Every day is new and presents unique opportunities to live more fully. But, how do we find the time and energy to do what we know we are so capable of? How do we find time to carry out rituals and routines we know would be so good for us? How do we make the most of today…everyday?

To some extend or another we know that a combination of diet, exercise, sleep and other lifestyle habits play a big role. But, sometimes with the best intentions and plan mapped out, we find what we want to do is more than what we can manage OR is so full on it’s just not sustainable.

Sometimes in our attempt to deliver against the demands of the day, it can simply wear us down, leaving us feeling depleted and defeated.

How do we make this work? There has to be a way! Below are a few ideas to play with in order to get the most of your day without killing yourself.

1. Every Other Day…

Did you know you can actually benefit ~10x more by alternating the area of focus within your daily practice. By alternating, you can go deeper in any one area than time would previously allow, explore a wider range of areas, and give yourself the opportunity to fully digest what you are experiencing before adding to it again.

Remember "You are not what you eat, but what you digest," this being a saying often attributed to Ayurvedic practices, emphasizing the importance of proper digestion rather than just the food consumed itself. We can apply this to anything we experience and by alternating days give our minds and bodies time to digest.

A personal example is when I tried to do an hour of exercise everyday before work (five days out of seven). The problem being it was the same type of exercise every day (full body cross fit). By day three I would turn up with muscles strained and fatigued and barely be able to get through the session. By day four I felt worse, and by day five I felt like a total failure. I decided to try a different approach… alternating days. So, Day one: Upper body; Day two: Bike Ride HIIT, Day three: Lower body; Day four: Bike Ride; Day five: Pilates/Yoga conditioning. I’ve never felt better! I the benefits of daily movement without putting too much pressure on my body or feeling defeated.

2. Break and Reset…

Our minds and body actually love rituals and routine. Once established, there is something about it that is very grounding and creates a real sense of security. We can then focus on the present moment and by doing so free up our minds for more complex or creative type of activities. It is what I like to call ‘finding flow’ or ‘feeling the joy in the journey’.

However, at the same time there are life cycles and seasons for a reason. As such our minds and body benefit from taking a break from even the best of rituals and routines in play. This break helps us to fully disconnect from what’s happening, recharge the batteries and open our minds to new or different perspectives.

Remember “The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.'' This saying by Oprah Winfrey inspires us to not get stuck on auto pilot but experience something completely different ensuring we continue to develop an open mind and confirm for ourselves how we can live the life of our dreams in the next cycle or season of life.

So, what do you think you could tweak to make your day to day more sustainable and improve digestion? When and where are your periodic breaks planned? How are you going to intentionally disconnect, experience something new and re-engage with a renewed perspective and energy? What other ideas do you have to to make your day more sustainable and live the life of your dreams?