Remembering to Feed Your Spirit
Lately I've been hearing one word more often than others: balance. "I want my life to be balanced this year. I want balance at home, at work, with my loved ones, my friends, my health." When we say we want balance, what we really mean is we want less friction. We want things to feel easier.
Finding balance in life is like riding a bike. Depending on the situation, you shift your weight back and forth to stay upright. Some areas need more weight and attention than others depending on the season. You're shifting your balance every single day, even when you're not aware of it.
But here's what I don't pay enough attention to: my spirit. Do you remember Oprah's old segment called "Remembering Your Spirit"? She dedicated years to this topic because it matters. Your spirit matters because you matter. Caring for yourself in a tender, loving way is some of the greatest work you'll ever do—for yourself and for the people around you who love you.
Once a Day: Go for a Walk
Every single day? Yes, every day. This is easier if you have a dog or live somewhere with nice weather, but walking changes things. My friends who hike have a saying: "No one ever leaves the woods mad." They can go into the woods frustrated, but at some point it shifts. By the time they emerge, they feel better about the world.
There's something about getting outside the four walls of your home or workplace that literally shifts your perspective. Your brain can't help it. Even if it's just for ten minutes, try to get in a walk. Pop in an audiobook or a new Spotify playlist to sweeten the deal if you need motivation.
When you lace up your shoes and get outside, you give your eyes a visual cue that something is changing. You're taking yourself somewhere else physically, and your brain follows along. This simple daily practice feeds your spirit without requiring major time or planning.
Once a Week: Do Something Restorative
Once a week, pencil in a quiet, restorative activity on a free day. Try it for an hour and see how you feel afterward. This could be reading a book for pleasure, taking a long bath, working in your garden, painting, or anything that fills you up.
The key is consistency. When you build this into your planner routine, it becomes a non-negotiable part of your week rather than something that only happens when life magically slows down (which, let's be honest, is never).
If you try something and it doesn't feel restorative, try something else next week. You never know when you'll fall in love with your next favorite weekly ritual. The point isn't perfection—it's creating regular space to nurture yourself.
Once a Month: Take Yourself on a Date
Once a month, carve out at least a few hours to give yourself breathing room. Something you can look forward to, even when your calendar looks like a dumpster fire. You need this. Your mental and emotional health are worth a few hours a month to do something that brings you the lightness and joy you felt as a kid at the playground.
This doesn't have to be expensive. Take a cooking class, a Bob Ross painting class, or pottery. Enroll at the local community college for that shop class you've always wanted to try. Book an Airbnb experience in your own city. Volunteer at a community garden. Join a choir. Take yourself to HomeGoods for clearance shopping.
Go on a hike at a nearby state park. Plan a trip to somewhere you've never been—even if it feels out of budget now, there's something powerful about planning and figuring out how to save a little each month. Go to the good grocery store across town with the delicious cheeses and spices your regular store doesn't carry.
Building Balance Through Weekly Planning
These three routines—daily walks, weekly restoration, and monthly dates—work best when you integrate them into your approach to staying organized as a busy mom. When you sit down for weekly planning, block time for all three.
Put your daily walk on the calendar. Schedule your weekly restorative activity like any other appointment. Mark your monthly date before the month fills up with everything else. When these rhythms live in your planner, they're more likely to actually happen.
Finding balance starts with you. It starts from within. When you feed your spirit regularly, you have more capacity to be kind and patient with others. You slow down to notice beauty, and it brings you more joy. This isn't selfish—it's essential.
Remember: you're allowed to keep learning. You're allowed to make mistakes. You're allowed to take care of yourself. That's not too much. That's exactly what you need to thrive in this season.
