Let's get real about wellness routines and self-care.

Believe me, I get it. Balancing the classroom and home-life, the never-ending to-do lists, and the hustle and bustle of the school year can leave you feeling like there's barely any time for even your most basic needs - let alone a Wellness Routine. But that's precisely why we need to talk about self-care and wellness routines.

Think of a wellness routine as a promise you make to yourself. It’s a daily practice of self-care that can help you feel better, look better, and be more present in your own life. It's not a sporadic endeavor; it's a daily commitment, even if it starts with just 15 minutes. Plus, when you keep promises to yourself, it boosts your overall confidence.

Consider the constant juggling act in your life – the emails, texts, meetings, lessons, appointments, after-school activities, and other miscellaneous commitments that often leave you feeling stretched thin. It doesn't have to be that way, if fact it shouldn’t! I know the trap of sacrificing your “me time” to get more work done, but ultimately all that does is make you less productive because it depletes your energy moving forward. 

You CAN craft a highly efficient routine that leaves your body relaxed, your mind clear, your spirit calm, and your brain firing on all cylinders, without requiring any Herculean effort. In fact, I highly recommend having two routines: a short one and a long one. 

Here’s what my short 15 - 30 minute wellness routine looks like this: 

1. Water and coffee with my partner 

2. A brisk walking meditation with my furry friend listening to a podcast.

This is the one is the bare minimum. I make sure I get at least this every day no matter what. These 15 minutes, usually chunked into two separate chunks, are the promise I make and keep to myself. The trick to intentionally do something for your mind, body, and spirit. Bonus if an activity serves more than one at a time. It’s more about the intentionality of caring for yourself daily than the total amount of time you spend. 

Honestly most days I manage a 30-minute walk with my buddy, but I’ve been self-employed for going on 4 years and worked up to that.

Now, here's my long, luxurious 60 - 90 minute routine:

1. Water and coffee with my partner

2. Read and journal

3. Yoga

4. Meditation

5. A refreshing walk with my furry friend

6. Spa-like shower

This routine I’m lucky to be able to do 1-2 times a month, and it’s wonderful when I can manage it. But it’s less about what you do than it is about doing something to care for your mind, body, and spirit daily. It's all about establishing healthy habits and sticking to them. That's what transforms you into an unstoppable force for good.

Now, I won't sugarcoat it – sticking to a wellness routine can be challenging, especially when you're in the throes of a busy teacher's life. That's where the short routine comes to the rescue. It's your lifeline on those hectic days, and that’s what helps you keep the promise to yourself. The real magic comes from making yourself a constant priority on your own to-do list.

Once you create a daily practice of caring for yourself as passionately as you care for others, you'll become a better, more energized version of yourself. You'll have the vitality to tackle not just your must-do tasks, but perhaps even more importantly, you’ll have the energy for the things and people you LOVE to do too.