Today, I had the pleasure of joining Giada and some lovely small business owners for a monthly review/reflection session. (You can register for the free March session here if you’re interested!)

I have a hard time making space for reflection on my own, so actually putting the time on my calendar and being guided through the time was a gift.

I’ve been filled with a lot of grief lately, on an individual level and for the current state of the world. It’s forced me to slow down a lot, somewhat against my will. My body has not just craved rest, it’s demanded it — sleeping later, longer breaks, lots of time in nature, cancelled meetings, unread emails and texts, extended due dates…

I’m grateful to be in a spot where I can meet those well-needed demands. I have a lot of flexibility in my schedule and also work with some of the most amazing people on the planet, who have shown me so much compassion and grace over the past several weeks. It’s reminded me of how little time capitalism makes for humanity; I would not have the “luxury” of taking care of myself the way I have if I were still working in a corporate job. (To be clear, I think self-care should be treated as a right, not a privilege, but that’s not the world we live in currently.)

During the reflection session, we were asked to identify any activities, rituals, or behaviors that have been regenerative for us this month. The first thing that popped into my head was my slow Monday routine.

As a neurodivergent diva, I have the tendency to latch on to things when they feel good, doing them as frequently as I can for as long as I can stand it.

Recently, I started taking Monday mornings to myself. I sleep in, walk to a local cafe for breakfast, and then walk to my coworking space to start the day.

I typically don’t start working until around 1pm, which initially felt criminal! But it gives my nervous system the time it needs to steady before jumping into work. It gives me space to feel human, ignoring the requests of others for a little while to focus on the question: What do I need right now?

So, if you have the ability to, I recommend trying your own version of a slow Monday. It doesn’t have to be a half a day thing, maybe it’s that you commit to drinking your first cup of coffee or tea entirely before checking your email in the morning.

It can be simple, but the message you send to your body and mind is the same: You matter too.

Would love to hear your slow Monday ritual ideas if you have them — feel welcome to comment below or reply to this email 💛

Peace, love and The Bangles,

Andrea