June 7, 2025

I’ve been working hard to maintain consistent sleep and wake times, so I was up early this morning. This allowed me to complete my full morning routine AND take a shower before heading out grocery shopping with my husband. There’s something so satisfying about feeling prepared and accomplished before the day’s errands even begin.

The Power of Strategic Rest

I did wind up getting so tired in the mid-afternoon that I took a one-hour nap to carry me through until bedtime. It was exactly what I needed. It was just enough rest to feel refreshed and make it through the remainder of the day without crashing.

I’m being a lot more forgiving with myself when I feel that I need rest, and my body is responding so much better because of it. Instead of pushing through exhaustion and paying for it later, I’m learning to honor what my body needs in the moment.

A Week of Transformation

I honestly can’t believe how much better I’ve felt this entire week! The combination of consistent routines, gentle exercise, and listening to my body’s needs has created this upward spiral of wellness that feels almost too good to be true.

It hasn’t been easy to build new habits while managing chronic conditions that require intention and flexibility, but the 10 minutes I’ve dedicated to working out each day has helped tremendously. Those small daily investments in movement are paying dividends in reduced pain and increased energy.

Expanding What Works

The exercise routine has been so beneficial that I’m actually planning to do yoga tomorrow, even though Sunday was supposed to be my rest day from working out. I figure I’ll just pick either Qi Gong, Yoga, or Tai Chi since I did strength training today.

Maybe I’ll rotate through all three gentle practices on Sundays, or maybe I’ll just choose whichever one calls to me when the day arrives. The beauty is that I’m not hating any of it, and my aches and pains are slowly diminishing the more consistently I move.

Sustainable Growth Goals

I do want to work up to 30 minutes of exercise daily eventually, but I’m committed to not rushing the process. Right now, I’m just taking the wins I’m having and celebrating this incredible week of feeling better.

The 10-minute sessions are sustainable, enjoyable, and clearly effective. There’s no need to push beyond what’s working just because I feel good. That’s how you sabotage progress, by getting excited and overdoing it.

Lessons in Self-Compassion

This week has taught me so much about the power of:

• Consistent but gentle routines
• Strategic rest without guilt
• Listening to my body’s wisdom
• Celebrating small wins
• Building on what works rather than forcing what doesn’t

The combination of better sleep habits, morning routines, gentle exercise, and self-forgiveness is creating a foundation for sustainable wellness that I haven’t experienced in a long time.

Here’s to taking things slow, honoring rest, and continuing to build on this momentum! 💜

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Sometimes the biggest breakthrough comes from doing less but doing it consistently, and giving yourself permission to rest when you need it.

The dogs are snoring. I’m signing off. See you tomorrow. 💜