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52+: Ideas for Self-Care (and possible future Nudges)
I’m always on the lookout for ways to practice Radical Self-Care, so was pleased to stumble upon this article from Real Simple. Check out “8 Simple Ways to Practice Self-Care Every Day” and see if there’s something in here you can do for yourself today or add to your bowl for a future Nudge.
Update: Easing out of The Great Pause
Dearest Nudger,
Today, for the first time in five weeks, I’m wearing real pants. Not slightly-too-big and gentle-on-my-abdomen sweatpants—which have been my wardrobe since March 30—but actual zipped-up, buttoned-up jeans. This is a huge win for me.
In case you missed my post from a month ago, a ruptured appendix, surgery, infections, and complications (there was a return to the ER on the 10th) inspired me to take The Great Pause of 2022. Well, “inspired” is not the word. When multiple doctors tell you “You are very lucky to be alive. Really: You are very, very lucky to be alive,” you have no choice but to clear your schedule and devote all of your time and energy to healing and Radical Self-Care.
A most appropriate—and appreciated—gift from a friend.
It’s been hard—at times painful, discouraging, challenging, frustrating, depressing. Recovery is slow, yet it progresses. (See “wearing real pants” above.) I’ve been getting out for short walks to begin regaining strength, answering the calls to rest when needed, and easing back in to the office with some client work.
Next week I’ll do a little more. I trust one day I will wake up and realize I am fully myself again—or my new self. And I’m counting on Nudges to help me as I reconsider, reimagine, and reinvent my future.
The 52Nudges team has continued to work behind the scenes to get the new website in shape, so we’ve got that to look forward to. Also, we’ve got some Guest Nudgers lined up to share their journeys. I’m excited to experience all of this and more. I hope to resume drawings of Nudges in the next couple of weeks.
Today my overall emotion is gratitude. I appreciate the support Thor and I have received in the form of calls, cards, comments, prayers, and acts of kindness. I am so lucky to be a part of this loving community, and I appreciate everyone who has helped me get through this Great Pause. I’m grateful to still be here—with most of my original parts! 😉
I’ll see you back here soon. Be gentle with yourself. xoKath
Nudging: Paint sample squares on the office wall
Backstory: My office is in our home, and it’s an incredible space. Big bay window that looks out over our backyard. Mementos of past projects on the walls. A huge pine desk. And now a puppy pen in the corner. For years I’ve wanted to give it a makeover. I want color, I want pizzazz, I want something that represents my best self. I want it to look not just like a spare room that serves as an office, but as a truly beautiful creative space.
To that end, a couple of years ago I picked up sample bottles of paint to try out. This is the week I find them (they’re somewhere in the basement) and paint those squares on the wall so I can live with them and figure out what color I want my walls to be.
Thor and I have done this before. We completely changed the look and feel of our dining and living rooms with color. I also know that this is the gateway to more TLC for our home. Painting the walls is the first step that will eventually lead to nice curtains, a rug without holes, and lighting fixtures that don’t date back to the 1970s.
I’m excited to finally get this project started.
Lots of options for making this Nudge your own. Maybe you pick up some of those paper color swatches and start with that. Or browse online and create a Pinterest gallery for a new couch/reading chair/bathtub. Or fix one small thing in your home that has been on the to-do list for a while. If you need inspiration, check out Apartment Therapy, a site I’ve been following recently for motivation on decluttering.
Pick one small step in the larger project and get it done. Let’s show our homes some TLC this week.
52+: That rule about being “uncomfortable”
When I set the “rules” for Nudges, I was very intentional. Must be something that can be done within one week. Must cost just $20 or less. Must make me uncomfortable.
That last one. Sometimes I hate that last one.
Case in point: For some time now I have been working on upgrading the 52Nudges website. Things were fine, but they could be so much better. Making things better takes time, money, learning, and working way outside my quite comfortable areas of expertise, so it took my being nudged by some good people—among them Lyndsey Woods, Pilar Dowell, Erin Bayer—to take the painful next steps. There have been days when I have wanted to chuck the whole project into the trash bin and move on to projects that were easier and more fun.
And then I remind myself that facing and moving through the uncomfortableness to a better life is the whole point of 52Nudges. By challenging myself and taking risks, I am growing. This is good!
So I trudge onward, knowing I will still run into obstacles that make me bang my forehead on my desk, curse the day I decided be a solo creative-entrepreneur, and cry into my coffee. I will make mistakes and screw things up, till I figure out how to fix them. I will remind myself to ask for help. I will feel so dang good when it’s done.
I don’t yet have a launch date to announce, but here’s a sneak peek of what’s coming:
I look forward to sharing the new and improved 52Nudges website with you, and I hope it—and all of this journey—inspires you to keep nudging yourself to experience a full and beautiful life.
Nudging: Eliminate (or delegate) a big responsibility
Backstory: I groaned when I read this Nudge, and I almost put it back for my first Pass. This nudge presents at the start of one of the busiest work weeks for me—oh, plus Christmas. Everything on my massive to-do list is a “MUST-DO”, and at a quick glance, everything in there can only be done by me.
Or…?
My intention to practice more Radical Self-Care is behind this Nudge. When I added it to the List, I set the intention that I would be on the lookout for tasks that suck my time and energy, things I overdo or overthink that ultimately aren’t healthy. I’m not going to drop the ball on taking care of my family, meeting all the tight client deadlines, making sure bills get paid on time, and carve out time for exercise and sleep. At this moment, I honestly don’t know what could be eliminated or delegated, but I am accepting this Nudge and trusting something will come to mind.
And our first Nudge of 3.0 is…
And our very first Nudge of 52Nudges 3.0 is…
…Accessorize, Baby!
Let’s dive right in.
Backstory: This Nudge was inspired by my need to clean out my closet, and by how much fun I had late in 52Nudges 2.0 when I played dress-up for a week. (Revisit that post here.) I also seriously need to break out of my rut of wearing workout clothes all day long. (Thanks again, COVID.)
I know I feel better when I look better, so this is encouragement to pull out the good jewelry, pretty scarves, and fancy shoes.
Countdown to 3.0–How 52Nudges works
Happy December!
As we get ready to launch round 3.0 of 52Nudges, I thought this would be a good time to review the basic steps:
- Create your List.
- Type up your List of Nudges and print it out.
- Cut each Nudge into a strip.
- Wad up each strip and put them all into a bowl.
- Every Sunday, pull one Nudge.
- Decide if you’re going to take a pass. (I allow myself 4.)
- Commit to doing that Nudge in the coming week.
- During the week, note “What Happened.”
- When you’ve completed the Nudge, check in with yourself and note the “Ah-Hahs.”
Take a look at the archives for examples, and don’t stress. You can jump in any time, do the Nudges I pull, or simply read about my adventures (which I hope will inspire and motivate you).
If you need help with creating your own List of Nudges, grab the 52Nudges Workbook. It’s available only on this site.
52Nudges Workbook: Exercises, Tips & Inspiration for Launching Yourself Forward in Life
downloadable & printable PDF
Just US $9.95!
Wanna be a guest Nudger?
I’m looking for a few brave and fun-loving souls to share their 52Nudges experiences!
If you’d be up for contributing a guest nudging post (using a task from my List or one of your own), reach out through Comments here and I’ll get back to you with details.
If you are new to 52Nudges or haven’t looked through posts in a while, I encourage you to scroll through the archives to see how the process works. You might also check out the guest post my friend Carrie contributed, “Play my flute from me”.
Just realized: Maybe one of your Nudges will be to “Lead a Nudge”! 😉 Do it!
Making my List, checking it twice
As I get ready to finalize my List of Nudges for 52Nudges 3.0, I’m giving it one final review to make sure every Nudges meets all the criteria:
- Is this something I can do in one week’s time?
- Is it inexpensive? (I aimed to keep everything at $20 or less.)
- Does it make me uncomfortable? (It should.)
- Is it fun? (Most should have some element of fun.)
This year, as I include Radical Self-Care in my plans, I’m adding one final criteria:
- Do I really want to do this?
I have a long to-do list of big tasks and projects I should do. They are important, sure, and I should do them—and I will. But for the 52Nudges project, I want to make sure I’m not setting myself up for a week of drudgery and/or misery.
This doesn’t mean I won’t include some shoulds. For example, I have a table in my office loaded with recipe books and files. This mess is a daily reminder of my need to do a massive decluttering of these items, to cull out the dishes I no longer wish to make or eat, to extract new dishes I’d like to try, and to finally share the books that have for so long taken up space in my life. This is a big should for me, and yet, I know I will feel so good when it’s done. I know I’ll feel a sense of accomplishment after I’ve dedicated consistent time to it. And maybe I’ll discover a new “favorite” dinner entree!
“Spend 15 mins/day going through recipe books” is on my List.
I’ll share my full List of possible Nudges soon, so you can follow along with me or use it as inspiration for creating your own.
And if you need help with your List, check out the 52Nudges Workbook. I include the exercises I worked through, exercises I hope will also inspire and motivate you.
52Nudges Workbook: Exercises, Tips & Inspiration for Launching Yourself Forward in Life
downloadable & printable PDF
US $9.95