The Marathon of Wellness: How to Pace Yourself for a Year of Growth

This is the fifth and final blog in our mini wellness series for ECE professionals. I strongly encourage you to go back and read the last four blogs.

What is Wellness Anyway?

Wellness isn’t just about being disease-free or in your physical prime—that’s physical health. It’s not just about being happy all the time, either—that’s mental health. Wellness is a progressive state of thriving, actively achieving balance in all areas of your life.

What sets wellness apart from health is making deliberate and intentional choices that improve your quality of life.

Growing in every aspect of your life is no easy feat. The thought of trying to have it all figured out is probably enough to push you into a mental spiral (which tends to lead to a physical spiral). But you don’t have to figure it all out at once. Like any other goal, breaking it down into pieces makes it more manageable.

Here’s a yearly self-care plan I recommend for staying on track with your wellness goals. It’s easier when you think about it like a marathon:

The Yearly Self-Care Marathon Plan

January – The Stretch (Growth & Renewal)

Everyone wants to start off the year sprinting, but pacing yourself is key. You’ve barely even had time to process the previous year and prepare for this one. January is the time to replenish your physical and mental energy for the run ahead.

Focus on introducing or building healthy habits like drinking enough water, getting enough rest, and moving your body daily. Reassess and realign your personal and professional goals. Reconsider or reinforce your opinions and perspectives.

This is important because January is when you give yourself permission to change your mind about anything, freeing yourself from self-limiting beliefs that might be holding you back.

Now that you’re refreshed and renewed, you can set your intentions with clarity.

February – The Warm-Up (Finding and Creating Joy)

This is where you re-up on your why. February is all about preparing your mind for the mission. That means being in a positive and uplifted headspace.

Focus on indulging in the things that make you happy. If you think you hate exercise but love dancing—do more of that. If your business has felt like it’s been depleting you lately, focus more on the aspects of your business that bring you joy—like having coffee with parents or trying that cool viral science project with the kids.

This is the time for guilt-free pleasure. You need to boost your dopamine to reinforce your motivation and ignite that zealous energy.

March – Taking Places (Fresh Starts and Decluttering)

March is the “on your mark, get set…”

On your mark: Get into position. Make room for what’s coming. Declutter, clean, organize, and personalize your physical space. Go through your junk drawers, kitchen cabinets, garage, and anywhere else stuff is unnecessarily taking up space. Studies show that your living space impacts your mental well-being.

Clean up your digital space, too. That “storage full” notification or those 287 unread messages are subconsciously keeping you overwhelmed.

Get set: Practice mindfulness to ground yourself in the present moment. Reduce distractions, limit your exposure to negativity, and eliminate routines that aren’t working—no matter how long you’ve been doing them. Build better habits, create a plan, and let go of doubt and negative self-talk.

Now you’re in position, ready for “go.” Take a deep breath because April is go time.

April – Picking Up Speed (Faith, Healing, and Patience)

You look up after that resounding “go,” and it seems like everyone has passed you. After all, it’s April. Most people already started sprinting toward their goals on January 1.

But remember: the runner wants to cross the finish line after the first lap, the gardener wants a plentiful harvest at the first sign of spring, and the lumberjack wants the tree to fall with the first swing. But you’ve trained for this. You’ve planted the seed. You’ve sharpened your axe. Patience, young grasshopper. Have faith that your time is coming.

When the path isn’t looking like the one you planned for, doubt starts creeping in. All of the limiting beliefs you had and all the times you’ve failed replay in your mind. The ghost of trauma past comes back to haunt you, and you don’t even realize that you’re building momentum in the present.

This month, take advantage of the solitude to prioritize self-compassion and nurture any emotional wounds. Pray more, journal, go to therapy or talk out your feelings with a confidant, and give yourself grace.

Healing, faith, and patience are vital to restoring your sense of direction.

May – Cruising (Curating Connections)

You’ve made it past the first curve. You’re back in the moment, it feels like you’re catching up, and you’re delighted to see people around.

As humans, we are a highly interconnected species—biologically, economically, culturally, socially, and in so many other ways. It’s only natural for you to desire a sense of belonging.

In May, focus on strengthening and expanding your personal and professional connections. Call that friend you’ve been meaning to reach out to for a while or strike up a conversation with that teacher you rarely talk to. Concentrate on relationships that bring you closer to peace, purpose, preparation, and prosperity.

June – Pushing Through (Resilience & Strength)

Now you’re feeling the burn, and you might be struggling to catch your breath a little bit. But this is not the time to stop—this is the time to push through and prove to yourself what you’re capable of.

You will never build confidence unless you overcome. You will never overcome unless you face obstacles.

If you hit a plateau, throw yourself over the edge, roll down, and just keep going. June is the time to push yourself out of your comfort zone and do things that might raise your blood pressure a little bit. Challenge yourself to accomplish a physical feat like running an actual marathon or to accomplish a career goal like finally creating your business socials.

Practice positive affirmations and visualize your success to give you the courage, strength, and confidence to push through.

July – Water Break (Letting Go and Transformation)

It’s the second half of the year and things are heating up. You’re being put through the fire, and everything and everybody won’t make it to the other side with you.

Take a pause to grieve the relationships that didn’t work out, the business deals that fell through, and any other losses you experienced during this transformation.

While you’re in the fire, take the heat. Examine yourself for the ugly truths. Acknowledge any toxic traits or negative habits you’ve picked up, and work on letting them go—from a compassionate perspective, not a critical one. Then cool down, forgive yourself, and forgive others for not living up to your expectations so you can get back on track.

August – Reset and Refocus (Reflection and Preparation)

You’re rehydrated and reformed. Now it’s time to recalibrate so you can kick it up a notch.

August is a natural time of reflection for educators. We look back at the previous school year and analyze the parts we loved and lamented the most. Then we look at the school year ahead with hopeful expectations.

Zero in on other areas of your life as well. Celebrate where you’re on track, and readjust where you’re in misalignment. Remember, it’s okay (and actually important for your growth) to change your mind sometimes. Don’t force yourself to stick with something that’s not working or bringing you joy out of a false sense of commitment and follow-through.

The goal is to prepare for what lies ahead—not to prove your past self right.

September – Second Wind (New Beginnings)

You’re back, and you’re better. You’ve got a resurgence of energy and you’re ready for more.

You’ve leveled up your goals, and new heights mean new plights. This next step will require new skills and capabilities. In September, focus on intellectual growth and personal development.

Take a course, read a new book, or find a mentor. Don’t skimp on refining your soft skills, either. Communication, resourcefulness, and grit are just as important as financial reporting and marketing plans.

You need to be well-rounded to prepare for the nuances of your journey.

October – The Home Stretch (Stability & Grounding)

The year is breezing by. October is here already, so you just have to keep a steady pace and push through the final quarter of the year.

This isn’t the season for small, quick wins or for taking big risks. October is about getting back to the basics—the classics—the safe investments that yield long-term security.

This month, direct your energy toward building long-term stability and success. Carefully craft a morning routine that sets the tone for the day and a nighttime routine that winds you down. Forget about fad diets and opt for building sustainable dietary habits instead.

The marathon isn’t about collecting a bunch of trophies before you get to the finish line—sometimes it’s about preparing for the next marathon, or even a few marathons down the line.

November – The Finish Line (Hope & Gratitude)

Your arms are up, and you’re flying through the winner’s tape. Look back at the bridges you’ve burned, the bridges you’ve crossed, the bridges that collapsed, and the bridges that gave you cover—and be thankful for them all. They were all necessary for your race.

In November, reflect on the highlights of your race with gratitude. Before you throw yourself into trying to get more or achieve more, actively and intentionally appreciate what you already have and what you’ve already done.

Your marathon isn’t all about you, so share your journey with others. Our stories are designed to inspire hope and ignite faith in others. Don’t be selfish.

December – Recovery (Rejuvenation)

You’ve crossed the finish line and you’re back in the comfort of your friends and family. Just relish it and enjoy it.

Aimlessly going through each year with no real goals, plans, or metrics is the norm for so many people because it’s easy. Navigating the year strategically and intentionally to come out better and better requires energy from every part of you.

In December, rejuvenate yourself with self-care—the stereotypical, romanticized kind. Indulge in anything you can comfortably and reasonably afford—spa days, staycations, luxury golf, you name it! Dedicate this month to the things that restore you, like spending quality time with your immediate and extended family and working on your passion projects.

Final Thoughts

Your marathon isn’t about presenting a sports-illustrated-worthy photo op. You’re probably going to ugly cry and sweat in unimaginable places along the way, and that’s okay! Your life doesn’t have to be completely perfect to be good or for you to feel happy and fulfilled.

Wellness is about taking progressive strides to become increasingly free—not flawless. With this in mind, release the pressure to get everything right right now, and focus on making small improvements in one area at a time.

I hope this mini wellness series has left you reinvigorated, amped, and ready to dominate the childcare market—without diminishing yourself in the process.

What part of the marathon are you looking forward to the most?

Download our free Year-of-Wellness Bingo Cards for a fun and interactive way to stay on track with your self-care goals this year.