At the beginning of most yoga classes, the instructor will give students a message and no matter what the topic of the day is, it almost always includes one piece of direction: set your intention for the practice.
I’ve always really connected with that…it’s the same reason that I write out daily to-do lists at work. I don’t always get every item completed, but at least I have a roadmap for working toward my goals.
Often, my yoga intention is very simple — perhaps a reminder to breathe deeply or to listen to the music instead of my inner monologue. Sometimes, I set a more challenging intention — to attempt handstand or to hold a position for 5 seconds longer than I want to.
These days, with a 2-week-old to take care of, I find these daily intentions to be crucial. My days are a blur of diaper changes, feedings, spit-ups, car rides and other mundane (fulfilling in their own way, absolutely) tasks. I have only put on “real” pants twice in two weeks, rock a ponytail almost 24/7 and have put aside my own needs for this sweet little girl’s.
So to help myself feel like I have accomplished things even on a difficult day, I set some basic, attainable goals:
- Keep Kid Alive
- Eat Three Meals
- Drink Lots of Water
- Write 3 Thank You Cards
- Do a Load of Laundry
- Answer Emails
That might be the list for a full day, and I still might not get to everything. What needs to slide, slides. Especially these days, I’m very forgiving of myself (if my baby falls asleep on my chest, cooing and stroking my skin, you can BET I’m settling in for a nice long snuggle, dishes be damned).
I actually say my intentions out loud, often to Audrey or my dogs. I feel like going on record with my goals helps me remember them. And I hope that you can — baby or other job — find some peace in the same.
What’s your intention today?
About Katy
I like your #1 Intention! I can’t even imagine how much of a blur the first few weeks are with a newborn!
I’m all for to-do lists and intentions. In yoga for me, it’s often about releasing something – tension in my mind or body, stress, negative thoughts, etc. And “keep the kid alive” made me laugh – I’m VERY happy you’ve been able to make that happen everyday.
Take time to relax when the baby is sleeping, too, Katy. It will only get more hectic from here on out!
My intention for today is to do as much as I can on disposition of estate items and get our deck cleared in anticipation of higher winds this afternoon! Love you!
Aww, memories with that picture!
Intention: work, finish thank you notes. Wog it out. Sleep!
My intention is to stay attuned to my body’s needs and give it grace & love.
Thanks for the reminder about keeping lists! I used to do this all the time when I worked in an office, but now that I work at home, I tend to not keep up with my to-do lists.
Love your #1 intention
I think there is something really powerful about saying things out loud!! I have started dong what is called the Sacred 6 and that helps me really focus on what is absolutely the most important to accomplish and yes I put things like “clean eating” on it some days because that is most important that day
I see showering didn’t make the list — I guess that explains the ponytails.