It’s true in fitness and in life: fail to plan, plan to fail. But what happens when your plan is a little “off”? When life throws you a curveball you didn’t plan on? When the goings-on of your day-to-day matters leave you feeling flustered, unmotivated, and overwhelmed?
It’s OK to take a step back.
It’s OK to let go.
It’s OK to release responsibility from yourself for a while.
“Self-care” is a trendy buzzword these days, and there’s a reason why. We have access to more knowledge than ever before—but we’re still only human. Taking care of ourselves inside and out is vital for staying our best.
When you’re feeling overwhelmed or tired, don’t feel guilty for taking a step back to reassess your priorities. Let go of “busy” and embrace the present moment. Breathe, trust, and let go.
Take time away from to-do lists and goals to embrace some self-care. This can be in the form of journaling, nourishing your skin and body, napping, or treating yourself to something special. Take yourself on an adventure with a weekend trip, walk in the park, or eating at a new restaurant. Connect with yourself to remind yourself what’s really important, and let go of the little things.
Let go of your expectations of yourself. Don’t feel guilty if you skipped one workout or overate at dinner. Don’t punish yourself for failing to journal at night like you wanted.
When it comes to larger goals, remember that no one is on a real timeline. You don’t have to own a home to be successful, or have certain possessions or reach arbitrary milestones to be “on track” in life.
Let go of expectations to experience true freedom within yourself.