The week I write this post, I am in a place where I feel outdated and very out of my body. I think that part of this is that I continue to feel exhausted after a very busy social summer. Another is that our children adapt to school and that I support them and their emotions throughout the process. Another is that we are not yet in a calendar where we have help after school with children. I have a cerebral fog, I procrastinate and I am unable to make decisions as quickly as usual.
Does that seem familiar to someone else?
When I feel overwhelmed and out so that, there are a few little practices that always help me to connect to myself again. None is revolutionary, in itself, but they can be easy to forget when you are in this kind of increased state. I share them today in the hopes that they are useful to anyone else who feels the same.
Small practices that help when I feel outdated
1. Take an ice pack
When I start to have panicked feelings, I put a bag of ice on my chest for a few minutes. The feeling helps me focus on the present moment. There is something in this very tangible act that helps so much when I feel panicked or as if I was in full flight mode.
2. Move my body
When I really feel low or not motivated, it generally means that I have to move my body. A short and fast walk is often everything I need to feel better. Sometimes I'm even going to dress for a race Without the pressure of having To go run. I will start by walking, and if the race looks like something that would feel good, I will do it, even if it is only for thirty seconds.
3. Make a body scan
It is a really useful and intentional way to check what I feel. Sometimes I will do this in any position in which I am already – whether it is standing or seated – and sometimes I will lie down. I mentally scratch my body, of my toes at the top of my head, noticing where I feel tight and where there is a locked energy which must be released.
4. Create my own version of a safe space
When I feel overwhelmed, I sometimes like to put classical music and put away whatever the space in which I am at the moment. I will choose a small area – whether in my office, my room or my kitchen – and spend a few minutes to put it away. This little act gives me the impression of having a safe space to be simply present.
5. Do what makes me feel the most at home
I wonder, When I feel most at home? Then, I make a granular list – the one that is personal for me – and acts on one of these things. It could be as simple as opening a window to feel a connection outside or it might be to call a friend.
Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning to play tennis and is forever Test the limits of his creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @WitandDeLight_.
