I was intentional
/So my energy at work has been off for the past 2-3 weeks. If I’m being hone-st, it may have been longer. Since we returned from our mid-winter break, I HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING. Coming to work has been an absolute drag. It’s been a struggle to collaborate with other teams, feeling like we’ve been fighting an uphill battle that we aren’t going to win—at least that has been my perspective.
Times like these can easily put you in a space where you end up with a depressed mood, spend lengthy amount of times sleeping or in bed or even just feel like you’re in a funk. If it weren’t for Aiden, blogging, event planning and collaborating outside of work, I would be in that state. It really ties into your passion and what drives you. What drives me daily to come to work: my students. What drives me daily to stay up and write and plan: my readers and supporters. What drives me daily to be the best, mindful mom I can be: Aiden and all of the black boy joy he carries.
This post came to me like an epiphany. On Monday, I struggled. I struggled to have the energy. I struggled to complete work. I struggled to stay awake, while at work. Not only did the time change kick my butt (I wasn’t prepared for it to happen), but it definitely carried over. Aiden struggled when we got home. He struggled to eat, although he said he was hungry. He just didn’t want to agree. So I distracted him until it was bedtime. Finally, when 7:00PM neared, he asked for muffins (instead of the ziti that he loves and refused to eat). I gave him his little pack of Entemanns and put him to bed. He went willingly (making me think daylight savings time threw him for a loop, too).
Immediately after, I went to my room, turned off the light and got into bed. I allowed myself to watch a few episodes of Game of Thrones (yes, I’m re-bingeing the full series for the 5th or 6th time in preparation) until I grew tired enough to fall asleep.
So many nights in weeks prior, I have fallen asleep with the TV or lights on and it is so disruptive. I would have interrupted sleep consequently and who knows how much that was contributing to my struggle days at work. With this ‘reset’ of sorts, I was intentional. I intentionally turned off the TV. I intentionally turned off the light. I intentionally put my child to bed early, so he could get some much needed rest.
On Tuesday morning, my body woke me up 10 minutes before my alarm. I was thankful for this. The days where I wake up at my alarm are tough. Up until Tuesday morning, I was taking a while to get out of bed, taking a while to get it together before Aiden wakes up and then rushing to shower to beat his clock. None of this was productive or intentional.
This Tuesday; however, I woke up and I got up. I was intentional. I made sure that I poured my large mason jar full of water. I washed the dishes in silence—no music, no podcast. This was my way of being mindful about how I was feeling, thinking about my thoughts, focusing on the task I was doing and setting my intentions for the day. I made a cup of coffee and drank it right then and there. I prepared my tea for my arrival at work. I reminded myself to order breakfast through UberEats (because I didn’t give myself enough time to prep breakfast or meal prep at all) after I dropped Aiden at daycare, so that it would arrive to work by 7:40—and guess what, it did. This gave me enough time to eat before first period and be prepared for only 1 kid to show up to group (it is what it is—we take our wins and losses). I texted the social workers and asked them to set their intentions for today. I set my own intentions for today: I will be FOCUSED, ENERGIZED, PRODUCTIVE. I am doing just that. I went into work focused and feeling very goal-directed. I made a plan for each aspect of my day: work, errands, home. Shopping lists for the store, as I intend to leave the building and TAKE A BREAK from the hustle of the school day.
Naming my intentions allowed me to set the tone for my day and carry that energy from start to finish.
For this Wellness Wednesday post, I want you to realize that you can manifest your day by setting your intention. I focused on the Spiritual, Social, Environmental, Emotional, Occupational and Intellectual domains of wellness. Click here to check out the domains here to get a basis of what I’m talking about. This is my approach to life, counseling, everything.