Starting a new habit: my weekly blog
So, as we start a new week, I’m starting a new habit. Or at least, that’s the plan…
A weekly blog!
Who knows where these blogs will take me, but I’m going to give it a go. Follow along and watch this space!
The photo above was taken when we went to North Devon at the beginning of July. Every time we go away, I come home wanting to continue something from the holiday, a habit I’ve started, a different way of spending my mornings, or simply that slower holiday feeling.
It sounds good in theory. It’s not always quite so easy in practice!
This time, though, I discovered a love of the sea and early morning swims. Although, if I’m being completely honest, it was probably more of a splash about than a proper swim! Either way, I found it incredibly energising and natural.
I’m a morning person. I know that’s definitely not the case for everyone, but there’s something about starting the day quietly and getting outside that really works for me.
So, since coming home, I’ve started spending a few mornings each week doing yoga in the garden. I’m continuing with meditation and cold showers too, but I’ve added something new: visualisation.
As I stand (or shiver!) under the cold shower, I picture myself back in the sea at Croyde Beach, taking in the views around me. It’s a simple little habit, but it brings back that feeling of being outdoors, feeling energised and having nowhere else I need to be for that brief moment in time.
And perhaps that’s the thing I’m trying to take home from this particular holiday, not the holiday itself, but how it made me feel.
Perhaps the answer isn’t to try to recreate our holidays when we get home. After all, we’re not going to be swimming in the sea at Croyde every morning (as much as I’d like to!), and we still have work, washing, shopping, appointments and all the other things that make up everyday life.
Maybe it’s about taking one small part of that holiday feeling home with us.
For me, that’s been my mornings. I’m not spending an hour on the beach before breakfast, but I can get outside, move my body, take a few quiet minutes and start the day without immediately reaching for my phone.
And I’m finding that those little things make a difference.
We often set ourselves big goals and think we need to completely overhaul our routines to feel healthier. But perhaps we make it harder than it needs to be. Simplicity and consistency are key, as is frequently demonstarted in my monthly Feel Good Clubs.
What if instead we asked ourselves: “What made me feel good today, and how can I do a little more of that tomorrow?”
It could be movement, fresh air, better food, getting an earlier night, spending time with people you enjoy, or simply taking ten minutes for yourself.
You don’t need to change everything. Sometimes, one small habit is enough to get things moving in the right direction.
So that’s my first weekly blog, and my first little experiment in taking a bit of North Devon home with me.
What do you do on holiday that makes you feel really good, and could you bring a little bit of it into everyday life?
I’d love to know, particularly if sharing it will help with accountability.