Simple Rules to Live By
A case for fewer, better decisions
Some mornings I’d wake up and feel like my brain was already tired. Not because I had a lot going on, but because I had too many tiny decisions to make about my everyday life. Over time, I adapted a few rules that actually make life feel more joyful:
Hold space for consistency — Routines come in many forms but one thing I know is how you set up your day is how you move through the rest of your day. Not in a “5 a.m. miracle” kind of way but more like having a loose plan for yourself to return to again and again so you’re not starting the day with that chaotic feeling in your chest. For me, that looks like warm lemon water first thing, ten minutes of meditation, and skincare. Just three things that are enough to feel grounded in my body before the day starts asking things of me.
When I travel or my schedule gets weird, everything shifts and I am one to feel it. My partner will attest to this, so having a mini version of my typical morning makes a huge difference and allows me to practice flexibility wherever I am. I’m also not afraid to bring the items one would typically leave at home (my pillow, preferred caffeine, hatch alarm). It steadies me and brings me back to a place of comfort.
Simplify what you eat — I eat the same things over and over and over again and it’s one of the best choices I continue to make. Food got complicated somewhere along the way and coming back to staples made it enjoyable again.
Breakfast is almost always the same for me: eggs in some form or a yogurt bowl. Lunch is leftovers or a staple salad.
I love trying new recipes, but the meals that actually make my life easier are the ones we repeat every week. Simple, nourishing, whole foods that are slightly elevated. A lemony chicken thigh with potatoes. Miso salmon and rice. A great cut of steak and a little gem salad. Add any roasted veg or starch with olive oil and salt. Don’t overthink it!
Return to the clothes that feel good — Getting dressed used to be weirdly stressful. I’d look at a full closet and still feel like I had nothing to wear. My friends and I used to call it clothing dysmorphia. In those moments, I always ended up reaching for the pieces that never failed me:
A sweater, that comes in many forms (Wool cardi, V-neck, Cashmere Crewneck, Turtleneck)
A really good white tee (some of my personal favorites in here)
Timeless denim (Levi’s 501s and Alex Mill)
A comfortable but versatile pant (Cotton, jogger, Cropped, Silk).
A shoe that go with everything (Ballet flats).
An easy everyday bag (Tote, Crossbody)
A baseball cap.
And honestly, a wrap coat deserves its own mention. Something to throw over leggings or cozies to walk the dog or grab a coffee and still feel put together.
Move your body every single day — I don’t do fussy workouts anymore. There was a phase where I rushed to 7 a.m. bootcamps and Classpass was a competitive sport. At the time, I thought that was what discipline looked like but it mostly just stressed me out.
Let me preface this by saying, moving your body looks different for everyone. I choose to move in a way that works for my schedule and feels good. Mostly, that happens at home on the mat with Melissa Wood-Tepperberg or The Class with Taryn Toomey. These classes work because they’re repetitive. And they’re repetitive because they work. Walks, runs, or hikes outside wherever I happen to be. Squeezing in movement wherever and whenever has made it easier to move every single day and this consistency has changed my body more than intensity ever did.
Limit inputs and opinions — Yes, I’m saying this while preaching my own. I used to be an opinion seeker. If you were a teenager during the dawn of social media, everyone had something to say, and you probably absorbed everything as much as I did. I still love listening! But too much input can cloud your intuition fast.
Instead of collecting opinions, I’ve learned to pay attention to expanders. The creators, mentors, friends, who make something in me light up. The people that transcend the way they dress, carry themselves, live their life, delegate business, carry a relationship, or speak to the world and it inspires me because I recognize parts of myself in them.
Lacy Phillips talks about this as seeing qualities in others that we’re meant to embody. I take note, get inspired, and then create my own version, because no one else can create a life exactly as I can.
None of these rules are meant to be extreme. They’re just tidbits I’ve slowly adapted overtime and I hope might resonate with you in some way.
x
Han
Loveee
This was a beautiful read. As someone who became a mom about a year ago, it’s taken time to feel like myself again. Every single one of these really resonated with little steps I’ve taken or hope to take to feel more grounded before chaos ensues. Will be coming back to this read more than once!