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jenna dailey photography

Denver based portrait, lifestyle, wedding & elopement photographer.
  • love stories
  • movement
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the sweet spot

October 04, 2016

If there's one thing I've never been good at, it's balance. Physically, I've pretty much nailed that one - I mean I'm a yoga teacher, hellooo. (Joking. So totally joking.) But in all seriousness when it comes to life balance, I have a lot of work to put in.

I'm a balls-to-the-wall, 210%, all-or-nothing kind of girl when it comes to what I put my time, energy, and spirit into - which just so happens to be one of my best qualities and one of my most, err, challenging ones as well. When I commit to something, I want to be great at it - the best. I would even go so far as saying I get a little obsessive. This looks like working late into the night, putting in way, way over 40 hours between teaching and my big girl job, checking emails while I'm at dinner with my people, and multi-tasking like it's going to end world hunger or something.

For the record, I know when to go all in or not. If it's not something that's truly "me" or something that I care about with my whole heart, I'll take a hard pass. I'm well aware of my ability to choose this (extremely unsustainable) lifestyle - I make the active decision to give it all I've got. I just get carried away, I guess.

And when I get carried away, I don't take care of myself. I give until there's just about nothing left to give and although I'm definitely receiving and reaping the benefits of my work, I'm not leaving myself enough time to do what's good for my soul  (i.e. yoga, writing, reading, drawing, sleeping in - oh, sleeping in - eating healthy, and the list goes on). And these are the things that help me to refuel and reset - they fill my tank -  so when I don't make time for them I don't quite feel myself. This has been my struggle these past few months. Slowly, I start the descent into the grey where I'm not sure who I am, what I want, why I started, or where I'm going. Ironically, I fall to the exact opposite end of the spectrum.

When I'm constantly giving and not taking much-needed me time, I tend do the thing - you know, the thing - where albeit knowing what's best for me and what allows me to be a nice, kind, caring, proactive member of society, I do what's easy. I take short cuts, I run Netflix marathons, I eat all the worst foods, I blatantly ignore my yoga mat, I don't get enough sleep, I answer with a simple (and boring) "fine" to every question thrown my way, yada yada yada. I allow myself to choose the things that don't nourish me,  challenge me, or inspire me...like, why? WHY? Does anyone else run into this issue, or am I just the worst, laziest human being ever? I don't entirely understand myself sometimes...most of the time...

Anyways. As they say, the first step toward change is awareness - and as anyone who's still reading this knows, I can check that one off the list. Acceptance is the next step and for your/time's sake, let's just say I've got that one down too. I am the way I am, and I am OK with that. Last but not least, we've got action. I'll be extremely honest - working long hours is just the way my life has to be right now, mostly because that's the way I want it to be, so trimming my workweek down to 40 hours just ain't gonna happen. But I'm willing to compromise and rework other areas of my life to find that sweet, sacred spot of life balance. I'm not one to follow through with a long list of resolutions - at least not all at once (baby steps, people) - but I'm really keen on choosing one thing to focus on and crushing that, and then moving to the next on the list. So with y'all as my witnesses, I vow to make myself a priority. Each and every day, I am going to carve out some serious time for me, myself, and I. Here is my self love declaration:

For one hour every single day - even when I'm feeling ultra lazy and would rather be laying on the couch and eating pizza (and watching GOT reruns) - I will take one hour to do something I love, simply because I love it. Every damn day.

As I'm a huge fan of accountability, if you run into me around the lakes or we grab a bite together, ask me how I'm doing. Because lezzzz be honest, when it comes to taking care of myself I have basically zero integrity. I will easily opt out of self care for any number of different reasons - like eating pizza on the couch while watching GOT. I mean it, y'all. Hold me to it.

How do you rebalance when you're out of whack and/or how do you carve out time to take care of yourself?

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musings


  • March 2018
    • Mar 26, 2018 permission to slow the fuck down Mar 26, 2018
  • January 2018
    • Jan 22, 2018 retreat yoself Jan 22, 2018
  • December 2017
    • Dec 28, 2017 see ya later 2017 Dec 28, 2017
  • July 2017
    • Jul 20, 2017 tattoos, timing, & trust Jul 20, 2017
    • Jul 19, 2017 quarter-centuries, gratitude switches, & clarity Jul 19, 2017
  • May 2017
    • May 19, 2017 real May 19, 2017
    • May 19, 2017 grounding with soul values May 19, 2017
    • May 9, 2017 building blocks & self-love May 9, 2017
  • April 2017
    • Apr 25, 2017 trust the process Apr 25, 2017
    • Apr 25, 2017 busy part I Apr 25, 2017
  • March 2017
    • Mar 6, 2017 oh, my raging ego Mar 6, 2017
  • February 2017
    • Feb 4, 2017 the art of non-attachment Feb 4, 2017
  • December 2016
    • Dec 22, 2016 new year, same me Dec 22, 2016
  • November 2016
    • Nov 22, 2016 permission to be messy Nov 22, 2016
  • October 2016
    • Oct 4, 2016 the sweet spot Oct 4, 2016
  • September 2016
    • Sep 18, 2016 there's no place like home Sep 18, 2016
  • July 2016
    • Jul 24, 2016 100 things Jul 24, 2016
  • March 2016
    • Mar 24, 2016 why i do what i do Mar 24, 2016
    • Mar 2, 2016 february reflection, march intentions Mar 2, 2016
  • February 2016
    • Feb 27, 2016 lean in and learn to love whatever rises Feb 27, 2016
    • Feb 9, 2016 why i really wanderlust Feb 9, 2016
  • December 2015
    • Dec 1, 2015 the power of saying no Dec 1, 2015
  • November 2015
    • Nov 26, 2015 why i choose to live in possibility Nov 26, 2015
    • Nov 24, 2015 be kind, always. (please) Nov 24, 2015
    • Nov 13, 2015 ego part II Nov 13, 2015
    • Nov 9, 2015 the yoga hustle Nov 9, 2015
    • Nov 4, 2015 real Nov 4, 2015
  • October 2015
    • Oct 30, 2015 aparigraha, among other things Oct 30, 2015
    • Oct 20, 2015 learning to take my yoga off the mat Oct 20, 2015
    • Oct 16, 2015 what is yoga to me, and why do I practice? Oct 16, 2015
    • Oct 7, 2015 courage, my dear heart Oct 7, 2015
  • September 2015
    • Sep 29, 2015 the inbetween, and beyond Sep 29, 2015
  • August 2015
    • Aug 23, 2015 oh, the people you'll meet Aug 23, 2015
    • Aug 15, 2015 why living in a mountain town was my best life choice yet Aug 15, 2015
    • Aug 7, 2015 ego Aug 7, 2015
    • Aug 5, 2015 about that comfort zone Aug 5, 2015
  • July 2015
    • Jul 24, 2015 twenty three Jul 24, 2015
    • Jul 22, 2015 feeling all the feels Jul 22, 2015
    • Jul 22, 2015 the unplug drug Jul 22, 2015
  • June 2015
    • Jun 6, 2015 what aspen has taught me about loving my life Jun 6, 2015
    • Jun 6, 2015 always coming back home to you Jun 6, 2015
  • February 2015
    • Feb 27, 2015 practice Feb 27, 2015
    • Feb 23, 2015 intent Feb 23, 2015
    • Feb 4, 2015 fearless Feb 4, 2015
    • Feb 4, 2015 love love Feb 4, 2015
  • January 2015
    • Jan 17, 2015 just let go Jan 17, 2015
    • Jan 16, 2015 new perspective Jan 16, 2015
    • Jan 11, 2015 come alive Jan 11, 2015
    • Jan 6, 2015 humility Jan 6, 2015
    • Jan 2, 2015 a year in reflection: 2014 Jan 2, 2015
  • November 2014
    • Nov 9, 2014 that full moon though Nov 9, 2014
  • October 2014
    • Oct 19, 2014 anywhere but here Oct 19, 2014
    • Oct 6, 2014 self love Oct 6, 2014
  • September 2014
    • Sep 26, 2014 get lost Sep 26, 2014
    • Sep 24, 2014 choose to see the good stuff Sep 24, 2014
    • Sep 17, 2014 week 1 Sep 17, 2014
    • Sep 3, 2014 c u l8r Sep 3, 2014
  • August 2014
    • Aug 11, 2014 #goalcrush Aug 11, 2014
    • Aug 3, 2014 take a f*cking chance Aug 3, 2014
  • July 2014
    • Jul 31, 2014 no regrets Jul 31, 2014
    • Jul 20, 2014 cheers to 22 years Jul 20, 2014