photo credit: Taisiia Stupak via Unsplash
I like thinking about things that give us life instead of thinking about what’s currently hard for us (and I realize I’ve been a bit of a complainer this year). So let’s take this positive spin and go with it.1
Morning meditation
I started daily morning meditations earlier this year, and it’s been a really nice ritual that has replaced the “snooze button”. While I would generally consider myself a morning person, I am not very good at “jumping out of bed” right when my alarm goes off, so I give myself the gift of a 10-minute morning meditation to start the day. I use the “smart alarm” setting on my Sleep Cycle App (which gently wakes you up during your lightest sleep phase during the wake-up time frame) and then just start the meditation session before I get up. It’s been good for my mental health.
Exercise
You know already that I spend a lot of my free time exercising. I started running in 2015 and spinning in 2019, and I haven’t looked back. I am obsessed with my Peloton bike. Running and spinning are my favorite kinds of cardio, and I’ve also been on a yoga streak for a while. As I like to say, if I have to be addicted to one thing, I am okay with it being a piece of exercise equipment that keeps me healthy, motivated, and connected with like-minded people.
Dinners with Jon
You already know that I love cooking at home. I can easily say that dinner time is my favorite part of the day. Jon and I ‘meet’ in the kitchen, he starts pulling out everything for dinner, while I start chopping and preparing. We talk a little bit, hype each other up for what we’re about to put in our tummies (we love to talk about food while we cook and eat!), and then sit down and enjoy our meal together. Quality time at its best.
Naps
I’ve never been much of a napper, but I’ve been fully embracing naps this year. The thing is that I always said that I can’t nap when I am not tired (which is still true), but I guess I am just overall more tired this year, because naps have been a lot easier for me lately. Maybe it’s also easier because I can escape the world for a bit? I don’t know, but I am taking advantage either way.
NaBloPoMo
Like I said yesterday, I think NaBloPoMo couldn’t have come at a better time. I have been struggling with blogging all year (for so many reasons), but NaBloPoMo forced my attention back to this blog and to this community, and I have immensely enjoyed this first week of daily blogging and connecting with all of you. It’s given my days a lot of renewed purpose!
What’s saving your life right now?
- I’ve seen a few other people do this kind of post. A quick Google search revealed that the original idea came from the blog Modern Mrs Darcy, who got the idea from Barbara Brown Taylor’s memoir Leaving Church. ↩︎
I am doing NaBloPoMo this month. 30 blog posts in 30 days. Come join me. #nablopomo2025
Links to the Participants List. Happy Writing!
Melissa
November 7, 2025 at 5:13 pmI’m like you, I don’t like to get up straight away, even though I am normally able to wake up naturally without an alarm, I do like to spend a few minutes organising my thoughts. I am lucky because once I am awake I’m unlikely to fall back to sleep so I can lie in bed thinking and not worry about falling back to sleep. I can imagine meditating has been helpful this year.
Your dinner preparation with Jon sounds so lovely. Most days I cook and G cleans up so it is not a bonding time, but we spend a lot of time together and both work from home so might not need that reconnection time after work as much.
San
November 8, 2025 at 5:26 pmOh, I can definitely fall back asleep most times, so I definitely need to make sure I stay awake when the alarm goes off.
It sounds like it’s not a big deal that cooking is not a bonding time for you and G, but I love that he cleans up after you made the “mess” (haha).
Ernie
November 7, 2025 at 8:43 pmI didn’t know there was a gentle way to wake up. I barely know how to use my smart phone, so not surprising. I’m all about naps when needed, and I’m glad you are embracing a good nap. I usually set my alarm for the last possible minute. Usually I wake up before my alarm, but before the time change for a few months I was waking up to my alarm. It was sort of wonderful.
Saving me right now: the fall weather has been really mild so I’ve been getting out for walks with the babies. On my days off, I can run or walk. It’s great. That will all be changing really soon. I don’t run if there’s snow or ice or really cold temps. Boo.
My tot/baby schedule has been really manageable too. That’s been a great way to ease into the school year. One mom whose 2 yo I sit for had identical twins in sept. The twins start at my house 3x a week in Feb. It’s gonna be all kinds of crazy busy.
Easy dinners and leftovers also save me. With so many moved out or in college, left overs go a lot farther.
Having Fridays off also is a huge help. And today, I delegated the grocery shopping. I sent Coach, and he was happy to help.
San
November 8, 2025 at 5:27 pmYou need to try the Sleep Cycle App. I really love that it tries to wake me up gently (although I will warn you that sometimes I’ll be in deep sleep during the wake-up window, in which case the alarm can still be brutal LOL).
I love easy dinners and leftovers. As much as I enjoy cooking, sometimes I just don’t want to spend a lot of time.
Tierney
November 7, 2025 at 9:55 pmMy morning Nespresso is saving my life. I love it so much. I have two pods, add a bit more high water for an alongé and just really, really enjoy it. Nespresso always makes me think of European hotels, which are usually pleasant vacation memories! I drink it pretty close to when I wake up- I have no strategic life hacks to wait until mid-morning or after exercise or anything else that’s too prescriptive. Honestly, maybe I should wait until after morning yoga or exercise but nope! First things first! :)
San
November 8, 2025 at 5:28 pmI have heard about the Nespresso and love that you’re enjoying this so much that it HAS TO BE the first thing in the morning :)
I am usually not a fan of pod machines, but I’d be willing to try Nespresso coffee!
Tobia | craftaliciousme
November 8, 2025 at 3:07 amWhat a lovely post idea to look at tough this differently.
I am glad you found these habits and that they keep you going and sane.
I recently discovered yin yoga for myself. No matter if I ahem migraine (and I can’t do exercise) or have some stress or anxiety it’s really helpful.
I also enjoy long walks and most often without any music or podcast. It is calming to have no input.
San
November 8, 2025 at 5:29 pmYoga and long walks are so good for you! I love that you discovered that for you as well. I am definitely also enjoying my yoga routine.
Lisa’s Yarns
November 8, 2025 at 4:03 amCoffee. Coffee is saving my life right now. My insomnia is pretty bad right now between the trauma stuff and being on prednisone. Long walks and OTF are also saving my life! I am glad you are finding grounding sources of comfort during this challenging time!
San
November 8, 2025 at 5:29 pmALWAYS COFFEE. Haha. I don’t know how any of us would function without it. I also love that you’re back to OTF classes – you really seem to enjoy them!
Birchie
November 8, 2025 at 5:38 amI have ambitions to start meditating now that I have the time. I’ve used sleep meditations for a long time and they work so well, but I was never able to do them during the day before. Either I would forget to put my phone in do not disturb mode so someone at work would interrupt me, or I would do the meditation, feel wonderful, and then get very angry when I had to go back to work and lose my zen.
What’s saving my life right now is exploring my new normal! I took a trip and had the joy of having to check in on work, and then yesterday was my first New Normal day at home. It was a full day, but there was no time pressure. I could spend as much or as little time as I wanted to on each task. I could get used to this!
San
November 8, 2025 at 5:30 pmYes! Sleep meditatons are so good too. I know people who listen to audiobooks to fall asleep, but I don’t think that would work for me. Not as well, anyway.
I am so glad that you’re exploring your “new normal” and are trying to figure out how to enjoy your retirement to the fullest. Yay.
Sarah
November 8, 2025 at 6:35 amI also love the way blogging has pulled my attention back to community.
San
November 8, 2025 at 5:31 pmYay for blogging and bloggers ;)
Martha
November 8, 2025 at 6:42 amI’m glad you have found things that are helping you make it through. For me, it’s probably my grandkids keeping me distracted and too worn out to dwell on other things too much.
San
November 8, 2025 at 5:31 pmGrandkids are a great thing to focus on!
Nicole MacPherson
November 8, 2025 at 6:45 amMorning meditation is such a great practice. I find my yoga and meditation really settles me in for the day ahead.
San
November 8, 2025 at 5:31 pmI know you’re the expert on the meditation and yoga routine. You must be so ‘zen’ most days!
Michelle G.
November 8, 2025 at 9:11 amHi San, I am 100% certain that Peloton has saved my life right now! Does that sound too good to be true? I don’t know, but it came into my life at exactly the right time. I did a meditation every day during October. (And Nov. so far too) Then I had an eye appointment, which is super scary for me. I didn’t need to take my anxiety medicine prior to the appointment. (A first!) When I was in the waiting room, I started to feel panic coming on, and I was able to use meditation techniques to calm myself. The whole time I was doing it, I was thinking, “Wow, this actually works!” And I think it was the steady practice that made it effective for me. Plus, the cardio, strength, stretches, and biking have helped me manage my blood sugar, and I’m feeling stronger.
San
November 8, 2025 at 5:32 pmMichelle, I couldn’t love this more for you. Not just that Peloton has helped to address some of your health issues, but that it’s something that you enjoy! That is so important for it to be sustainable! We’ll have to sync up sometime for a ride!
Stephany
November 8, 2025 at 1:44 pmYay for naps! Naps keep me going, I swear. They are just such a delightful reset.
I love your dinner preparation with Jon – that sounds so cozy and sweet. <3
What's saving my life right now… NaBloPoMo, getting settled in to my new apartment, and Christmas music!
San
November 8, 2025 at 5:33 pmI know you’re the napping queen, haha, although I hope that the “need” for naps has somewhat diminished since you’ve been on the CPAP.
Jenny
November 8, 2025 at 4:21 pmWell, you know I love exercise, and i love naps! I’ve been getting back to yoga lately, and it’s really helping me.
I wish I enjoyed my dinnertime as much as you do! I mean- I like to eat. I’m just not liking the cooking part these days.
A big huge YES to NaBloPoMo!!! I always enjoy it, but this year seems extra fun somehow.
San
November 8, 2025 at 5:34 pmSo wonderful you’ve been getting into yoga again. Every thinking of coming back to Peloton for Denis ? LOL
And I love that you are loving NaBloPoMo this year.
Granny Sue
November 8, 2025 at 4:31 pmHmmm, I seem to do none of those things. Maybe I need to think about that. My exercise mainly comes from gardening and working around here, and preparing things for our booths. I usually cook alone, but love it when my hubby comes in and helps. He used to do that a lot, now I have to call him in several times before he will come inside. I think you are on a very good path, one that surely adds much peace to your life.
San
November 8, 2025 at 5:35 pmWe all have things that keep us going. It sounds like you’re pretty active with gardening and working around your house, so maybe you don’t need structured exercise ;)
Noemi
November 8, 2025 at 8:52 pmI love your dinner ritual. That sounds lovely. I want to have something like that. Usually I try to avoid being in the kitchen at the same time as my husband because it’s small and I feel like I’m ALWAYS in his way. It stresses me out! I wish I could change that.
NaBloPoMo has been so much fun so far! I’m glad it came at the perfect time for you. Especially since you’re the one who makes it happen for all of us!
Anthea
November 8, 2025 at 11:40 pmLove this list and might need to do a similar post because these are always fun to read.
I started a morning meditation earlier this year and it is a wonderful way to start the day.
Your dinners with Jon sound like a great way to spend quality time together and start the evening in a fun way. One of my goals for next year is to do more cooking.
Daria
November 9, 2025 at 4:15 amFor me…
Free time, time at the house. Time to think, and read, and do chores, and cook. Time to do things like our trip to NYC. Ice skating (went again yesterday). NaBloPoMo! A phone card to be able to call my parents in Russia. Lastly, locking my phone in the drawer.
Suzanne
November 9, 2025 at 4:45 amNow I am really curious about how to wake up during the lightest part of my sleep cycle. (I fear that every part of my sleep cycle is the lightest, lol.) I have an Apple watch but I typically charge it overnight (and it NEEDS to be charged overnight).
I love that you are doing a morning meditation. That really does sound like a fabulous way to start the day. I have been starting the day with a purring cat which is also quite lovely, if you are a cat person and happen to have access to a cat.
J
November 9, 2025 at 1:23 pmI think that when life is stressful, we naturally need more sleep for our body to be able to cope. I’m glad that you’re napping and meditating, both of those are really good moves!
Anne
November 27, 2025 at 10:45 amI love how you integrate meditation and yoga into your daily routine. #goals, for real. I am terrible (TERRIBLE) at meditating and yoga. Which means, of course, that I should do more of them. :) I also love reading about your dinner routine – finding joy in the everyday is what keeps us going. <3
30: ‘Tis the end of NaBloPoMo 2025 – theinbetweenismine
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