Self care begins with daily habits.

When it comes to choosing to look after your health and wellbeing, something has to shift within you. It might be loud at first, full of concern, fear, or uncertainty, or it might be quiet, just smouldering in the background.

But it’s this subtle, necessary step toward change that matters most. It doesn’t happen by magic. It happens with intention.

How you go about it begins with daily, consistent habits. It really is that simple, a mindset shift, an awareness, an awakening, an acceptance that no one is coming to save you but yourself.

You choose.

It can be a harsh reality and one I really relate to having to make, because I was not getting what I was both looking for and needed.

This can feel empowering, or it can feel defeating. And I know, because I’ve moved between both often, as life happens, and as my body challenges me in ways that test both patience and persistence. Shifting through change can feel different for each of us and at times we are forced to address change and then in other instances we choose to create change.

But I also know that my choices impact how I feel, how I move, and how I heal.

So how do you start your day? Do you begin with intent? Are you organised? Have you made a promise to begin something new today, and if so, how does that usually work out for you?

Mornings can be fun!

For many of us, mornings can be a mixture of routine and randomness. Some days we wake with a clear plan, while on others, we stumble into the day without much thought. Neither is “right” or “wrong”, but both reveal something about how we approach life and our overall wellbeing.

Daily habits are often what keep us in check, on track so to speak, they also can protect us. They can provide a sense of stability when everything else feels uncertain. But they can also challenge us, exposing the gap between what we intend to do and what we actually follow through on.

So how can you change this routine to being more fun, more in tune.

The beauty of habits is that they are a choice we get to make every day. Whether it’s the decision to pause before scrolling on our phone, to stretch for five minutes, to drink a glass of water before coffee, choose to step out into the sunlight for ten minutes to gather ourselves or to begin the day with gratitude, these small acts add up. They shape how we feel and how we move through the hours ahead.

What I’ve learned is that intention doesn’t have to mean rigidity. Sometimes beginning with intent is simply taking a moment to ask yourself

What matters for me today? 

That one question can shift the tone of the whole day.

So I wonder, what promise will you make to yourself this morning? And more importantly, what promise will you keep?

I had made the intention last night that I was going to fast today, but that changed as I was feeling hungry this morning, so I made the below omelette with sauerkraut, avocado and I put extra protein in with cottage cheese, I made a healthy shift and I know it was the right choice for me today.

When you live with a chronic condition such as lymphatic dysfunction, mornings can carry an extra weight. The choices you make at the start of the day, whether to take time for your compression, gentle movement, skincare, ensuring you do dry brushing after performing your BIG 6/7 SLD or have a healthy breakfast or simply to focus on your breathe before rushing ahead, can set the tone for how you feel physically and emotionally.

Daily habits often become the anchors that keep us steady. They can keep us in check. Some routines will feel second nature over time, while others may always feel like effort. Either way, these habits are choices we make every day, choices that directly support our health, energy, and sense of calm.

It’s important to recognise and reflect upon the daily habits that support your lymphatic health — how you move, how your swelling reacts, how your body feels. I know personally, when I choose something I want but know it will impact my pain, swelling, or mobility, I often pause later and ask myself, why did I make that choice?It’s frustrating, but it’s also revealing, understanding why I didn’t prioritise what was best for me helps me grow.

This is the real challenge of behaviour change — taking time to reflect on our emotions so we can understand our why, and recognising the automatic behaviours we do without thinking, only questioning them after the fact.

Emotions That Might Come Up

• Was I just tired?

• Not focused?

• Not prioritising myself?

• Feeling anxious about something?

• Stressed about work?

• Upset about a relationship?

• Frustrated at my body?

• Did I not sleep well?

• Is chronic pain feeling overwhelming?

• Do I simply need a self-care day?

  
  

When I am consistent, truly consistent with my daily habits, I reap the benefits tenfold. Maintaining this rhythm is key to finding my calm.

So what is it about consistency that challenges us?

• Do we put excuses in the way?

• Do we create obstacles that aren’t really there?

• Or are these patterns fuelled by our emotional state?

  
  

Here’s my challenge to you, tune in, recognise your triggers, the things that knock you off track. Notice the thinking patterns that let your inner critic take over and convince you to give up on your intentions, then, write it down, journal about it, often seeing your thoughts in writing can be a wonderful means of reflection, you might discover something about yourself, you may be amazed by this small task.

At the heart of health coaching, this is what it’s all about, habits, behaviour change, taking time to pause, reflect, and realign.

You deserve this, you have to decide to prioritise you!

As coaches in the area of health and wellbeing, we offer you space, time to be yourself, to explore where you are and where you want to be. It’s a space that is all yours.

I read something recently that said coaching is “a thought partner.”

That made me smile, because that’s exactly what it is, a partnership in thinking, untangling the ideas in your mind, helping you focus on what truly matters, and exploring the options together.

If this resonates with you...

If this reflection speaks to where you are right now, know that you’re not alone. Creating change takes patience, curiosity, and support and it begins with one small intention at a time.

In my health coaching practice, I offer space for you to explore your habits, emotions, and health goals with compassion , a space where you can reconnect with what matters most to you.

Together, we can uncover your why, find your rhythm, and create the foundations for lasting calm and wellbeing.

J

Explore what matters. Living your life. Loving your lymph.