Written by Remi Bampton
Well, we have officially hit the mid-year slump. We are over halfway through the year, and I can feel we are all tired, stressed, and over it. So, I believe it is time for us to reset and refresh our routines, to break out of the mid-year funk!
To begin, I think it’s important to assess where we are with the intentions and goals we set for the year and see if any of our goals have been met or if there are any we no longer want to achieve anymore. By doing this, we can reassess what we want to include in our routines to make us more productive and establish those healthy habits that help relieve stress and promote overall wellbeing.
For me:
- A goal I have achieved: Running a 5k.
- A goal I want to discontinue/put on the backburner in winter is swimming. When I created this goal, it seemed like a good idea, but now it is not something that brings me joy.
- A goal I want to continue working towards: Eating healthy, clocking up 10k steps each day and drinking more water.
Creating a routine:
So, I now know what I want to include in my routine (eating healthily, clocking up 10k steps each day and drinking more water). I know that by completing these personal goals, I am working towards something that I want to achieve and something that motivates me to keep going.
By setting these intentions, I feel as though I am starting with a fresh canvas. To be honest, just typing this, I am beginning to feel excited about what the rest of the year possibly holds.
Creating a schedule:
The next step is figuring out the tasks I need to do. For example, the days I work, the days I have classes and need to schedule prework and the days I have other commitments. I like to create this in a spreadsheet with Excel or Canva, so I can visualise where I have spare time to begin implementing these activities.
For example, to stay healthy, I want to set aside time each week to grocery shopping and to walk 10k steps. So, by mapping where I have potential spare time, I am setting myself up for success, aiming to break the cycles that don’t bring me joy, make me stressed and tired.
Hence, by resetting and refreshing our routines with our goals and intentions, we begin to break the cycles that cause stress and fatigue. We can overcome that general ‘over it’ feeling that occurs mid-year, by engaging in activities that support our wellbeing, fill our cups with joy, and help us stay on top of our work, uni and other commitments.
Charlie blog is a SSAF initiative.
