Exploring the Healthy Mind Platter.
Hello Friends,
It’s back to school prep week for my kids. This week my work-life balance looks like 15 minute minutes of work followed by 2 hours of taking care of kids’ back to school needs. Repeat. Luckily, both girls are sleeping in right now as I write this newsletter.
As the school year approaches, I am thinking about balance. One of my favorite visuals for contemplating balance is the “Healthy Mind Platter.”
The above image is a modified version of the original Healthy Mind Platter created by Daniel Siegel and David Rock. Sleep time, focus time, time-in, down time, physical time, play time, and connecting time all help to create a balanced mind and life. I’ve added the elements of nutrition and helping others, as I find those, too, to be critical elements of a healthy body and mind. Take a moment to pause and consider the platter. Which activities are receiving adequate attention? Which elements need more time/care?
When it comes to balance, there is a profound link between your body and your mind. My daughter and I just created another parent-child partner yoga video with a focus on balance. In the first couple of minutes we discuss balance in our lives, our bodies, and our nostrils (yes, we need balanced nostrils, too!!).
Practicing yoga postures and breathing practices is an important aspect of my personal healthy mind platter — it does so much to help to create balance in my life. I have a yoga and meditation class that I attend each week, and I also teach Mindful Yoga classes both in-person and online (new classes start in September). Mindful Yoga helps to create balance in my life by inviting me to move out of my head into my body. If you’d like to try it, I have Mindful Yoga videos for both adults and kids on my YouTube channel.
Exercise helps, too. I recently bought a used elliptical that I hop on between meetings. Swimming, dancing and walking with friends all help to bring me back to center. And I have mental “in the moment” practices, like sending kind wishes and repeating my mantra to help my mind stay centered in love.
What about you? How do you create balance in your life?
Wishing you light, love, and balance,
Jamie Lynn
P.S. Here’s a picture of me celebrating my Fierce Self-Compassion teacher training certification. I can’t wait to teach my first official Fierce Self-Compassion class this fall! I love Fierce Self-Compassion because it helps me find balance between tender compassion and strong action!!
