The Unglamorous Basics
TL;DR
The simple act of returning to the things that we know support, anchor, and ground us can be the catalyst for creating the conditions to not just survive each day, but to truly thrive.
A little peek inside the coaching room last week…
Client: “I’m actually getting closer to my goals. Shits getting real. And it’s scary.”
Me: “Yep, that tracks. So…what can help anchor you during this time?”
Client: “The unglamorous basics.”
And we went on to detail a plan to support her that included clarifying and then prioritizing her Unglamorous Basics list.
You know what we’re talking about, right?
The unsexy-boring-good-old-reliable-back-to-basics routines that when you make the time for them, you simply feel better inside. AKA, the obvious stuff:
drink water
feed yourself
take deep breaths
move your body
get enough sleep
Unglamorous for sure.
Basic? Definitely.
And yet…
You’d be surprised how much time I spend helping my clients get real about everything that’s in the way of them being able to prioritize these basics, so they can commit to returning to the ones that they need the most.
Here’s the key, though. Don’t take them all on at once!! In fact, that’s one of the traps so many of us fall into because we tell ourselves these are so basic we SHOULD be doing them ALL already all the time.
Nope. Sorry.
That’s an unfair expectation that I won’t allow you to hold for yourself.
We live in a time of constant distraction, constant working, constant worrying, constant parenting, constant doing, constant everything…it’s no wonder we lose sight of prioritizing these basics — they are boring to focus on!
But here’s the good news. You don’t have to be doing any of these things regularly or well at the moment, in order to know which ones need your attention the most right now.
All you need to do is get honest with yourself about what the unglamorous basics are that bring you back to YOU.
What belongs at the top of your list? I’m talking about your top 3, and leave it there if you can.
Now, a few tips as you consider yours.
Tip 1: Simplify the shit out of this list.
The more descriptive language and parameters and rules that exist with each item the less “basic” it will feel. You know your list is right when it is truly unglamorous and basic.
Water
Take breaks
Read before bed
Tip 2: What’s the right amount? I suggest 3-5.
For example:
Make bed
Journal
Stretch
Family Time
Skincare routine
If you go beyond 5 it will creep into To-Do List territory which is NOT what we are going for here.
Tip 3: Prioritize please. The order of your list matters, so figure out the best order for YOU.
They are all important, but does one lead to a better chance of the other one happening?
For me, I know the key to getting up earlier for my morning workout hinges on what time I go to sleep the night before. However, meditation has become so essential for me that even if I’m not well-rested and didn’t have time to move my body that day, I make sure I still find time to meditate. It’s one of my non-negotiables. So the order of my list looks like this:
Meditation
Sleep
Exercise
One final tip: Self-compassion will go a looooooong way here!
For the days when you may only have time to get to one item on your list, it’s good to know which is the most crucial to you. And this is personal, so don’t compare it to other people, here okayyyy? 😉
Meet yourself with kindness and remember although these are basics, they are not easy to get back into habit, so the more gentle you can be with yourself as you commit to this, the more likely you are to really benefit from this exercise.
The simple act of returning to the things that we know support, anchor, and ground us can be the catalyst for creating the conditions to not just survive each day, but to truly thrive.
So let’s cozy up to our Unglamorous Basics list and see what’s possible!