Day 217 - Gratitude for Self Care!

Stress is increasing now that school is once again beginning; constant thoughts of to-do lists and "not enough time" and "can't get it all done" have returned, leaving me sleepless the past three nights. Aargh! Though I type this--in my fatigue-- on Wednesday, Tuesday was a good day for self-care. I am establishing a new, kinder and more achievable routine for health and wellness. Yesterday morn, I completed my round of yoga and prana, listened to a short visualization program which I recently started. At 12 minutes, plus yoga practice of a bit more, I can adhere to this shorter 20 minute routine in the mornings, which I will alternate with exercise on other days. My usual standard is to set too-high standards that I inevitably can't follow through, and end feeling like I have failed. With 3 days of exercise, that will get me back in the habit without having to unbalance and overexert and exhaust myself attempting my normal 5. 3 days of exercise, 3 days of meditation/visualization; this I can achieve with positive results.
I have vowed in the afternoons, immediately following school, to engage in a deep relaxation (yoga nidra), 3 days each week. I'll also take a short walk a few nights each week , to get some fresh (well, traffic, MoPac, and pollution -- so it's not all that fresh) air, as well as alternating that with MBSR (Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction) or visualization/meditation.
So I am grateful for self-care tools and action! I'm finding balance in the changes of how I approach fitness and health; allowing instead of struggling, acting on that which I am capable of doing rahter than trying to force myself to perform at previous levels. It's okay. It's all good.
​Now, If I could just get some damn sleep!