This post is in collaboration with Chase Freedom Unlimited. All opinions are my own.
In honor of Chase Freedom Unlimited cardmembers earning 3% cashback on purchases for their first year, up to $20,000, I’m dedicating 3% of my day towards reaching my goals.
3% sounds small and achievable. That’s only 43 minutes of my day.
Often times, setting new goals like the ones I recently shared can feel big and overwhelming, like: “What was I thinking? How am I going to do this?” But, 43 minutes? That’s realistic.
Let’s be honest: It’s not hard to fill 43 minutes, but it can be hard to fill 43 minutes with something that is helping us get where we want to go! When thinking about this special time, I had to consider my goals: being mindful about what I eat, self-care, and becoming more active. Not every day needs to include all three of these, but every day should include at least one of these while I build habits. Thinking about my schedule and life, it starts with the grocery store.
Earning More Every Day
With my cash back credit card in hand, I decided to spend more time choosing groceries from the fresh food section. This may sound ridiculous but think about how much time is spent in the frozen food section and the chip aisle. What about the cookie aisle? Filling my basket with more fresh vegetables and fruits is a much better use of my time and Chase Freedom Unlimited rewards me for it. Best of all, it’s a super-easy way to bring me closer to turning my goals into habits!
Self-care isn’t always first (or even top five) on the list when making plans for the day. There’s guilt around it when I think of all of the “should do’s” on my plate.
“I should follow up with so and so when I get home.”
“Maybe I should make phone calls after this.”
“I should do the dishes next.”
“I should finish that research tonight when I get home.”
None of these include “I should take some time to care for myself.”
Instead of blocking 43 minutes of my day for self-care, I have to parcel it out. It’s little moments in the morning, taking an extra 5 or 10 when getting ready, taking some deep breaths for a few minutes in between meetings, taking an extra 15 to 20 to enjoy my nightly winding down, and using the jade roller a few times a week.
When I work from home, I hop on my yoga mat and stretch after I’ve finished a long phone call or task. The motion keeps my blood flowing, keeping my creative side from becoming sluggish. Having the yoga cards handy has helped me. Many of the movements are really easy to do, and holding the stretches helps me release so much tension.
If you can’t tell, the 3% adjustments to my day have improved my lifestyle by 100%. By taking these mini moments, I’m getting my self-care in multiple times a day, filling me with more energy and gusto to slay the week!
I hope you join me in my quest to reclaim my “me time” so we can continue toward achieving our goals together.
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Photos by Christina Best Photography
