Life can be fast, chaotic, stressful and beautiful all at once.  Here are some things I do to stay grounded– it’s all about progress, not perfection!

1) Hi-five cosmic excellence.   I try to remember all of the things I’m grateful for in my life (and not in my life), especially when I’m having a poor me moment or feeling all around crappy.  Gratitude works like an inner fire extinguisher that can douse even the worst of depression flare ups.  Being thankful is a powerful equalizer.

2) Indulge.  I eat chocolate almost everyday.  Not handfuls of it, (although I’ve done that too) but just a taste.  It’s something I love and life is just too short not to enjoy what you love.

3) Kick it up a notch.  I have to physically move and break a sweat most days because it helps me put things in focus.  It relieves my stress and gives me an opportunity to unwind.  Trust me, there are days when I hate going to the gym.  So guess what?  Those are the days I skip it.  I just don’t let that one day turn into a week (and throw in the towel all together).

4) Connect with others.  Feeling a connection with others is something I can never get enough of.  Isn’t that why were here?  To grow, connect and experience life together?  I love to feel a part of my loved ones’ lives as much as they are a part of mine.

5) Eat like a champ.  I have learned some pretty fantastic food combinations that can have an instant affect on my body and mood.  Using this knowledge has helped me get a better grip on what works and what doesn’t; It’s a never ending science experiment.

6) Get 8 hours of sleep.  I’m one of those people that needs a lot of sleep.  I know ultimately it’s a blessing but sometimes I feel like it’s a curse.  All of that time! I could be doing other things!  But as Lao Tzu says: When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.  Which really means the more you rest, the more energy you’ll have to get stuff done later; down time is critical.

7) Naval gaze.  I used to have a meditation practice for years and then one day I just stopped;  I just didn’t feel connected to it like I used to.  So now I take some time each day to think–I think about my life, what I’m doing and where I want to go.  I think about acceptance and how I can be happier and/or more helpful to others.  This naval gazing is the opposite of indulgent; it helps me get more focused.

8) Take the mental trash out.  Everyday I experience a rainbow of feelings which can include guilt, sadness, anger and fear.  When that dark side comes up, I try to acknowledge that yes, I screwed up or yes I could have done things differently, and then try to gracefully let them go.  There’s no changing the past, so I try to learn from it and move on.  Letting go of that darkness creates space for more productive emotions to take root.

9) Give in to what is. It’s easy to get caught up in trying to orchestrate every last detail in my life.  As much as possible, I try to throw my hands up and scream, “UNCLE!!”  When I relax and ride the wave of life, everything just seems easier.

10) Have fun. 

What are some of your daily habits that keep you healthy and sane?  Do any of the habits I listed resonate with you?  I’d love to hear about it over on my facebook page.