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Hey Reader,

For the past few weeks, I've been trying to revive my daily writing practice. I do write daily, but I'm talking about journaling. Writing that is for me and only me. The kind of writing that I do with a pen in a journal with actual paper. It's writing that I rarely share with the world because it is so deeply personal and also, kind of boring.

I used to write everyday and then, my schedule changed. My life changed. The time that I used to dedicate to writing was used for something else.

Occasionally I'd squeeze it in, but most of the time, I didn't manage it.

So for awhile, I just stopped.

My guess is that you are familiar with this experience. It might not be writing for you, but it's probably something else.

For a lot of folks who tell me they no longer have a daily movement practice, this is what happens for them.

They had a good groove for awhile, but then something small upsets the normal routine and then something else happens the next day, so they miss it, too. And now they're already out of the habit.

Sometimes it is something bigger, like a schedule change that disrupts a beloved routine and it's tough to figure out how to insert the old, beloved practice into a different part of the day.

So what do you do?

This leads me to my Movement Snack this week.

Movement Snack this week:

There are lots of ways to re-engage a habit. Sometimes it's as simple as leaving a notebook out on the table where I would be writing. Or leaving your yoga mat out so it's ready to go when you want to move.

Leaving the notebook out worked for me at first, but then it became an issue of timing. I didn't have a clear time to do write, so it wasn't part of an actual routine. So even though I saw the notebook, I wasn't writing in it because the timing was wrong. So I tried changing when I wrote for myself -- I tried writing at night in bed, which I hated because I was usually exhausted and not in the mood to write when I just wanted to fall asleep.

So I shifted back to the morning, but placed it very specifically between getting back from walking the dog and making lunch for my kindergarterner to bring to school. And it's worked pretty well for the past 2 weeks.

The point of this is that what I frequently hear from folks is that if a new habit isn't sticking, they just give up and say, "this isn't for me." What often needs to happen is simply figuring out WHEN it will work in your schedule. This involves a lot of trial and error.

Is habit tip this useful? I'd love to hear if this sparks some curiosity in you about how to renegotiate with a tricky habit you want to have in your life.

Question of the week:

What is one habit in your life that is absolutely non-negotiable?

I look forward to hearing about your non-negotiable habits and hopefully seeing you on the mat soon, too!

Warmly,

Naomi

Want to stay in touch during the week? Here are a 2 easy ways:

​Follow me on Bluesky, where I share daily movement practices as acts of resistance, connection, and strength.

​Follow me on substack, where I write about the intersection of movement, motherhood, and the culture that we are all moving through. Or better yet, subscribe so you have immediate access to regular essays, including my most recent substack which is about a famous coach who is using his daughter's bodies to benefit his business and increase his profit. Not every story I write sits at the exact intersection of diet culture, fitness, and motherhood, which is my wheelhouse -- but this one does.

As always, if you'd like to support my writing, you can do that by simply reading and liking my pieces on substack. Even better, comment on them and share them with those who might love them, too. And of course the best way to support my work is with a paid subscription, which allows me to continue to do the writing I love.

One more quick writing note: I recently published a piece about why bouncing back postpartum is not a fitness goal. Diet culture has no business in your postpartum experience. You can read this piece over on the Fit Bottomed Girls platform, which is my favorite online platform for a healthy, anti-diet approach to movement and fitness.