20 & In Between

Working at the front desk of a behavioral health center while also trying to make sure I complete my school work on time has taken years off of my life.

Here are some small habits I have that help to keep my nervous system regulated:

1.) My “reset” ritual after work

Every day I have to do some sort of exercise, or combination of exercises, after work or else I will crash and not get anything else done that day. These days, I’ve taken to Pilates. Pilates is no joke. I usually like to do some cardio, if nothing else, but Pilates has genuinely taken my body for a spin. My legs don’t cooperate after 20 minutes of incline walking anymore. Anyway, what helps me most is stretching after a workout. I genuinely feel my mind, body, and soul connecting.

2.) Journaling every night

There are several days where I have a ridiculous amount of pent up feelings and frustrations after work. Most days, actually. While ranting about it to someone helps to calm my mind, what helps me even more is journaling. I find that I’m much more analytical about my feelings when the day is over and I’ve been able to sit with my thoughts for a few hours. I also like that I end my day with a recap of it; once it’s over and dealt with, it’s really over.

3.) My “done is better than perfect” rule

I like to separate my work life and my home life. That includes any school work I have to do. I do my school work while I’m at work because I know I won’t be in the headspace to do it when I get home. I have to be productive at work, so I might as well let that carry over to my academics. That being said, I do get overwhelmed with things going on at work and often feel drained during my last two hours on the clock. I know I won’t be able to get anything done at home, so I power through and do my school work during that final hour or two of work. What helps with all of this is having the mindset that “done is better than perfect.” Realistically, whatever I get done before four o’clock is going to be better than anything I try to accomplish after I get home. I used to be very anal about school, but I used to be a very stressed student. I don’t need stress in more than one area of my life so this rule saves me.

4.) MyPlate-ing every meal

My body feels the strongest when I’m eating adequately. For me, that means meeting the requirements for my age, size, and energy expenditure. I couldn’t tell you the exact number of grams I need of protein or how many cups of fruit I need (2 1/2 cups), but I know what it looks like now and I feel like a dead woman walking if I don’t keep it up. Since I workout increasingly more than I used to, my body needs a lot more fuel than it used to. While my bank account isn’t happy about that, I will only live this life once, so I might as well make it the best I can.

5.) Ending my day with a routine

I think most people have at least a loose nighttime routine, but I haven’t head of one like mine, yet. When the clock hits 8pm, I like to end out my day with about an hour of karaoke. I take my birth control at 8:15, so it helps that I’m near the kitchen when my alarm goes off. Anyway, I like to think singing calms me, so that’s my favorite thing to do when I’m at home, or my friend’s home, or anywhere really. It’s one thing I can’t count on when my days feel like I’ve stepped into another dimension.

These habits help to keep my sane, even if slightly, and have become key in my daily routine. I don’t what I would do with my custom karaoke microphone (my TV remote).