Project Back on Track: Introduction

With the myriad of distractions available to us - Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Netflix, Hulu, and Spotify - it’s no wonder that we are constantly feeling overwhelmed and overscheduled. We all get trapped in the social media time suck and lose hours a day to pointless scrolling. Then scratch our heads, wondering where the day went.

I’m so, so guilty of this. It’s so easy to fall into the black hole of social media.  Between my full-time job, running Laurel and Iron, and maintaining healthy relationships with my family, Thomas, and friends, I’m exhausted both mentally and physically, all the time - not because these things are inherently exhausting but because social media takes up time I could be spending more wisely to make the most of each day. 

And the negative effects of this has taken a toll on me. We have lost the art of “me time.” Yeah, we’re all good at taking 30 minutes to watch an episode of Parks and Rec while we soak in the tub but what are we doing to really nourish our minds, bodies, and souls?  I’ve talked extensively about self-care here on the blog but I have never really dived deep into self-care as it pertains to the maintenance of our overall health not just our mental well-being. 

Since starting Laurel and Iron, I’ve had to make some adjustments to my lifestyle. I have less time to bum around than I used to but somehow I find myself continuously putting off the things I know are good for me to fit in something I need to get done. 

It’s time for me to hit the reset button on my priorities. I need to focus on me for a little bit. Thus, Project Back on Track was born and I hope some of you will join me in this journey to re-centering my focus and bringing attention to long-neglected areas of my life. 

Here’s the plan. 90 days of tweaking my habits and routines in three major categories: mind, body, and soul. I’m hoping for a few small changes that can add up to big results. I’ll be tracking how well I stick to these changes and what results I’m seeing. 

Let’s get into what it is I’ll actually be doing…

Keep in mind that these are my goals and intentions. They may not work for you and your lifestyle. That’s ok. They don’t have to! You can tweak them or totally throw them out and set your own! It’s all about YOU and what will make you feel good. Just promise me you won’t set any goals that are tied to weight or measurements but goals that enhance your life and health.

Mind
Read at least 10 pages everyday 
No screens 30 minutes before bed
Limit social media time to 1.5 hours per day 
Set 1 intention per day 
Practice an act of self-care at least once per week

Body
At least 30 minutes of exercise six days per week
1 hour of exercise at least twice per week 
Yoga at least once a week 
Try 1 new fitness activity per month 
Eat something green at every meal, everyday 
Stick to an exclusively paleo diet a minimum of 5 days a week 
8 hours of sleep everyday

Soul (choose 1 daily) 
Meditation, 10 minutes minimum
Affirmations, 10 minutes minimum
Gratitude Journaling, 5 items minimum 
Nurture a friendship or relationship 

I know that I won’t be perfect. I know that I won’t hit every item everyday. And I’m okay with that because I already gave up perfection but I know this project will help bring me back to center. I can’t wait to share this journey with you! 

If you’d like to join me in taking a step back from your distractions and honing in on the important stuff, let me know in the comments below. Tell me what you’ll be focusing on for the next 90 days. Use  #projectbackontrack so I can see your progress! I’ll be checking in every two weeks and reviewing my progress. 

I’ll be starting on Sunday July 21st. All you need to join me is a place to take notes!