As we go into the holiday season, it’s important to remember that while it’s the season of giving, we have to give to ourselves as well. When you have a chronic illness, it’s especially important to check in with yourself and make sure you aren’t burning yourself out. Focusing inward is my favorite part of my routine, and I make sure to go through my mental checklist every once and awhile to make sure I’m acting on my goals and promises to myself. Here it is:

Am I …

1. Limiting Escapist Behaviors

   • limiting my intake of alcohol, social media, television, sugar (I do not consume anything including refined sugar), staying up late, etc., especially if I’m feeling out of alignment with myself

2. Doing Physical Activity

   • at least 4 times a week for 30 minutes

3. Minding my Nutrition

   • staying on top of keeping healthy food in stock, making new dishes, actively listening to my body, and not giving into unhealthy cravings when life gets hectic

4. Taking Part in Self-Care

   • keeping myself on track with morning meditations, journaling my appreciations at night, dry brushing before showers, taking a weekly salt bath, and doing yoga in between workouts

5. Keeping Up on my Mental Health

   • scheduling check-ins with a therapist, taking triggers through a CBT notebook and To Be Magnetic’s The Pathway Program, following up on nutrition and physical activity

6. Making an Effort to Continually Educate Myself

   • even if I’m feeling well, making sure I stay up to date on Crohn’s Disease treatments, reading studies on hormones and gut health, taking sign language classes weekly, and taking free online courses relevant to design, world topics, or something I’m currently interested in

Making an, “Aspects of my Life,” list helped me to keep track of everything I want to do. I just wrote everything I’m interested in or that’s a part of my life on a piece of paper and put it on a pin board in my room. When I make my schedule for the day, I make sure to add these things in to prioritize myself and make sure I am focusing inward!