A New Routine To Be Added!

Today's prompt for journaling asks me: What can you do to take better care of yourself?

Well, there are many things that I can do. My daily activities keep me physically active but I could do with some physical exercises that I should do with mindfulness. Walking happens, but it is not related to fitness. I make three trips totally to the kid's school - once in the morning to drop him off, next to deliver his lunch-box and finally to pick him up. I also visit the temple next to his school every morning. Collectively, all the walking I do during these times amounts to a reasonable time every day. And yet, it does not feel like I have worked out. I could do with some quality time of physical fitness.

I really, really tried meditation but it is not working for me, as I said in my previous blog. Even Yoga makes me feel sleepy nowadays. I want to resume my practice of Yoga. I could devote at least 15 minutes every day for the same. 

I could do with some better options for my food intake. I ensure to include veggies in the daily diet but there is surely room for some fruit or salad too. I love trying out new recipes and keep searching for the same. Probably I could add some salad and fruit for lunch every day. That seems like something I can do. 

I could spend a few minutes to practice the lost art of doing nothing. Probably my attention-deficiency is the culprit here, but I feel the need to be constantly occupied, doing something or the other. Even if there is nothing to do, I find myself pacing from one end of the room to another, thinking about what I can do at that particular moment. I could learn to relax and just be, and not do anything for at least few minutes every day. 

It feels weird that until I wrote this, I haven't given any special importance to self-care. I am gradually realizing the role of journaling in mental well-being. It brings to the forefront, many things that we often tend to ignore or to take for granted. I have to admit that I am enjoying this ritual of writing every evening, even though it makes me uncomfortable to share my reflections in my blogs. But I share these with the hope that they will help someone who is reading these, and can relate to my thoughts, and will feel better at least for a short while.

To sum it up, these are some new additions to be added to my days:

- Physical activity / walking for fitness for at least 15 minutes every day.

- Yoga and meditation for 15 minutes.

- Fruit or a salad every day.

- At least for 5 minutes, not doing anything at all and simply being just me.

Here's hoping that a new routine forms in my day and I keep up with the same!