Daily Rituals

"Listen to your body" is something we hear time and time again. There is so much truth to it! With every year that passes, I learn to recognize my body's cues more easily. I've learned that not taking care of one part of my life will affect the other parts... not enough sleep turns to making poor eating decisions. Poor eating decisions turns to not feeling well, physically or mentally, because I'm not fueling my body with the nutritious food that it needs.

I fully admit that this past week has been a doozy, and I have not taken care of myself in the ways I know I need to operate efficiently. This got me thinking about the every day things, the daily rituals, that make me feel my best:

1. A minimum of 7 hours of sleep, preferably more. You better believe I try to get the "preferably more" on the weekend, despite reports that we should all be getting up at the same time every day! I think whoever decided that did not usually rise at 5:30am.

2. Coffee and breakfast, alone, in quiet, with my laptop, before the kids get up.

3. Quality time with my kids and my husband. Putting down devices and focusing on them.

4. Nutritious meals and snacks. Not overindulging.

5. Lots and lots of water. When I am consciously treating my body right, I can easily down 4 bottles of water before Noon. It makes all the difference in the world. I'm less hungry and I think more clearly. Do not under-estimate the power of water.

6. Connecting with close friends via FB and texting a few times each day.

7. Reading the newspaper. Yep, I'm old school. I love having the newspaper delivered and reading it every day over lunch.

8. Moving around a lot! I am happiest when I am up and about doing things, taking walks, doing yoga.

9. Getting outside. Sunlight, fresh air. Need I say more?

10. Ending my day with a few chapters from the book I'm currently reading.

All of the above make for the happiest, best version of me.

What are the daily rituals that keep you running at your best?