Three weeks into the summer series, Jessica shifts from reflection to action. Wellness culture hands us an endless to-do list, meditate, journal, hydrate, ground, breathe, and when the list is endless, we end up doing none of it. This week's Healing Moment is about choosing just one anchor practice to carry you through the rest of the summer.
What You'll Learn
Why an endless wellness checklist often leads to doing nothing at all
How to choose your one anchor practice by reflecting on what's stuck with you or asking what your nervous system needs most (calm, expression, or presence)
Why making your practice small enough that you can't fail is the key to consistency
Jessica's own anchor practice this summer: a ten-minute, no-phone morning before opening anything
Try It Yourself
Choose one healing practice to anchor your summer:
Think back over past practices, grounding, breathwork, slow crafting, news fasting, journaling, somatic tools, compassion practices. What's something that stuck with you?
If nothing comes to mind, ask what your nervous system needs most right now: calm, expression, or presence?
Make it small enough that you can't fail, three sentences instead of a full journal entry, three conscious breaths instead of 20 minutes of meditation.
Write it down somewhere you'll see it: your phone, your journal, a sticky note, your mirror.
Name your anchor and where it fits into your day. The goal isn't transformation by September, it's consistency.
one thing rule, anchor practice, summer series, healing moments, consistency over perfection, self-support, nervous system needs, small habits, wellness culture, sustainable healing, daily ritual, simplicity, self-care practice, grounding, healing through consistency
Transcripts
Jessica (:
We're three weeks in, and I hope these Monday check-ins have been landing for you. Last week we journaled about what rest actually means, and this week we're taking action. Today's healing moment is an action step, and it's one I want you to carry with you for the rest of the summer.
Here's a problem with wellness culture. It gives us too many things to do. Meditate daily, journal every morning, exercise, hydrate, breathe, ground yourself, limit screens. The list is endless. And when the list is endless, we do none of it. So today I want you to do the opposite of all of it. I want you to choose one thing: one healing practice.
One anchor, one small, doable act of self-support that will return consistently for the rest of the summer. Here's how to choose it. First, think back over season one. We covered a lot of ground. Grounding practices, breath work, slow crafting, news fasting, journaling, somatic tools, compassion practices. Is there something that stuck with you? Something you tried once and thought, I want to do
Do more of that. Start there. If nothing comes to mind, ask yourself what does my nervous system most need right now? If the answer is calm, your anchor might be breath work or a warm evening ritual. If the answer is expression, it might be journaling, doodling, sketching.
If the answer is presence, it might be a daily walk without your phone. Once you have your one thing, make it small enough that you can't fail at it.
Not I'll journal every day, but maybe I'll write three sentences this morning.
Not I'll meditate for 20 minutes, but instead I'll take three conscious breaths before I get out of bed. Small enough to be real, specific enough to actually do. And then, and this is the important part, write it down right now on your phone, in your journal, on a sticky note, on your mirror. Name your anchor practice and where it fits in your day.
Mine this summer is a ten-minute no-phone morning before I open anything. Just coffee, quiet, and whatever I'm thinking. It's small, it's mine, and it changes the whole shape of my day. What's yours?
One thing, that's it. The goal isn't transformed by September. It's consistency. It's showing up for yourself in one small way again and again all summer long. That's healing right there. I'll be back next Monday with a breathwork practice to help you handle the moments when summer gets overwhelming.
Until then, be good to yourself. If you'd like to read my blog or stay up to date, you can sign up for the newsletter at healingismyhobby.com. You can follow me on Instagram or YouTube at Healing is my hobby. And if you'd like to know more about my clinical practice, you can visit Jessica Calarco LCSW.com or follow me on Instagram at Jessica Colarco LCSW.
