Long-time readers will know that I have a well-established morning routine: I perform the same self-care activities in the same order each morning.
But what happens when the routine is disrupted?
Well, last month, that disruption came in the form of a heel injury that demands to be iced for 20-30 minutes first thing in the morning.
So I’ve been forced to adapt.
Instead of starting my day with outdoor movement, stretches, and then exercise, I currently have to start on the couch. In my normal routine, I would read my daily dose of wisdom (currently Ryan Holiday’s Ego is the Enemy) and meditate after exercising. Now, I’m doing it before exercising while I ice my heel. It’s not the order I like to do things in, but it’s far better than abandoning the habits altogether.
Admittedly, there has been a significant benefit to this change of order: Benny, who is not normally a lap cat, has taken to sitting in my lap while I ice my heel.
There’s a lot that I can’t do right now. But there’s also a lot that I can do.
I can still meditate. I can still do some forms of exercise. I can still sit at my computer and write. Surprisingly, I can still drive, and I can still do my push-ups.
The secret to getting through a tough situation like this is twofold:
- Practice mental flexibility by being willing to adapt rather than abandon your good habits.
- Like a good Stoic, focus on what you can control rather than what you can’t.
The disruption to your routine may come in the form of a broken appliance or a broken arm, a new job or a newborn. Whatever it is, you’ll likely feel powerless at first or tempted to use this ready-made excuse to stop doing what’s best for you. But you can handle it with grace and resilience. That is always within your power.
P.S. I’ve mostly been using the iWalk 3 instead of crutches. It’s amazing!
This allows for hands-free mobility, so I can actually do things around the house. Plus, my arms, wrists, and armpits don’t get sore like they do from crutches.