Don’t Give Up on Yourself When Life Feels Frantic
I usually have a packed schedule. Over the years I’ve learned to create space and buffer zones in my day so that I don’t feel as frantic as I used to when I would rush from thing to thing without a moment to breathe. In my 20s, my day was scheduled to the minute. Thankfully I don’t live like that anymore.
However, during the holiday season, there are more things to do. Extra food shopping trips or travel plans can fill up my normally balanced schedule. Occasionally it fills up so much that I need to let certain things go (or attempt to do them faster) to get everything in. I used to give up my exercise routine, but not anymore.
When life feels frantic, the last thing I want to give up is my self care. It’s not selfish to take care of yourself first. In fact, if you ignore yourself and your needs, everyone suffers. Your mood tanks, your energy tanks, you generally tank. Then what happens? You get snippy, cranky, irritable, and possibly more frustrated than usual because your ability to cope also tanks. When you end up yelling at your loved ones, you know something needs to give.
Overwhelm taking over
When you feel overwhelmed, frantic, or like everything is too much, I encourage you to pause and breathe. Overwhelm happens when things feel like too much and you get paralyzed and stuck by it all. I think of it like a mountain. Seeing that whole mountain of “TO DO” is daunting, but if you break the giant mountain into lots of little mountains, or hills in this analogy, they don’t pose the same threat.
Making tasks smaller can take some creativity. For me, calling the doctor to make an appointment is something I put off for weeks or months. It’s not because it’s hard, but because it’s one more thing to do and I struggle to find the time. Often I will sit down and look at my schedule to figure out when I have free time to call (step one). Then I will put it on my calendar with a reminder to do it (step two). When that day and time comes, I make the call (step three). Walking through these three steps feels doable, where for some reason, just picking up the phone and calling doesn’t.
Cleaning my house was also a chore that I couldn’t keep up with. It’s easier now that I live alone, but laundry continues to plague me. Wash and dry is fine, it’s the folding and putting away that gets me every time. Clothes will live in the basket forever it seems. Giving myself 10 minutes to put away as much as I can (making the task smaller) often gives me the momentum I need to get it all done.
It’s a trick I play with myself, but it seems to work. All I need is a nudge to get out of the paralysis. Even when I only fold and put away for 10 minutes, that moves me closer toward completion.
Same works with exercise and movement
When the schedule fills up, movement is an easy thing to set aside until “later.” Of course later never comes, because “later” is never “now.” Trying to fit in an hour or even 30 minutes of movement can feel overwhelming when there is so much already on your plate. But if you don’t move your body regularly, everyone you interact with suffers, especially you.
I am running a three week program of 15 minute online yoga classes three times a week from December 2-19. This program is my little pre-holiday gift to you.
The classes
Slow Flow Yoga is an all levels vinyasa flow class to move and breathe, stretch and strengthen, center and balance. Even 15 minutes of yoga can make a huge difference in how you feel for the rest of the day.
It’s time for a big “I told you so!” I just did my first 15 minute yoga practice. In my mind, 15 minutes isn’t enough time to even get moving! Wrong. Thank you, Janine. Much like meditation, I will now grab it when I can, even if it’s “just” 15 minutes. ~Judy C.
Mindful Core is one of my favorite classes to teach. Unlike typical core classes, the movements are mindful, intentional, and done slowly so that you can focus on the muscles you’re targeting. This core class strengthens on all 4 abdominal muscles, the glutes, spinal muscles, pelvic floor, hip flexors, and inner thighs, all in 15 minutes. I give detailed instructions so that you know you are doing the movements correctly. Plus you’ll feel it! This class blends Yoga and Pilates type movements with my own personal flair.
Stretch & Breathe is how we’ll close each week, a fabulous way to start the weekend. This class will be much gentler than the other two and focus on loosening up tight muscles by deepening your breathing. There is a natural relaxation response connected to exhaling, and we’ll take advantage of that during this 15 minute stretch and movement class.
The details
All classes are included in a Purple Room Yoga online class subscription. If you are not a subscriber, you can take all 9 classes for $25. Each class can be taken live over Zoom, or on demand if your schedule doesn’t match up with mine. Or a mix of both! All classes will be recorded and will live on in the Video Library.
Classes run December 2-19, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays 8-8:15am EST. Come up to 15 minutes early to class to chat, ask questions, or simply hang out. I love spending time hearing what you need that day, it helps me give you the class you need. I also love answering yoga or anatomy related questions so that you have a better understanding of the poses in your body.
These classes are for you if you are starting to get overwhelmed by the Holiday season and fear burning out. Or worse, giving up on your health completely and restarting on January 1st. New Year’s Resolutions rarely work, and as we age, we respond much better to continued self care, even just a little, rather than the all or nothing approach.
Holiday Burnout Solution
You are formally invited to join me for the Holiday Burnout Solution, online in December! My intention is to give you the support you need to get through the holidays feeling strong, grounded, and like you can cope with whatever arises.
Instead of adding to your overwhelm, I want to make your task of exercise smaller, doable, and worth your while. Give yourself 45 minutes a week to move, breathe, stretch, and strengthen, in small 15 minute increments.
Click the button below for more information or to sign up. I can’t wait to see you in class!
💜 Janine
