Off kilter days

Ever have one of those “off kilter” days? Merriam Webster defines “off kilter” as an adjective meaning: 1) Not in perfect balance: a bit askew, or 2) eccentric, unconventional.

Today was one of those days, a bit askew and unconventional. And as I stepped back to examine why I was off kilter and what was really going on, I realized my normal rhythm was out of balance.

Have you ever had days like this?

• My Tuesday was really more like a Monday. Yesterday was Alaska Day, a holiday celebrating the formal transfer of Alaska from Russia to the United States. My husband and I spent an extra day at our cabin and so today felt like a Monday, even though it wasn’t.
• We didn’t go for our morning walk today. And when we miss our walk, my day just feels off, out of balance. My brain has become more connected to my body — so when I don’t move my body, my brain seems to forget to move into gear.
• I had a list of things to accomplish. But I really hadn’t made a plan. So when I dove into my day, I tackled a bigger-than-anticipated task which ended up taking all morning.
• And, as usual, my list was bigger than the day. In retrospect, I hadn’t prioritized my tasks so I left myself less time than I needed to accomplish my most important tasks.

Fortunately, I’ve allowed space for off kilter days

These days, I have a bit of room in my schedule. Not so long ago, I was so busy trying to fit everything in that an off kilter day would have turned into a very bad day.

And you know what? I’m ever so grateful for today. This off kilter day reminds me that I’ve made progress. I’m doing better at taking care of myself.

We make a million choices in our days

Yes, I chose to do a task that was bigger than I had time for today. Truthfully, I sought out the simple, avoiding the more complex.

Maybe my brain needed a break. Maybe I was avoiding the hard as I used to do by cleaning the house when I had a paper to write in college.

And our choices will define us

So after an off kilter day, when my husband asked me if I’d like to go for a walk, I knew I had a choice to make. I could stay the course, do the things I’d put off all day, and push my way through. And it would feel good to have accomplished what I set out to do. But, I wouldn’t be taking care of myself and I wouldn’t be spending time with my guy.

So I looked at those tasks still on my list — and chose the walk. I chose time with my person because he can make day that’s “gone askew” much better.

Here are a few tips for your off kilter days

1. Give your days a bit of margin. When you have a little space, these days won’t be the end of the world. You’ll be able to set it aside and move on to a new day.
2. Give yourself grace. In the past, I’ve beat myself up for the choices I made that threw my days off — or for not noticing the changes in routine. But none of us need this inner critic. Instead, be kind to yourself. Life happens!
3. Remember, it’s never too late to make good choices. Even late in the game, you can regroup, ask yourself what really needs to be done and do that one thing that will make a difference — maybe it’s making a better plan for tomorrow. Let go of the non-urgent or unimportant tasks for today.
4. Be present. Let go of the worry, the pressure, and the striving. Remember, it’s just one day. Ask yourself what you need, in this moment, to regain balance.

One final piece of advice

As I was sitting here thinking about my day, I glanced over at my bookshelf. And I saw one of my favorite books of wisdom, by author A.A. Milne. I leave you with this quote — and a reminder to enjoy today!

“What day is it?” asked Pooh.
“It’s today,” squeaked Piglet.
“My favorite day,” said Pooh.”

A.A. Milne,

Sometimes you have more than a day that feels off balance. If you need help getting your days back in balance, I offer coaching to guide you through transitions big and small.