Take One Day at a Time – Practically

People tell me to take one day at a time. I don’t always understand how to practically do that. We like to think we take one day at a time, since we usually think “Well, what else do you think I’m doing?” or “It’s impossible to live tomorrow too!” But,I have found that certain mindsets enter into one day – and it can affect your day, today. Things I personally were taught are efficient or positive may actually have been feeding into a worry and love for this world instead of leaning on Christ and learning to be present in the day.

I wanted to share some things I personally have been working on in order to combat the urge NOT to take one day at a time – to enjoy every moment. I find that when I practice them, I have a better attitude – I have less anxiety – and I enjoy this world far more than when I didn’t practice them. They may sound stupid or a waste of time, but I hope that some things will help you if you struggle with this too.

Walking Slow

All my life I have had a long stride – the “long Gougar stride” (my maiden name) because I grew up with two tall brothers and a tall dad. My mom and sister were always behind us while we “charged forward” with our long lanky legs. Whenever I go into the grocery store I walk fast. Whoever is walking beside me usually ends up “back in the dust”. I like to pretend I’m in a race – working for instacart for a few years didn’t help that tendency! Around the house, I tend to also walk fast. There was one day when I was literally running around the house trying to get a shower, eat a snack, take care of my girl, all before a phone call at a certain time. These things happen – every once and a while we do have a day where we actually have to race around the house in order to meet preplanned appointments while still taking care of daily activities. However, I tend to walk fast and be in a rush no matter what day it is. Even if it’s a day where we have no appointments to get to, I put things on my to do list and if I don’t get them done at a certain time I am in trouble with myself, or I didn’t succeed that day, or what if the things don’t get done! So, what I’ve done is I experiment – I purposefully walk slower. It takes me an extra 5-10 minutes during the day to walk slower. Walking slowly is a physical reminder that I am not in a rush. It’s a physical reminder that I don’t need to race around the house to get things done. It slows your body and mind down, it reminds you to breathe, and it doesn’t give the devil an opportunity (in my case).

Whenever I’m around somebody who is always in a rush, it’s very difficult to relax. It tends to make me feel wrong for sitting down, or walking slow. Anxiety in my brain tends to get worse. I don’t feel like I can ask that person to sit and talk, or to just sit in silence. I’ve noticed that if I’m around a person who sits still – walks slower, I tend to open up more, I tend to enjoy myself more. If I am always in a rush wherever I am, what opportunities am I missing? What if they want to talk to me, but I’m always rushed? In my house, if my daughter always sees me rushing everywhere, will she feel like she has to make an appointment with me to sit and talk? Will she feel safe enough to alert me if something is happening to her? Or my husband – am I missing opportunities to tell him I love him, to wink at him or throw him a smile – producing the love that is much needed in a daily life. Am I in too much of a rush to do that?

Life is busy – I know it. Yet what I’ve found is simple things like walking slowly – you get the same amount done, and yet the air you breathe and the air others breathe, it’s just a tad different. 

Park Far Away

Ever since my daughter’s diagnosis, I view going to the grocery store as me time. It used to be a task I crossed off. Now, it’s a time to wander around aisles, mindlessly picking up things you need every day. It means seeing people who don’t know my life story, or taking a walk when I didn’t have time to take that outdoor walk with the birds this morning. So, now I don’t worry if I get the spot right next to the door – I park far away.

Many times we miss the chances we get to meditate because we’re in a rush (see the first point). If I am so intent on getting in and out of the grocery store in 30 minutes, I may miss a 10 minute window to walk outside – to say hello to a stranger – and to breathe. When you park at the end of the aisle, you now have an extra minute of silence. You have an extra minute to reflect on your day, to dig into your attitude at this moment. You’re given a free gift of meditation, and yet so often I personally stomp that opportunity to the ground in hopes I can get that one extra thing done off of my to do list. More often than not in my case, I get everything done on my list and more – because I’m not as anxious, since I take small walks to reflect. 

Its OK if You Don’t Conquer the World Today 

This is the hardest one for me. I have struggled with this since I was a child – not even knowing the habit I was getting myself into. My brother and I used to wake up at 4 AM to see who could get school done before mom woke up. I put standards around my day where I truly think if I do not get this and that done TODAY, something is going to go wrong tomorrow. Something is going to make it so that I can’t do it tomorrow. Oh no! What would I do if that happened?? I HAVE to get every single thing done today. 

This is just not true. Even if it was true, what a negative way to live! Why am I living in fear? Why am I living in fear of tomorrow? In a worst case scenario mode where my day today is affected by my fear for tomorrow. If I really think about it, the things I want so anxiously to do today, are they storing up treasures in eternity, or are they merely just earthly? If I forget to do so and so with work, but I remember tomorrow and I’m chill and relaxing, it still gets done. If the Lord comes back today, who cares what gets done, I’m free of this world! It truly does not matter sometimes. What if I am not inviting someone over to my house because my to do list isn’t done? What if someone stays an hour longer to visit after dropping off food and I just can’t wait to get them out of the house so I can finish my tasks for the day? In my personal case, what if today is my last day with my girl? What if today is a good cognitive day for her, and tomorrow is worse – will I spend that extra five minutes to cuddle her and tell her how much I love her, or do the dishes have to get done before company comes?

I’m not talking about times where you purposefully set aside times during the day like reading your bible, or knowing that you work better in the morning. I do that too. What I’m talking about is being so reliant on a to-do list (mentally or physically) that it takes precedence over everything else, especially your mindset. I think that I have to do everything by 9 AM – and if I don’t, the world may end! I have an extreme obsession with tasks every day. 

One tip I sometimes do for myself is put the bare minimum on my list, then I have optional tasks somewhere else. So, if I am finding myself with extra unrushed time, and my mind is open to others, I can do those tasks slowly but surely. 

I have a lot more words to say about this topic, but I shouldn’t rush myself to do it all today 😉 I hope these tips help you too. Remember to set your mind on things eternal. Remember to walk slowly, park far away, and don’t think you have to conquer the world today!