the struggle is real

Learning to Embrace Less

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For so long, I took so much pride in my “Xavier Girl” status of the person who can do it all (backwards and in heels… or with baby in carrier and juggling 8 other things…). I have written over and over about how the approval I sought in doing so much has led to a lifelong struggle with perfectionism. So it has been a difficult thing this year to give myself permission to do less Continue reading →

The Warm Up: It’s not Sexy but I am Finding it is Necessary

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Over the past month or so, while I’m between official “training seasons” and just trying to maintain a base level of fitness and stamina, one of the habits I have been working on is warming up and cooling down before and after each workout. I will admit that adding the cool down came pretty naturally to me. I can immediately feel the difference between when I bring my heart rate down gradually vs. coming to a dead stop. I also happen to really enjoy stretching and giving myself the excuse to do a post-run or post-strength stretch feels marvelous. It is also a time when my brain is riding high on endorphins and I can decompress and think about the work I just did. The warm up though? That is a totally different story… Continue reading →

Multitasking: How I Relapsed into Productivity Obsession and How I Recovered

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It was shortly after I became fully vaccinated (and was oh so grateful for that), that I began to relapse into some old behaviors that never lead to good mental health. Specifically, becoming OBSESSED with productivity and putting way too many things on my to-do list. Continue reading →