Track Your Sanity

How many times a day do you feel stressed? Here's a baseline for me:

- every time I read the news 
- every morning getting my kids out the door
- every time my kids fight with each other 
- every time I feel overscheduled
- every time I can't keep up with the housework
- every time I'm running late or in traffic
- every night scrambling to get the kids to bed on time.

That's seven or eight times a day minimum -- just counting the routine. When you add in meatier life issues and the collective weight of the world today, the number is far higher. (I know, I shouldn't let the small stuff get to me. I know, the kids will grow up, and I'll miss their fighting and mess. I'm trying.)

Now ask yourself: How many times a day do you take steps to relieve your stress? (Don't count drinking, social media scrolling, shopping, etc.) If you exercise or sit to meditate, good for you! Keep it up! But the answer is still ... one. If you exercise and meditate, maybe two. 

No one could possibly spend as much time relieving stress as accumulating it, but it's important to acknowledge the effect of stress that builds all day long. If you wake up and brush your teeth, then eat candy at every meal, you don't want to wait until the next morning to brush again. 

This is why I have become a big believer in the concept of microdosing when it comes to nervous system regulation. I have found that as little as 30 seconds to a minute can be enough for an energetic reset -- but it needs to be repeated frequently. 

As a gift for myself and each of you during this extraordinary moment in history, I have created what I'm calling the Sanity Tracker. You can download it for free here,  then print it out to keep yourself on track. At a minimum, I am suggesting that we all pause for at least one minute three times in our day to integrate:

- a few mindful breaths
- at least one movement that feels good in your body (especially after sitting or being on an electronic device for a prolonged period)
- a nervous system regulation technique, like humming or checking in with your five senses -- even eating mindfully counts. 

On the printable I give several suggestions for each category. You can also find free breathwork and movement break tutorials in my Instagram feed, and I hope my mom's breathing and meditation audios support you as well. 

Rinse, lather, repeat. Please let me know how it goes. 

Love,
Sara