Spring has ushered in the feeling of newfound potential. The sun has reemerged, tulips have sprung up from the ground and trees are full of beautiful blossoms. New beginnings are in the air.
As much as I love the slow, restfulness of winter, I am excited for change. I am ready to break out of my idleness and build a new future.
This week, I will log my experiences each day to provide more clarity and intentionality on what I want to change in my life.
I also hope to show what realistic growth looks like. My days have ups and downs, just like anyone else’s. Growth happens when I stay present through it all.
Acknowledging Past Growth
To help myself face challenges, I often remind myself how far I’ve come. This month alone, I have grown by:
- Seeing my unique beauty instead of comparing myself
- Dressing more creatively with clothes I already own
- Waking up early
- Doing yardwork consistently
- Enjoying time outside
- Learning more about my passions
- Spending time with my partner in his hobbies
- Less sugar intake
- Reading more books
With a deep breath, I am thankful for these positive changes. I see every step forward as a wonderful gift.
Current Areas of Growth
I’m currently quite behind on work projects and housework. When my surroundings are chaotic, my brain tends to be the same.
I’ve been losing time to distractions lately. It dawned on me that I tend to reach for my phone to avoid working, not to rest.
This week, I will regain order and trade distractions for genuine rest. When I take intentional breaks, I become more efficient in my tasks and can maintain my energy for longer. That is my goal.
With these areas of growth in mind, I have the following strategies:
- No more social media on my phone.
- Make a schedule and try to stick to it.
- Start my Spring garden seeds
- Continue to wake up early to meditate.
- Wear clothes that make me feel good each day.
- Schedule breaks to relax throughout the day.
- Use the Freedom browser extension to stay focused.
- Spend the weekend on sewing and gardening tasks.
- Take things as they come.
Day 1: Doing a Time-Management Audit in Notion
I woke up bright and early feeling overwhelmed by all I had to do. To ease my mind, I made a clear list of where I wanted my time to go.
Notion is my favorite digital tool for organization. It’s my go-to for making productivity systems and long lists in an aesthetically pleasing manner.
For this exercise, I split my Notion page into three main focuses:
- Home
- Mind and body
- Work and hobbies
I started with home tasks, which were the most pressing. I sorted every task based on how often it needed to be completed and gave a rough time estimate for each category.
I followed the same process for the other categories. Seeing my responsibilities all in one place eased my overwhelm and provided clarity.
From this list, I made a routine to test in the week ahead. It included time for breaks and specific objectives for each part of the day.
That afternoon, I tried my routine and it helped tremendously. I finished my work early, whipped up a quick dinner, and vacuumed in record time.
The only flop was I forgot about a sourdough loaf that I had started rising that morning. It was over-fermented and not my finest work, but I now know better for next time.
What worked:
- Getting clear on my responsibilities
- Tidying the house
What didn’t work:
- Forgetting about my poor sourdough loaf
Day 2: Productive Workday and Fun with Friends
After seeing success in my routine the day before, I woke up excited to try it again. I did a meditation from Becoming Supernatural by Joe Dispenza. It left me feeling overjoyed at the life I’m actively creating.
I put extra attention into my outfit and decided on a plaid skirt I made last year with a blue cashmere sweater. Feeling good about the day ahead, I grabbed a quick bite to eat and rolled up to the office.
My favorite way to start the day is to use my under-desk walking pad while I answer emails. I walk for 30 minutes to an hour while listening to my favorite music. The exercise does wonders for my energy levels and mood throughout the day.
I finished my work earlier than expected and took a walk outside. It was a cool, refreshing morning. I was thankful I was out enjoying it instead of on my phone like usual.
It was lunch before I knew it and I spent it working on a blog post. My productivity slowed down in the afternoon. I switched to easier tasks and watched a video from my favorite YouTube channel, Valerie Lin.
After work, my boyfriend and I went grocery shopping for a cookout we were having that evening. I treated myself to lovely purple mums that caught my eye in the plant nursery. We had a good time with our friends and called it a night.
What worked:
- Morning meditation
- Wearing a nice outfit
- Taking intentional breaks and walking outside
- Buying myself flowers
What didn’t work:
- Nothing
Day 3: Sewing & Visiting Family
On Saturday, my focus was sewing. I breezed through my morning routine and started sewing a simple knit skirt to give to my mom later that day.
I tidied my sewing area, cleaned and oiled my serger, and put on some Mumford & Sons. The skirt ended up only taking 3 hours. I delivered it to my mom and spent some quality time with her.
When I returned home, I worked on making a simple, Springtime arrangement for our front porch. I potted a small evergreen tree and the mums I bought the day before. They added a beautiful touch of color to the entryway.
Later that afternoon, I started sewing a long-sleeved t-shirt and made good progress. We went out to ramen for dinner and enjoyed a tv show until it was time to go to bed.
What worked:
- Maintaining my sewing machine
- 3 focused hours of sewing
- Visiting my parents
- Decorating the porch for spring
- Comfort food for dinner
What didn’t work:
- Skipped supplements
- Not many moments to pause and relax
Day 4: Yardwork & (you guessed it) more sewing
This morning’s meditation was a bit harder to stay focused, but it still left me feeling excited for the day ahead. I made a healthy brunch with salmon, spinach, eggs, and toast.
It was a beautiful sunny day, so I prioritized yardwork. I was faced with one of my least favorite tasks: tearing away invasive ivy from our fence. I made some progress and tired out quickly. We went out for ice cream as a break from the heat.
Next on my list was weed-whacking. I cleared a large overgrown area and learned my lesson about wearing a white baseball cap during the process. Fortunately, I got most of the grass stains out.
I continued working on the top I started yesterday and had trouble fitting the neckline. I decided to put a pin in it (literally) and take my time on it later. It was the right call.
I planted more seeds for my Spring garden in the waning afternoon sun. My setup was simple and cheap but required some additional labor. I took red solo cups and drilled 5 holes into the bottom for drainage. Then I cut the tops off them so they fit in aluminum cake pans from the dollar store.
This is my first year starting seeds indoors and this setup has worked like a charm. I pour water into the aluminum cake pans so that the cups can draw up water from the bottom. This prevents soggy topsoil that invites fungus gnats.
The cake pans come with a plastic lid to put on top of the seeds once they’re planted. This causes a greenhouse effect that traps moisture and heat. I let them sit out in the sun and get nice and warm to speed up germination.
Once that was done, we met my family for dinner. I faced an unexpected challenge at the restaurant: an overwhelmingly long menu. I pushed through my decision fatigue and made a choice that ended up being delicious.
What worked:
- Healthy brunch
- Tackling yardwork with my boyfriend
- Taking my time on my sewing project
- Planting more seeds
- Choosing a good meal for dinner
What didn’t work:
- Wearing light-colored clothes while weed-whacking
Day 5: Work tribulations
Now, I am not one to typically have a case of the Monday’s. I enjoy the feeling of a fresh start: A new week without any mistakes in it yet.
Well, I made some mistakes rather quickly.
I woke up early and tried to meditate, but fell asleep. At work, I had a few messages from coworkers that rubbed me the wrong way. In my frustration, I was rude to an innocent coworker in the breakroom whom I later apologized to.
I had trouble letting go of my failure that morning. Instead of seeing it as an opportunity to grow, I let it fuel feelings of frustration and inadequacy. I spent much of the afternoon distracted and wishing for the day to be over.
There was one light at the end of the tunnel: I was hanging out with my best friend that evening.
She reminded me of something crucial: To pray through strong, challenging emotions. To let it all out—my thoughts, feelings, and frustrations—to Someone who can always handle it. Most importantly, to open my heart to wisdom that may come in return.
Every hardship has the potential to become wisdom. I may have struggled today, but I vowed to slow down and pray when I felt overcome with emotion again.
The biggest lesson I took away was to not be mad at myself for feeling negative emotions. It’s just like the quote in The Mountain is You: “The less you resist your unhappiness, the happier you’ll be.”
What worked:
- Apologizing for my crabbiness
- Talking through things with my close friend
- Forgiving myself by the end of the day
What didn’t work:
- Falling asleep during meditation
- Being irritated at work
- Feeling ashamed instead of moving on
Day 6: Distracted to Focused
I skipped my early morning routine and wore a knit dress I made to work. I was still groggy when I got into the office. Between meetings and distractions, the morning slipped through my fingers without much getting done.
The afternoon went similarly. My energy crashed around 2 pm and I had trouble staying focused. I’m sure the sweet snacks I had earlier didn’t help. I had to stay late to finish my work.
When I got home, I felt my energy return. I decided to try to follow my schedule for the remainder of the day, starting with cleaning the bathroom. It took longer than expected but felt wonderful to have done.
Afterward, we headed to the mall where I returned some items. We caught a lovely, orange sunset on our drive there and enjoyed a delicious dinner before heading home. I was satisfied with how I turned the day around.
What worked:
- Having a fresh start after work
- Letting myself rest instead of forcing myself to be productive
- Getting all of my work done
- Enjoying the sunset and a great dinner
What didn’t work:
- Skipping my early morning routine
- Skipping caffeine
- Not setting time limits on distractions
Day 7: New Beginnings
I woke up early enough to catch the last of the sunrise. It was a chilly morning just above freezing. I brought my green tea outside and looked around happily at my garden, imagining what plants would be there in a few weeks.
I felt proud of myself for making the most of the day before and decided to carry that self-assuredness into my day. I enjoyed a meditation, put on comfy slacks and a sweater, and headed to work.
I focused decently well, but many of my usual tasks ran long. It was lunch in no time. I spent it reading Crime and Punishment outside in the sunshine.
My energy once again dipped during the afternoon. I reached for distractions but kept them brief and finished most of my work. On the way home, I stopped by Costco to buy another planter for our front porch.
I tackled dishes and dusting while my boyfriend helped me vacuum. We ate homemade pizza for dinner, watched TV, and headed to bed early.
What worked:
- Watching the sunrise
- Facing the day with confidence
- Spending lunch outside
- Sharing home tasks with my boyfriend
- Early bedtime
What didn’t work:
- Afternoon crash (maybe try tea going forward)
- Few breaks during my productive bursts
A Week In Review
This week, I saw challenges and rose to them.
I also slipped up and got back up.
Rising captures the true meaning of growth. Getting up with purpose, rising from failures, embodying your higher self.
When you grow, you rise. You feel lighter emotions, think kinder thoughts, act in wiser ways.
My meditation practice made the greatest difference in my day. In it, I visualize who I want to become, the dreams I want to pursue, and the happiness my life brings me. And even though some dreams are still far off, I experience my future happiness now.
I owe this incredible meditation to Becoming Supernatural by Joe Dispenza. It has completely changed the way I see the present moment. Each day is brimming with potential to build the future.
What does it mean to you to rise? How can you rise in this coming week? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
I wish you a week full of growth. May you believe in yourself every step of the way and embrace this lovely season of change.
Until next time,
O&K
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