Boring, Relentless Behaviors for the Win

[Getting yourself to bed at a reasonable hour, journaling, setting boundaries, scheduling doctor appointments, laundry, communicating even when it's uncomfortable, unplugging from screens, returning phone calls, therapy, cleaning out gutters, furnace maintenance, monitoring self-talk, weeding, exercise, meal prep. ]

All of these to-do's are sometimes fun or fulfilling, right? Or, depending on your perspective, boring and unglamorous. But hidden in these tasks are gifts: contributions to mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. Blood sugars are balanced, mental clarity shines, endorphins come out to play, and meaningful rest resets systems in our body.

I spend 30 minutes every 5 days or so prepping so that my meals can come together in under 4 minutes. Yesterday, I stacked these into my fridge: baked tofu, barbecue tempeh, roasted cauliflower, and sautéed mushrooms,

I use them to beef up salad kits, in rice bowls, over potatoes with a yummy sauce, in wraps, or in snacked on straight out of the container.

Whether I want to do them or not, the fact remains that my repeated (relentless, boring) behaviors build my habits. When I find myself resistant, I remind myself that someone, somewhere would give anything to have the freedom to make a doctor appointment. Someone, somewhere, would be thrilled to have the capability to exercise or sleep a full night through. I'm not trying to send myself on a guilt trip, but to ground myself in reality. I really am so lucky to have a gutter to clean out. I can afford groceries. I have a washing machine. I'll take boring and relentless any day over imprisoned, impoverished, or bound by circumstances outside of my control. When I broke my elbow, all I wanted to do was to be able to drive, to hike, to touch my face, and to get dressed by myself. And it's not like today I'm sitting at my computer thinking to myself: wow I can type! I can drive! I got dressed all by myself the morning! But I suspect a little more of energy might feel really really great. If you've perhaps had a rough few weeks, may I suggest that you tune into the boring things that helps you process big and small emotions, the activities that nourish and uplift, and remember the little ways you already know to keep yourself grounded. Get outside, get to bed on time, go for a walk, roast some veggies.

What boring, relentless behaviors are you committed to this week? How will you nourish yourself?