Hey, you, I’m so glad that you’ve made it so far and you are still with me on this journey! 🤍
Ever felt like productivity was proof of your worth? I used to believe that, too! But somewhere along the way, I realized it wasn’t productivity that was making me feel better; it was presence.
So, in this blog, I will be sharing a few personal tips that helped me to feel more grounded. I even prepared a small video for you.🎥
And no, I’m not going to tell you to wake up at 5am or to deactivate social media. I’ve never done that, and honestly? I don’t think that we need to go that extreme.
I’ll share gentle, grounded changes that made a big difference in my life and might do the same for you.💫
1. Be Aware of Your “Shoulds”
Shoulds are sneaky! They set the stage for self-criticism and feelings of failure. Just because you think you should be doing something doesn’t mean the thought is true or helpful.
I’m still not totally free from them, but when my thoughts sound like:
- “I should go to the gym every day.”
- “I should eat healthier.”
- “I should stop missing my home country; I live in Switzerland! That’s one of the best places in the world “.
I try to pause and ask myself: “Should I, really?”
Because when I didn’t meet those shoulds, I was feeling frustrated… Hm, as the biggest loser …
Some days I don’t go to the gym, eat whatever is available, and scroll through old photos from home…and that’s fine. I’m allowed to do that. So are you. 🤍
So, as a first step, let’s reframe these thoughts together.
➡️ “I will try my best to go to the gym today.”
➡️” I will eat healthier today by adding more fruits to my plate and see how I feel.”
➡️”Missing home is human. I can love where I am and miss where I’ve been.”
See? A bit better? Isn’t it?
2. Stop Measuring Your Day by Output
We are so wired to: “What did I accomplish today?” Which can become a solid route for anxiety.
According to Dr. Devon Price, psychologist and author of the book “Laziness Does Not Exist,” we over-identify with our productivity because we’ve been conditioned to believe our value is earned. But we’re not machines.
So, I found a better question to ask myself by the end of every day:
- “How did I feel today?”
- “Did I enjoy it?
- “Where did I feel most like myself?”
Try it for a few evenings, you might be surprised by how it changes your focus.
3. Create Tiny Rituals That Feel Like You
One gradual habit can become a powerful mental tool. For me? It’s coffee. ☕
I’m a huge lover of coffee. But let’s be honest, I am actually addicted! And I turned that love into a grounding ritual.
I drink my coffee slowly, without my phone. Maybe some candles or some flowers around me. I try to romanticize the process as much as I can.
Your ritual might be tea, baking, or watering plants. Whatever it is, make time for it throughout your day, even if it’s only 10 minutes.
And lastly, just a small reminder🍀
Some days I still spiral; I catch myself rushing, doubting, and comparing, but now I’m trying to pause, take a deep breath, and remember:
Gentleness isn’t weakness or laziness!
I’d love to hear from you if you’ve made shifts like these in your own life, or want to start.
Let’s normalize a different kind of rhythm together. One that’s led by presence, not pressure.
🕊 In the next blog, I’ll share how I learned to stay productive without self-pressure. Working with my energy instead of against it.
Can’t wait to take you there. 🤍
I love the easy and digestible, memorable tips to calm down and feel better about what we’ve already done. Thank you, for making me feel validated not waking up at 5am!
Good sleep is one of the most important for our nervous system! No 5am waking ups here! Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.🌺
This was actually really comforting to read.Thanks for sharing!
So happy to hear that! 🌞 Stay tuned for the next blog. 🙈
Exactly, slow down and feel the flow. I’d like to add: we are emotional beings and sometimes we have bad times or hard times, or sad mood already it can be have no reason for being, but every time you have emotions which doesn’t make you feel good or which makes you irrational, remember that: “you are not your emotions, you just have them”
Ah, I love that take! You are absolutely right. Very often best way is not to over analyze our emotions, just to acknowledge them and make a peace with the fact that they don’t really define you. Thanks a million for sharing your experience!