Start Me Up
End of year greetings -- this is the last Care for 2022 and another year is almost out the door. In the U.S. we've had some extreme weather. I hope this finds you and your friends and family well.
Soon enough it will be New Year's Eve and lots of talk about resolutions and doing things differently in 2023. I invite you to look at what you liked and are proud of in 2022. Sometimes it feels like we're supposed to get rid of everything and start anew just because the calendar changed from one day to the next. I highly recommend giving yourself some pats on the back for jobs well done and recognizing accomplishments and celebrating them.
If there are areas that are ripe for improvement, looking at the whole year ahead is either overwhelming or practically meaningless because it's just too much. The best way to make changes and upgrade is to start small. Instead of aiming to change your whole upcoming year or, even more grand, your life, look at how you start your day.
Are you in a rut? Do you do exactly the same thing every morning? If your life feels nearly perfect then keep on with your routine. Or, make it even better! And, if you feel like there's room for so much improvement, some big changes could start first thing, right after you wake up.
If you Google or look on YouTube for "how to start your day", you will be amazed by the number of suggestions. I've done both those searches when I've felt like I've needed inspiration and I'm never disappointed. Some of the suggestions excite me and some leave me cold. You'll find the same thing since that's the nature of life and speaks to our personal preferences and what resonates or not.
A couple things I know: lots of research has shown that if we turn on the news the minute we wake up we activate our sympathetic nervous system and cause our bodies to release cortisol and adrenaline. This can create anxiety and stress throughout the day. Plugging into social media or watching breaking headlines can put our brains into panic mode.
On the other hand, a good thing to practice is finding ways to lower cortisol. Waking up and either slowly stretching before getting out of bed or doing yoga is a good start. Getting up and going somewhere that you've designated as a "sacred space" and meditating can also have a lasting effect, but one that is more beneficial.
In the end, the way we start our day affects the whole day which can spill over into the week and set the ball in motion for the month and that can turn into a year. What are some small changes you can make in starting up your day? Try it for one morning and then a second one. See if the Rolling Stones were right when they sang, "If you start me up, I'll never stop..." Get a good start on your day and remember to be care-full.
Need some accountability in making new starts or changes? Contact me for a complementary Discovery Session and see if having me in your corner might be a great idea for 2023. I've got just a couple openings.
Happy Healthy Habit Hump Day,
