Back to School

My husband is a teacher, and I spent so many years in school, and with kids going back to school, that late August will always feel like "back to school" time. We also have a lot of late August birthdays in our family. Right about now I start longing for more structure, fewer parties, more vegetables, fewer cocktails, more yoga, fewer late nights. Don't get me wrong: I love our summers of fun! It's just time for a correction. I know I am not alone in this shift! I am a big fan of self-care routines- which I didn't realize were a "thing" these days. There are so many different ways we can "add health" to our daily routines it can easily become overwhelming. One way I manage the overwhelm is to make short term commitments to a routine- 30-40 days- and then re-evaluate. Do I love it? How do I feel? Did I notice a difference? Is it sustainable? Do I want to keep going or start a new routine? My plan: 40 days of the same Kundalini kriya

New supplement routine focusing on immune support: Daily Nutrient Pack, extra Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Olive   Leaf, Reishi mushroom

In bed by 10 pm (or earlier)

Morning/Evening journaling using the structure of the 5 minute journal plus some exercises from Lynda Barry's   Syllabus (which is my latest obsession)

Did you notice... one of my philosophies of health is that it is easier/better/more effective to ADD health to the system rather than take things AWAY. Notice I did NOT say, I'm going to cut out all sweets, alcohol etc. Or do an elimination diet. Or say NO to all social invitations. But the focus of my routine will help me find my way back to feeling centered, good in my body, rested, energized, all those things that naturally lead to making better decisions about when and how much to indulge.

I got the idea of a 30 day new "routine" from my niece Amelia when she was living in Portland, and also from Gretchen Rubin's book The Happiness Project, which is also a great read and wonderful resource for embracing new healthier habits.

I'd love to hear about any "back to school" changes in routine that are working for you!