February Pulled Me Off Track—Here's How I'm Gently Reclaiming My Priorities (No Guilt Required)

Hey friends—Annie here, still hunkered down in my cozy corner in Georgia, where February's grey damp is still hanging on, keeping things indoors and a bit slower! I checked in last with 'Unknown Purpose,' sharing how the weather had me indoors and reflective... and then, poof—life kicked up the volume anyway.

I had a presentation that I dedicated my time to preparing, a weekend trip away with my husband over Valentine's Day and then work (my real day job) pulled me in yet another direction, add some random to-dos, and suddenly my writing time (this space that lights me up) got squeezed right out. It's been a couple of weeks since I hit publish, and honestly? It left me feeling scattered and a bit out of control. If your own February has felt like everything's tugging at you, know you're not alone. The good news? We don't need a massive overhaul or a guilt trip. Just a gentle reclaim.

Pull up a (virtual) chair and let's talk about getting back to center without the self-blame.

I'm back in this space because it matters to me—and because sharing these real moments helps me stay accountable (and hopefully helps you feel less alone if your February has been a tug-of-war too).

In all my years, this might have been the first where I included a goal of giving myself grace. Where I've decided that not everything has to be done to a perfection standard. Where I can take time to feel and understand my feelings.

This grace isn't passive - it's showing up in small, intentional ways.

Here's what I'm leaning into right now to pull things back toward center—small, doable shifts that don't demand perfection or a total life redo. I'm not off course, I'm just delayed!

1. A Quick, Honest Reality Check
I gave myself 10 minutes to look back: What really ate up those couple of weeks? The presentation took focused blocks (really worth it, but draining), the Valentine's trip was restorative and needed, but the "random to-dos" and work piled on like sneaky extras. Seeing it clearly helped me to see where the squeeze happened—no judgment, just "Okay, that's what happened." Awareness without beating myself up.

2. My Three Anchors for This Season
I narrowed it to three things that matter most right now (because more than that truly feels overwhelming):

• Wellness & energy (sauna mornings, cold plunges and yoga movement, the stuff that keeps me feeling alive—especially important as I navigate through this winter)
• This space (writing for Flourish Forward, because sharing these real moments lights me up and keeps me connected to growth)
• Connection (time with my husband, family, the people who ground me—Valentine's weekend reminded me how vital that is)

I jotted them down where I'll see them daily. A simple sticky note on the corner of my computer screen summarizing: Wellness/Writing/Connection.

3. Guard the Morning Pocket
My energy is highest early, so I'm protecting a small window for my non-negotiable morning routine—tea, journal, a cold plunge and a quick sauna session after yoga—before the day starts pulling. Even 60 minutes counts. On days when life interrupts, I shorten it but don't skip. Treating it like an appointment has already cut the scattered feeling.

4. Kind Ways to Redirect
When requests or to-dos pop up: "Thanks so much—I'm carving out space for a few key things right now, so I'll need to pass this time." Or "That sounds great; can we revisit in a couple weeks?" It feels gracious, not harsh, and frees mental room.

5. Sunday Reset Ritual
Just 10 minutes Sunday morning as I reflect on the week: Celebrate what aligned (even tiny wins), note what pulled me off, adjust one thing. No big overhaul—just a soft nudge back to my sanity before heading into the next week.

This isn't about rigid control or erasing February's chaos. It's about remembering that a couple weeks off track doesn't erase progress—it's just data for gentler steering. The presentation, the trip, even the random stuff? All part of a full life. But protecting space for what truly lights me up (like this writing) is how I flourish forward, one reclaimed day at a time.

What's one anchor or priority you're holding onto right now? Reply to the email, comment below, or just whisper it to yourself—I read every word and love the connection.

Here's to the rest of February feeling a little softer, a little clearer. No guilt, just gentle forward. 🌿

With gratitude,
Annie