Do You Struggle with the Daily Grind? Create a Heartfelt Calendar That Empowers You

Image by Alfonso Cerezo from Pixabay

Have you ever found yourself spinning on a hamster wheel, trying to juggle the demands of life? I had my week pretty planned out, with my regular commitments, self-care routine, and key appointments. I wanted to truncate everything to make way for a clear long weekend to spend quality time with my family and a close family friend we’ve been looking forward to visiting. Like most weeks, unanticipated things have come up, and I’ve dealt with them as best as I can, probably just like most people. I’ll admit I’m tired, though, and hearing Kate Northrup remind me of a few key things has really helped.

Kate is the daughter of Christiane Northrup, a pioneer in women’s health who combines her experience as a medical doctor with a focus on offering guidance that goes beyond conventional medicine. Kate is an author, entrepreneur, and speaker in her own right, focusing on financial freedom and wellness. Recently, she led a short workshop in preparation for the launch of her Heal the Way You Work course, aligning with her commitment to helping people create more ease and balance in their professional lives. Both women share a deep commitment to empowering women—something I, as a woman, deeply appreciate.

I valued the reminder to think about managing my time and energy in alignment with the body’s natural cycles. This was something a friend mentioned to me about six months ago, and I hadn’t really thought about scheduling my calendar around it before, but it makes absolute sense.

When I reflect on my life, I remember the habits of getting up for school and, as I grew, hitting the pool for an hour’s training before classes. As an adult, there have been decades of getting up for work, and now it’s about getting the kids up and doing school runs. None of this is cyclical, and in being diligent, a team player, and honoring commitments, I learned to “push through.”

Pushing through isn’t always a bad thing. In navigating various schooling systems, I’ve come to appreciate Rudolf Steiner’s philosophy, which intertwines the development of will with the ability to take action and engage with the world, emphasizing discipline, intention, and commitment. He argued that developing willpower is essential for living purposefully, aligning with the idea of honoring commitments even when it’s challenging. This principle remains central in Waldorf education today, where fostering emotional, psychological, and physical resilience is highly valued. Just as we build physical muscles through effort, we cultivate resilience by facing challenges and embracing growth opportunities.

That said, just thinking about decades of applying that kind of discipline makes me exhausted. It feels like a starter gun going off every day, propelling me onto the hamster wheel of life again. There has to be a better balance.

Kate often discusses how men's hormonal cycles, which affect energy, mood, and focus, generally follow a 24-hour pattern, while women's cycles are connected to their menstrual cycles, typically lasting 25 to 35 days. As someone who often finds myself “pushing through,” the principle of honoring natural rhythms and cycles to promote productivity and well-being without burnout is particularly appealing. This is especially true as I get older and find that “pushing through” becomes harder and takes a more noticeable toll on my body.

Another key point Kate Northrup emphasizes is the importance of working from a regulated nervous system. Our body's stress response is influenced by hormones like cortisol and melatonin, which are also produced by the body. These hormones follow a 24-hour cycle in both men and women, and I definitely notice both daily and monthly fluctuations—as well as seasonal changes.

As much as I know that focusing on balance can prevent the burnout that arises from constantly operating in a stress-driven, cortisol-fueled state, I often forget and am carried along by the busy flow of life that seems more detached from our natural cycles than ever. Having a reminder that a calm, grounded state optimizes productivity—rather than pushing through stress and exhaustion—was timely.

Incorporating this approach into my life will require some thought. As I head into a period of research and writing in the coming months, I believe I can find ways to schedule my time more effectively—allowing for creativity at certain times, structured discussions with research participants at others, and spacious moments for family and rest. But I also realize that balance is not just about managing my calendar; it's about honoring my natural rhythms and allowing space for rest and rejuvenation.

How might you approach your own scheduling to align with your body's needs and create a more fulfilling life? Consider taking a moment to reflect on your current commitments: Are there areas where you can create more space for rest or creativity? Can you identify patterns in your energy levels that suggest when you're most productive? By tuning into your own rhythms, you can cultivate a schedule that not only honors your commitments but also nurtures your well-being.

If you enjoyed reading this, you may enjoy A Step Too Far: Finding Balance in a Busy Life, Parenting in Pieces: Embracing Balance in Split Living, The Power of Release - Making Space for What Matters and Finding Balance: Making Big Changes Through Small Steps in a Complex Life. To be the first to receive these posts, you can also opt to subscribe to my blog.