Not every day is a good day.
But I still have a life to live—and a pretty full, abundant one at that.
I refuse to waste time if I can help it. So this is how I show up for my life, even on the bad days.
Lowering the Bar (On Purpose)
I intentionally schedule at least one bare-minimum day into my week.
Sometimes that means rearranging my gym schedule. Sometimes it means saying no to weekend plans.
FOMO is real—and my social group is, well… extremely social.
But I had to set a boundary with myself.
If I want to keep showing up for my life—and for the people in it—then sometimes that means not showing up and missing out.
That doesn’t mean I say no to everything. But I don’t jam-pack my weeks and weekends anymore.
I remind myself that my gas tank is smaller than everyone else’s.
And that means I have to refuel more often.
I’ve also had to completely redefine what productivity means to me.
A typically healthy person might be able to shower, do dishes, do laundry, work for a few hours, vacuum, and then go out to dinner.
That’s just not my reality anymore.
And if I do manage to do all of that?
I’m probably going to be in bed the entire next day, completely wiped out.
So now, productivity might look like this:
- I got the essential laundry done—but the rest can wait
- The trash got taken out—but vacuuming isn’t happening today
And I’ve had to be okay with the fact that my version of productivity doesn’t look like everyone else’s.
My Non-Negotiables
There are days where I wake up and my energy is already gone.
Completely spent and I haven’t even gotten out of bed yet.
But I do have non-negotiables:
Going to work
Drinking water
Eating something
Basic hygiene
On bad days, that might not look perfect.
I might not eat a full meal—but I’ll drink electrolytes and get some protein in.
I might not take an “everything shower”—but I’ll handle the basics.
And some days, the basics are all I can do.
My life is not Pinterest-perfect.
This is what it actually looks like.
Energy Strategy
I’ve built my life around conserving energy wherever I can.
Some of these things might seem small—but saving even ten minutes of effort or frustration can mean having energy for something that actually matters later.
I get my eyelashes done so I don’t have to spend time and energy on mascara every morning. It’s a small thing, but it helps me feel put together with less effort.
The peace of not having to deal with waiting for it to dry, or the frustration of it smearing everywhere while I’m already tired and running late is priceless to me.
I do grocery pickup at a store near my gym so I can knock both things out without draining myself walking around a store.
And sometimes? I’ll drop off laundry for wash-and-fold.
I don’t do that all the time—but when I know I need that energy for something else, I’m not above paying for convenience.
Simplifying my life like this allows me to spend my energy on things that actually make my life fuller and happier.
I know not everyone has access to these options—but for me, it’s about prioritizing anything that makes life easier, not harder.
Letting Go of Perfection
Showing up for my life also means letting go of perfection.
Not every workout is going to be great.
Not every day is going to be productive.
My house isn’t always going to be clean.
My laundry isn’t always going to be folded.
And that has to be okay.
My life is not going to look like everyone else’s.
And I have to keep reminding myself of that.
And honestly?
That’s okay too.
Small Wins
I’ve learned to celebrate the small wins.
Showing up to the gym when I really don’t feel like it—and leaving feeling even just a little bit better.
Getting out of bed and going to work with a smile on my face, even when it’s the last thing I feel like doing.
Choosing myself—even when the people-pleaser in me wants to say yes to everyone else.
Those things matter.
Those are wins.
And some days, I have to remind myself:
Showing up is the win.
This is my life.
And not every day is Instagram-worthy.
It might not look impressive—but it’s real.
And it counts.
XO,
Samantha Jo