It’s time for our 12 week back-to-school series! We’ll be exploring simple, gentle routines to help us settle into calm and contentment before the busy-ness of the holiday season arrives.
Each week in this series, I’ll be posting a few thoughts, along with 3 levels of challenges for the week:
- 101 (tiny habit): the smallest step to build consistency.
- 201 (step up): a little more effort when you’re up for it.
- Extra Credit: giving space for reflection.
There’s no grades and no bullies allowed in this school, just gentle encouragement and real life stories. Let’s get started!
Week One: Homeroom (the bedroom)
A couple years ago I was in a bad place with my health. I struggled to find the energy to make it through the day. I knew exercise was important to my overall health, but I could barely find the strength to stay awake at work, much less find the time and energy to add regular workouts to my life.
After reading James Clear’s fabulous book, Atomic Habits, I came up with a plan. I was going to meet myself where I was, and find something so small I could commit to it every single day without requiring noticeable time, energy, preparation, or mental capacity. I needed something I could promise myself that I would show up to every day and follow through.
I decided to go microscopic. I asked: What is the absolute smallest thing I can commit to every day, no matter how tired I am?
2 minutes of yoga.
Before even getting out of bed in the morning.
That was it.
For literally 2 minutes every morning when I woke up, I would cat/cow my body and stretch myself gently, then go about the rest of the day.
That commitment gave me two minutes to focus, stretch and remind myself to care for my body – and to prove to myself that I was going to keep showing up, every day.
Just like those two minutes of yoga, we’re going to commit to two minutes of work in our ‘homerooms’ every day this week. 2 minutes to promise ourselves that we will show up every day and follow through.
We’re going to start in our ‘homerooms’ (our bedrooms) because we’re going for the simple, the everyday, and the small changes that will help us, relax, settle in, and enjoy our house, and supporting the environments we rest in is so important to that process.
Ready for your Homeroom Homework assignments?
Level 101: You’re literally going to put one thing away. Pick a time you are already in your bedroom. Maybe when you first wake up? Or tie it to when you brush your teeth or put on pajamas at night. Choose a time, morning or night, that you can commit to consistently.
Every day, pick up one thing near your bed and put it away. Or set a two-minute timer and see how much you can put away before the timer goes off.
Up for a little more?
Level 201: make your bed
Set a stop watch and make your bed. See how long it takes you. For me, my magic number is 90 seconds. That’s the balance of how many blankets and pillows I want on my bed with how long I’m willing to spend making the bed. A minute thirty. Time yours. We’re going to be making our bed every day, so notice each day if you’re willing to move and replace everything that’s currently on there. If it’s too long, or too much effort, are you willing to maybe remove a layer to streamline the process? Then see how it feels to be greeted any time you walk by with a bed made and ready for you.
Extra Credit:
Reflection: James Clear says every small habit is a vote for the kind of person you want to become. Each time you tidy that one thing, you’re confirming “I’m someone who takes care of my space.”
Picking something up or making our bed every day gradually settles into our brains as “I am a person who does what they say they’re going to do.”
Throughout this series, we’re practicing showing up for ourselves. We’re not focused on creating a magazine-ready bedroom. It’s about showing up for ourselves for two minutes a day, building momentum, and letting those tiny votes add up.
Uncovering Real 