Tag: daily routines

  • Unlearning the Urge to Rush

    Unlearning the Urge to Rush

    ✨ Hey, hi, hello! Happy Wednesday!

    Yesterday’s therapy appointment went really well. I learned more about what our sessions will look like going forward — how we’ll approach things as they come up, how we’ll communicate, and how we’ll co-create this healing process. She gave me a few handouts for reference, and honestly? It felt fun to get a little nerdy together and lean into learning.

    After therapy, I headed to Costco for my little “present and mindful” field trip… and it went GREAT. I found almost everything I needed, I didn’t get overwhelmed, and I got in and out with zero panic. That is a huge win for me.

    When I got home, I put everything away, made myself some dinner, and waited for Heath to get home. We spent a cozy night together — one episode of Great British Baking Show, then reading side-by-side on the couch before winding down for bed. Pure comfort.


    🌅 This Morning Felt Different — In the Best Way

    Last night, I got myself into bed on time. I still struggled to fall asleep (my brain loves to party), but I honored my routine anyway. And this morning… I felt more on track than I have in a while.

    My alarm went off and instead of the usual groan of “ugh, already?” — I just stretched, snuggled the dogs for a minute, and got up. I stepped outside for a few minutes of sunlight, then came back in for morning pages, affirmations, breakfast shake, and supplements. After that, I got dressed and headed to the chiropractor.

    Slow, steady, grounded. It felt good.


    ⚡️ The Constant Urge to Rush — and Undoing It

    Something I’m actively working on right now is my lifelong habit of rushing… through everything.

    Brushing my teeth. Making breakfast. Reading a book. Cleaning the house. Watching a show. Doing yoga. Even resting.

    There’s this relentless voice in my head saying:

    “Go! Go! Go! Faster! Faster! Faster!”

    Heart racing. Jaw clenched. Muscles tight. Breath shallow.
    Even when there’s no urgency, my body behaves like something terrible is chasing me.

    So I’m learning to catch myself in those moments — to pause, breathe deeply, and remind myself:

    “I am safe. Nothing is chasing me. This can take as long as it takes.”

    This morning, I intentionally slowed down while getting ready.
    No frantic energy. No rushing. No panicked clock-checking.

    And leaving the house actually felt… calm.


    🚨 A Little Dog Drama

    About halfway to my chiropractor appointment, I got a notification that the back door had opened — the house alarm was going off.

    My stomach dropped.

    Then I remembered:
    If the back door isn’t locked, the boys can let themselves out. (Too smart for their own good.)

    I turned the alarm off from my phone and called Heath, panicking a little. He checked the cameras and confirmed it was just the dogs doing their thing. We agreed: I’d still go to my appointment and then head straight home.

    So I skipped my original plans of going to the coffee shop after (tomorrow’s treat!) and went straight back home drove back after the appointment instead.

    The boys were SO proud of themselves, completely unaware of the chaos they caused. Honestly… thank goodness they’re so cute.


    🌿 Rest, Reading, and Beatles

    The rest of my afternoon was slow and restorative.

    I tried reading a little bit of my newest fantasy read, A Winter’s Promise, but my brain felt scattered. Instead of forcing it, I curled up on the couch and let myself rest — half nap, half meditation, all peaceful.

    No shame. No “shoulds.”
    Just quiet.

    When I felt ready, I made a Mediterranean chopped salad (my current obsession) and then got on the walk pad for my 45 minutes.

    While I walked, I started Get Back on Disney+ — the Beatles documentary. After finishing Shout! the other day, I knew it was time for a rewatch. Watching them create songs out of thin air is magic. Pure magic.


    🗺 Planning My Guthrie Reset Trip

    After my walk, I finally sat down to plan something I’ve been wanting to do for a while: a solo overnight trip to Guthrie next week.

    If you know me, you know Guthrie is my happy place — the preserved Victorian architecture, the history, the slower pace, the memories tied to my ancestors and our wedding… it feels like home.

    I booked an Airbnb, messaged a couple of friends up there, and started planning my little itinerary:

    • Breakfast at my favorite spot
    • Walks around downtown
    • Visiting familiar faces
    • Solo writing time
    • A nice steak dinner
    • Rest, reflection, inspiration

    I can’t even tell you how excited I am.


    🌙 Tonight’s Plan

    For the rest of the day, I’m staying on theme: slow, intentional, restorative.

    A moderate yoga practice along with some piano practice as well.
    Some reading or more of Get Back.
    No rushing.
    No forcing.
    Just presence and ease.

    It might be simple, but honestly?

    That’s the kind of life I’ve always wanted.


    💬 Let’s Talk

    What’s one small thing you do (or want to do) to help yourself slow down and be more present in your day?


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    Love always, Bailz 💜

  • ✨ Finding the Quiet Kind of Good ✨

    ✨ Finding the Quiet Kind of Good ✨

    Hey, hi, hello! Happy Tuesday!

    I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to talk about today, but I knew I wanted to show up. I’ve been wanting to get back into the rhythm of posting every other day—if not daily—and the only way to do that is to simply begin. So here we are, letting the words reveal themselves as they come.


    🌙 A Night Out & a Small but Honest Lesson

    This weekend, Heath and I got dressed up and went out to a lovely dinner at Wicked Butcher in downtown Fort Worth. The whole experience felt luxurious—perfectly crafted dishes, top-tier service, and even cucumber-infused water that tasted like spa-day elegance in a glass.

    When we arrived, I slipped off to the restroom to freshen up. By the time I returned, there were two glasses of complimentary champagne at our table—courtesy of the reservation note saying we were celebrating our (belated) wedding. It was a beautiful gesture.

    I hesitated. And then I made a decision: life is for living, and I wanted to celebrate us. So I toasted with Heath and enjoyed the small glass of champagne.

    After that, I stuck to mocktails (a fresh blackberry lemonade that was chef’s kiss) and water.

    Later that night, though, I woke up with spiraling anxiety over absolutely nothing. My muscles were clenched, my breath shallow, my mind sprinting like it was running in circles in the dark.

    That tiny bit of alcohol—that tiny bit—still affected me.

    Here’s what I realized afterward:

    • I don’t regret the moment. It was lovely.
    • But even a small amount is too much for my system.
    • Going forward, I’m done with alcohol entirely.

    Not from shame. Not from punishment. But from self-respect. Alcohol simply isn’t worth the cost to my nervous system or my peace.


    🧘‍♀️ Moving My Body, Loving My Body

    The past few days have gently brought me back into my movement routines. I’m walking daily on the walk pad and doing yoga every day—and it feels GOOD. Not dramatic, not performative. Just good.

    Some days I move fast. Some days I move slow. Some days it’s a long yoga flow. Some days it’s 10 minutes.

    But movement is movement. Showing up is showing up. And I’m proud of every version of myself that steps onto the mat or walk pad.


    😴 Sleep Schedule Chaos (And a Loving Reset)

    Sleep has been a little chaotic. Staying up later has made my whole routine slide later—breakfast, lunch, dinner, and my nighttime wind-down. Everything shifts together like dominoes, and I feel the effects.

    Last night, I stayed up way past my bedtime finishing Shout! I was so entranced that I didn’t even realize the time until I closed the book and saw it was past midnight.

    So this morning, I let myself sleep in to compensate. Tonight, the goal is to get back on my 9–9:15 bedtime and lights out by 10.

    Structure can be loving. Flexibility can be loving, too. I’m learning to hold both.


    💜 Therapy & Solo Costco Adventures

    I have therapy this afternoon and I’m excited. Last time, I walked in feeling drained, so we spent the hour getting me grounded again. Today, we’re diving into new tools and practices to help me step deeper into authenticity—my biggest long-term goal.

    After therapy, I’m doing my first solo Costco run in years, and honestly? I’m thrilled. I plan to walk each aisle slowly and treat the whole thing like a mindfulness exercise instead of a chaotic errand.


    🌤️ The Quiet Kind of Good

    Today, I feel good—not energized, not buzzing, not high on productivity. Just quietly calm. The kind of good I think I’ve been searching for my whole life. The kind that measures worth not by output but by inner softness.

    I could do a few chores around the house today, and I might. But I don’t have to. I am certainly not going to force them.

    Whatever version of today unfolds, I will choose it intentionally and without pressure.


    💬 Your Turn!

    What’s one small, gentle thing you’ve done for yourself recently that brought you a sense of calm or peace?


    ✨ Want More Posts Like This?

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    Love always,
    Bailz 💜

  • ✨ Not Perfect—Just Practicing: A Tuesday of Realignment ✨

    Hey, hi, hello! Happy Tuesday!

    I’ve been struggling a bit to figure out what I want to say today. Once again, I’m trying to find my balance after a busy, social weekend — and trying my best to do it with grace.

    I’ve fallen into a pattern lately: I thrive during the week because I’m sticking to my routines, and then the weekend comes… and everything goes out the window. I did a better job giving myself rest between events this time, but I still struggled to maintain my movement routines. And over the last few weeks, I’ve learned something important:

    My daily walks and yoga are not optional. They are non-negotiable if I want to stay centered.

    I can be doing everything else — my morning pages, my nutrition, my hydration — but if I let my intentional movement slip, I find myself struggling sooner rather than later.


    🌞 Getting Back on Track

    Today I’m focusing on getting myself back on track, and honestly? It feels pretty good. I’m definitely still tired and dragging a bit, but the work is invaluable, so I’m pushing through.

    I started by getting out of bed within minutes of my alarm going off, even though every cell in my body was begging me to stay asleep. But consistency means waking up on time even when nothing on my schedule forces me to — so I did it.

    Next, I stepped outside for five quiet, distraction-free minutes of direct sunlight to reset my circadian rhythm. Just me, the dogs, deep breaths, gentle stretching, and early morning light.

    Then I sat down and did my morning pages and affirmations. After that, I made my breakfast shake and tried to start this blog post.


    🧘‍♀️ When the Words Won’t Come

    Writing felt weird this morning — like I was saying too much and not enough at the same time. Nothing felt aligned. My voice felt muddy. And then, out of nowhere, I got intense tension on the left side of my neck.

    It was like my body grabbed my attention and said, “Hey… the words aren’t blocked — you are.”

    So I listened.

    I closed my laptop, finished my shake, changed clothes, and rolled out my yoga mat. I did two Yoga With Adriene videos for the neck and upper body, and with each stretch I could feel myself dropping back into my body. My breath deepened. My shoulders softened. My mind quieted.

    When I tried to write again… nope. Still blocked.

    So I closed my laptop again, put on my sneakers, turned on the newest episode of The Mel Robbins Podcast, and hopped on the walk pad for my usual 45 minutes. With every step, I could feel myself coming home to myself again.

    Afterward, I showered and got dressed for the day.


    🌀 Therapy Round Two

    Today I also have my second appointment with my new therapist, and I’m really looking forward to it. Last week was mostly introductions — the real work starts today.

    Last week she asked what my 3-month goals were, what “success” would look like. I wasn’t sure at the time, so I gave myself space to think about it. Here’s what I came up with:

    • ✨ Find purpose — motivation for each day
    • ✨ Build more independence
    • ✨ Worry less about what others think
    • ✨ Fall asleep easier and faster
    • ✨ Feel more confident overall

    💜 Gentle, Not Lenient

    Today doesn’t feel glamorous — but it does feel important.

    I’m honoring my routines. I’m honoring my progress. I’m honoring the promises I’ve made to myself.

    I’m also learning what “being gentle with myself” actually means.

    In the moment, it’s easy to say, “I’m tired, skipping my walk is self-care.” It feels gentle. It sounds gentle. But it often pulls me further away from balance.

    Real gentleness means care, attention, and affection — even when I’m tired, even when I’ve lost my footing, even when I’ve made a mistake.

    I’m reparenting myself — and it’s messy, but meaningful. I’m showing up on the good days, the bad days, and the blah days because I know I’m worth the effort.

    This isn’t about perfection. I’m not trying to wake up someday and never stumble again. The goal is to love and nurture myself through the stumbles, not in spite of them.

    The more I keep going, the easier it becomes to find my center after a misstep. And with every stumble, I learn something valuable.

    I’m not failing — I’m learning. And that is the most important part.


    💬 Your Turn

    What helps you find your balance again after you’ve lost it? I’d truly love to hear.


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    Love always,
    Bailz 💜