A Recipe for Staying Centered

January 04, 2018 3 min read

You did it! You made it through the longest day of the year, the busyness of the holiday season, and the coldest winter snap we’ve seen in a while.

I’m coming out of the holidays feeling a bit depleted, emotionally and mentally. And that gnawing guilt of not being my best self for family and friends tells me that it’s time to get myself centered. Does this sound familiar? Who is ready for a new year?

A new year heralds a fresh start. There’s a cleansing feeling about pressing an imaginary reset button. As I crack the spine on a new journal with crisp white pages of possibility, I’ve been thinking how I can set goals for the year that will challenge me, while leaving room to be kind to myself when I fall short. How I can incorporate self-care into this year’s mindset so it becomes habit, not an emergency kit?

This impalpable word: "Balance." What does it look like?

Instead of creating resolutions, I started this year by creating a recipe - my own personal formula for centeredness. And I’ve found it has really helped to reframe my concept of ‘balance’. It is not an elusive ability to do it all and do it well, right? Rather, it’s taking care of oneself so there is more to give to others.

My personal Recipe for Centeredness looks like this:

Create. Have a creativity session 2x month
I feel empowered when I create something with my hands, whether it is a simple handmade card, a painting or other.
Get out in nature 1x week
My best reflection comes when I’m out in the forest or skipping rocks by the river. There is something supernatural about being outdoors that wakes up every cell in my body. Nature feels good.
Sweat at least 1x week
Don’t judge me. Once a week is low but guilt isn’t good for my spirit either. Getting my heart rate up once a week is what I need to feel energized.
Do something that scares me 1x month
Age is a mindset. Doing something out of my comfort zone keeps me feeling young and keeps me growing.
Get a good night's rest
I notice a difference in my mood when I’ve slept poorly. For those with young kids, this is a daily challenge. But I hope that in the hours of rest that you get, that they are deep. The Deep Sleep balm is a handy sidekick for a restful night.
See my sisters 1x month
These are my people. They are the ones who know me best, inspire me to be better and help me to feel more like myself when I’m feeling out of sorts. Find your people.
Have a date night with my partner 1x month (minimum!)
It’s easy to get caught up in daily routine. Setting aside intentional time to connect with my partner helps to fill up my love tank and make sure his is full too.

Your recipe for centeredness will look different. Possibly wildly different. If you’re active, perhaps your body needs to work out five times a week to feel alive and well. Maybe you need a warm bath with a glass of wine or a day to yourself, kid-free.

Whatever it is, self-care starts with figuring out what you uniquely need. Write your formula down, share it with us in the comments below. Refer to your recipe when you’re feeling depleted and in need of a little balance.