Day 38: Find your Rhythm

I was at a silent meditation retreat when the babe was a tiny flutter in the belly, and one of the teachers said, and I paraphrase here,"Routine is the key to contentment." I tried to find this same idea much more eloquently stated on the internet this morning, and discovered there are many quotes dealing with routine, but most platitudes suggest routine is boring and a life suck.

As someone who has always struggled to create a routine, but benefits immensely from it, I honor my teacher's words. For me, it is the routines of healthy habits that make sure I get to them. It is so easy to skip even the shortest meditation, or warmest shower, or most delicious stretch, because of the perceived effort of it all. But when it just becomes something I do each day, at the same time, in the same place, I no longer have to expend effort to convince myself it is worthy.

This baby, of course, has thrown a wicked wrench in my already low capability to create these routines. But I am slowly trying to reintroduce them, with flexibility. I wake up, leave the baby and go shower, brush my teeth, head downstairs and put the coffee on. I squeeze in a gentle yoga video (check out Yoga with Adriene: 20-30 minute videos perfect for this.) when she's sleeping during her morning nap. I choose close my eyes and come to my breath while she's nursing.

I prefer the term rhythm to routine, because it suggests a little more ease and organic movement than rigid discipline. It also allows me to bend it as I need to, and sleep in if we've had a particularly hungry nipple goblin kind of night.

I invite you to see what minor care routines you can add to your day that will help nourish you. Make them habits. And enjoy.