called body-doubling and many neurodivergent people find it helpful.

For you, having company for your task might look like asking a friend to run errands with you or to hang out while you do some housework.

It might look like asking someone to check in with you via text or in an online meeting as you both do work tasks. Or, if possible, you could meet in person to work simultaneously.

It might also look like trying an online body-doubling app or website – I haven’t tried these but many of my friends have and found them useful. If you search ‘body doubling online’ you can pick the one that matches your needs and your budget (many have free options!)

And it could look like working along with a video on YouTube. If you want to give that a whirl, search for ‘virtual body doubling’ and you’ll have a bunch of options.

I have also invited small groups of friends who all have an irritating task to finish to join me on Zoom for a specific period of time so we can work on our tasks together – with frequent breaks to chat.

Having company, even virtual company, tends to give my mind a break. It can help make the task feel more enjoyable, it reduces the feeling of tedium that some tasks induce, and it puts tasks into a time container that makes them feel more doable.

And all of that helps me to make more space in my brain and in the rest of my life – I hope it can do the same for you!

Wishing you ease and space, today and always.

Here’s today’s movement practice:

In the still image for this ’10 Minute Morning Stretch’ from Yoga With Nancy, the instructor is doing a deep squat on a white yoga mat with their hands in prayer position. They have their eyes closed and they look purposeful. They are wearing white clothing and the couch behind them and the curtain in the background are also different shades of white. Above them is text reading “Morning Stretch. Wake up & feel good.”

And here’s today’s mindfulness practice:

In the still image for this ‘Instant Calm’ video from Yoga with Adriene, Adriene is sitting cross-legged on a folded blanket on a yoga mat. She has her hands in prayer position, her eyes are closed and she is looking downward. She is wearing a green sleeveless shirt and pink loose pants with green cuffs. There is an end table with an candle and a vase of flowers on it behind on her left and a basket with a blanket in it behind on her right. There is a row of windows in the background and a sunbeam can be seen on the wooden floor behind her. The word calm is superimposed on the image and has been placed slightly behind her so part of the A and part of the L are obscured.

a photo of a snowy suburban street taken from an upstairs house window Finishing Soft (Again)
ADHD · fitness · motivation · self care

Finishing Soft (Again)

Christine Hennebury

First things first!

Today is my mom‘s birthday and I hope that she gets all the treats and all the fun that she can possibly handle. Love you, Mom! 💚💚💚

Now, my post: for today:

Finishing Soft

A couple of years ago, after an exceptionally stressful year, I decided that rather than pushing hard to get a bunch of stuff done by the end of December, I would ‘finish soft’ – to try and find as many ways as possible to rest, to take care of myself, and to reduce the sense of overwhelm that usually took over the end of my years.

And I was happy with how that turned out.

Ever since then, I have been returning to that idea of that softness whenever possible.

Obviously, there are times when hard work is required and there are times when I don’t realize how tangled up in doing I have gotten until something goes awry.

But I am happy to say that since those posts linked above I am quicker to get back to the idea of going easy on myself, of finding a simpler way, of seeking more rest when I need/want it.

And after so many years of my ADHD brain churning out inaccurate information about ‘not trying hard enough’ and ‘gotta do all of the things before you rest’, it has been really helpful to have a shorter loop back to taking good care of myself.*

Slowing Down

Last week, I posted about my December Twelves – three things that I am going to do twelve times this month to help me feel more relaxed – but when I was writing it, I didn’t think about the connection to finishing soft.

It is part and parcel of the same thing, though, the strong pull towards rest, the sense of wintering**, knowing that slowing down and being more deliberate in how I spend my time would be good for me.

I still have a lot to do and I have still had a lot of hectic moments lately but I feel differently about them. They feel less inevitable and more temporary – I feel like I can take charge of my circumstances a bit more.

And, strangely, I am finding myself able to think a bit more about January.

A photo of three flat ornaments decorated with pictures of robots.
This doesn’t really have a lot to do with my post, but I’m really happy about creating these. Every year I take part in an ornament exchange and these are one side of the three ornaments I made this year. The top one is star shaped painted green with gold trim, and it shows a small gold robot holding a present. Below that there are two ornaments the one on the left is star shaped with gold trim and shows three robots singing Christmas carols out of a book they’re holding. The third ornament is heart shaped. It’s painted red with gold trim and shows two robots standing next to a Christmas tree and they’re each putting an ornament on it.

Planning Planuary? Really?

Usually, my ADHD will let me imagine my time up until around Christmas but beyond that there is just the murky idea that January will indeed happen. In fact, I decided to start referring to January as Planuary because that’s generally the earliest that my brain will consider making plans for the year ahead.

This year, though, I have been lightly drawn to the idea of planning a few small things to happen in January so I can be planning my year AND doing interesting things in the same time frame.

I don’t think this has ever happened to me before.

I mean, I used to feel the pressure to plan the whole year ahead in December (and feel terrible when I failed to do so) but I don’t remember ever having this clear idea that I could just pick a few things in December to put in place for January.

More Movement? Interesting!

And, interestingly, while I had thought that doing yoga would feel like ‘enough’ exercise for right now, instead I am finding myself craving more movement. My muscles seem to be saying, ‘That was a good start! What’s next!’

So, I am adding bits of extra cardio and strength training and mobility here and there. With no definite plan and no specific outcome in mind, I’m just responding to my body’s interest in moving more.

Making Space

As you probably know, I’ve been writing Making Space posts all this month and while I have been trying to follow my own advice and make a little space for myself each day, I didn’t realize that the process of slowing down over all was making even more space in my head and my sense of time.

Even though I…

  • consciously decided to actively slow down by journaling, meditating, and doing yoga.
  • consciously decided not to undertake any big projects around the house.
  • consciously decided not to put any pressure on myself about work projects (In other years I have sometimes decided to speed up timelines to have loose ends tied up before the holidays but I voted no this time.)

I am still surprised by the mental space that has created and, somehow, I am surprised to discover that that space has allowed me to think clearly and think further into the future.

Now the question becomes – how do I help myself continue this approach?

*I feel a bit weird about saying all of this in the context of having struggled with whiplash for months without realizing it but even in the midst of the challenges I was facing there, I was still trying to go easy on myself. It kind of feels like a contradiction but I don’t really think it is.

** Katherine May has a great book called Wintering and Anne-Laure LeCunff has a quick and useful article about the practice, and Sheridan Voysey has a lovely reflection about it, too.

a small drawing of the number 15 Making Space 2025: Day 15
ADHD · cardio · holiday fitness · mindfulness · self care

Making Space 2025: Day 15

Christine Hennebury

Hey everyone!

Today, I want to invite you to add something fun to your day or plan something fun for your week, and to prioritize it like it was a vital meeting with a key client. (’cause it is but just not in a business-y way.)

It doesn’t have to be something huge but it does have to involve something you enjoy.

For example, I really wanted to dry orange slices to add to some decorations so the first thing on my to-do list today was slicing oranges and putting them in the oven on low heat.

And, yeah, that was a task, really but it was an enjoyable process

I even followed the mindfulness recommendations of using all my senses in the process – noticing the smell of the oranges, enjoying the variations in the colour, noting the texture and taste differences. (Oranges don’t offer much of an listening experience but I paid attention all the same.)

I hardly ever remember to do all that kind of stuff when I have a task at hand but because I knew I wanted to mention it here, I really tuned in to what I was doing and, I can, indeed report that it felt good to pay attention in that moment.

Does this mean I will remember to pay attention like that more often? Probably not but hopefully I will remember every now and then.

I get that this still doesn’t necessarily sound like something fun but consider it like this: I had decided that I wanted to dry oranges for decorations (a result I will enjoy), I decided to prioritize the process of creating them (prioritizing something I wanted to do felt good), I followed my plan without getting stressed about it (which for someone with ADHD is a definite victory), I was successful in mindfully slicing the oranges and managed to create fairly even slices (a HUGE challenge!), and I will be very happy with the finished decorations.

So, it’s not the same as having tea with a friend or drawing or dancing but I have enjoyed the process so far and I will get to enjoy the process of making the decorations once the orange slices are ready. (They are drying in the oven even as I type this!)

So, that was a lot of words to explain something fairly simple but that’s how my brain works a lot of the time and I am just rolling with it.

Anyway!

I hope that you can create some space for fun in your very near future, no matter what that fun looks like. And you don’t have to answer to anyone about that fun, either. If you find it fun, it is fun!

No matter how you choose to create space for yourself, I wish you ease in the process.

Here is a suggested movement video for today:

In the still image for this 10-Minute Low-Impact Bodyweight Cardio video from PS Fit three people are standing in a peach-coloured room. They are all wearing grey leggings, sports bras, and white sneakers and are demonstrating the cross-body elbow to knee movement, bringing their left knees up to meet their right elbows. They are all smiling and appear to be enjoying their workout.

And here is a mindfulness practice for you to try:

Mindful Drawing Studio In the still image of this Mindful Drawing Draw Along video, there is large text reading “Grab a gift card and draw with me! With Stacey Peters” in black on the left and an image of a sketchbook with overlapping rectangles filled with spirals, and a marker on the right. Overlapping the sketchbook is a person’s right hand (with several gold rings on the fingers) holding a red card (that says Gift Card on it) between their index finger and thumb.