A client once told me there are two starts to every year, New Years and Labor Day.
The ability to have a do-over in the middle of the year is something I appreciate. I start the year with resolutions, a fresh mind-set, and unwavering energy, but come August, I’m back to just surviving.
Labor Day has become my day to reassess my goals, needs, and health, and start fresh. It’s a checkpoint that allows me cast aside guilt for not following through with my New Year resolutions.
Recently I sat down and brainstormed ways to refresh different aspects of my life. The list below is a little insight into how I plan on approaching the second half of the year. I hope it’s inspiration for you to find where you could use a do-over or recharge your batteries come Labor Day.
Work: Lunch Outside
Mother Nature has a way of filling my soul. Now that Fall is right around the corner, eating outside and taking walks is something I want to introduce into my daily routine as often as possible. When things get busy, I find myself working through my lunch breaks, not looking up until there is no hiding my growling stomach. It’s amazing how draining those days can be.
This Fall, I plan on keeping a picnic blanket and folding chair in my car at all times. Since I can’t avoid all working lunches, I plan on making an effort to take 5 minute walks twice a day to break up my morning and afternoon. My daily goal is to step away from the computer and checklists and let Mother Nature calm my busy brain.
Personal: Wind Down Wednesdays
Ever feel like you are on a parenting treadmill with no way to get off? The never-ending thrill of parenting has you looking forward to weekends, then Mondays, then back to the weekend.
That’s why I am officially implementing Wind Down Wednesdays. One night a week for me, no guilt, no expectations. Reading, games, baths, Yoga, working out, social media scrolling. Whatever I feel like doing, I will allow myself to do with no guilt.
Family: Break Routine
As moms, we all know the importance of routine. Skip a nap or forget their favorite teddy bear at home and the world is ending. While structure for my children can be a great thing, I find sometimes we go on auto-pilot. Days blur into each other and eventually turn into weeks, months, and then years. All of a sudden I look up, and realize we have been reading the exact same book for six months.
My end-of-the-year goal is to either disrupt routines and/or introduce new routines. It can be a small change or big one, but I want there to be some type of “hey, this is new” moment. Whether it be a picnic lunch in the living room, waffles instead of pancakes, or swapping out toys/books, our party of five could benefit from an element of surprise.
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What guilt do you have from uncompleted New Year’s resolutions? What aspects of your life could use a little refresh, restore, or recharge?
Let go of New Year’s guilt and give yourself a second chance this Labor Day. It might be just be the do-over you needed.
