The Passages September Challenge
It’s hard to believe September is here already… Why do the Summer months seem to go so much faster than all the rest? With Summer ending, it can feel like a fresh start with a new season, fresh school supplies, and a change in wardrobe, can you relate?
At Passages, a common theme we are seeing this month is getting back on track. While Summer can bring lots of fun, the lack of structure and schedules can also lead to mad chaos for some of us! Adding back some structure, getting organized for the year ahead and trying to sneak in some much needed time for self-care can help you feel more in control and set everyone up for success.
The September Challenge
We created the September Challenge as a way to help get you back on track as Summer is winding down and hectic Fall schedule have started. Most of us have slipped away from our normal routines during the Summer and slacked on some essential self-care. Click on the link below to download this free pdf to help track your daily actions and start feeling better now!
Daily Actions To Start Now:
15 Minutes of Self-Care
It is easy to feel like there is just no time for yourself. It’s true, most of us have so much on our plate, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. However, just starting with 15 minutes a day helps make some time for self-care more manageable. Whether it is going for a quick walk, a quick drive to the store by yourself or a solo dance party in your bedroom, starting with just 15 minutes a day will help you start to find creative ways to sneak in some time for yourself!
Food Prep
I know, I know… food prep seems to have taken over social media with videos of women stocking their fridge and freezer with what looks like food for the next year! That does sound dreamy, but not everyone can take a whole day to cook ahead. But… we all can take 10 minutes to think about just the next day and have a plan. Maybe it is putting some fruit in your backpack or portioning out some healthy snacks into smaller baggies. Most of us, reach for unhealthy choices because we didn’t plan ahead and have no other options. Just spending a few minutes thinking about the next day and having a plan can help keep you out of the drive-through and making unhealthy choices.
Drink 60 oz of Water
By now, we all know how important staying hydrated is both for our physical and mental health, but sometimes it is hard to fit in all the water we need when you are constantly on the go. Start your day off right when you first wake up and drink 12 oz of water to start hydrating early in the day. Fill a large water bottle and bring it with you trying to drink throughout your day. Set an alert on your phone every hour as a reminder to take a chug! You will be amazed how your body will respond when you increase your water intake. Most women see almost immediate improvements in their skin, energy level and find more mental clarity and less fogginess. Grab that water bottle right now!
Prep for Work or School
There is nothing worse than starting the day feeling rushed and unorganized. Life is already chaotic enough. Take 5-10 minutes at night to think about the next day and anything you can do ahead of time to make your day go more smoothly. Making lunch, picking out your clothes, filling your water bottle. All these things take only minutes but can really add up when you are racing to get out the door in the am! It is easy to wait until the last minute, but one great way to help reduce your stress level is to get those hard and annoying tasks done early so they don’t keep you up at night racing around your brain. So go sign that field trip permission slip now and stick it in the backpack, one less thing only our plate tomorrow morning and maybe even 2 extra minutes of sleep!
Small steps matter! Try to avoid all of nothing thinking with this challenge or any change. Drinking 30 oz of water is a great start and maybe more than you are already doing. Focusing on any of the above healthy habits will get you started in the right direction and often motivate you to want to do more for yourself.
Start your journey today and watch as your life transforms in remarkable ways. Not sure where to start? Our therapists are experts in self-care, click on the link below to get support now!