I would love to be a person with clear routines that make me happy, healthy and efficient. And I would love to be the kind of person who gets up early every morning to do yoga. But I’m not.
Last year was a year of change – a new country, new flat, new co-living with my partner, new job, new everything. It was all very exciting but what I didn’t quite manage was new routines, since everything kept changing and I needed time to settle in. So I had hoped for 2018 to be the year of routines. But we’re now half way through the year and I’m not quite there yet. I’m managing some routines for shorter periods of time but they’re not quite sticking. And I’m guessing I’m not alone in this.
One aim for the year was the routine of doing yoga, ideally daily, even just for a short practice, but even though I’ve been going through phases of sticking to it, I’ve been struggling over the last couple of months. Even though it’s always worth it, and even though it makes me happier and healthier. Why is that?
There are of course all sorts of psychological answers to this, but I guess the solution is just to decide to do it. To make up my mind and just do it. No one else will do it for me.
Tomorrow is International Day of Yoga so I’m using it as an excuse to (once again) kick off this routine. With summer holidays coming up I feel it’s a good time to get into the habit of actually taking the time – even if it’s just a few sun salutations. Wish me luck!
(In the image above, the yoga mat is an eco-friendly one from prAna, the pants are made from recycled polyester by Röhnisch, and the candle is one from the organic yoga series by Hing, made in northern Sweden.)