Shavasana Sh$tStorm Series: Part 3
Author: Susie Nelson | Owner of The Cycling Yogi
Hey friends! Welcome to episode #3 of “Savasana Sh$t Storm: Mindful Movement and Mindless Thoughts.”
Yep, we’re already three parts in…crushing it!
So, once again, I find myself knee-deep in the loop of being busy but not present. (because apparently I’m not done over thinking and overdoing it from the last episode). It’s like my brain just isn’t getting the message that it needs to (or can) stop running through everything I need to do after class. I feel like I’m dealing with an overenthusiastic puppy! But one with responsibilities and an endless to-do list! And, it’s not having it!
It’s kind of ridiculous. I totally walk into class with the best intentions. “TODAY I’m just gonna be in the moment,” and then, five breaths in I’m planning my grocery list, wondering if I replied to that email, or obsessing over who’s going to eat that last brownie on the counter
…and how NOW I really want that brownie!
I think it’s fair to say “My to-do list has a to-do list”! It’s this crazy list that only grows, no matter how much I check things off. Even when I walk I listen to podcasts about productivity, or about being present! (though I think I’m just adding to my mental clutter! It feels like I’m trying to clean a messy room while throwing more stuff into it).
Today at yoga, I tried to not make it just another box to check off.
I failed.
THEN I got mad at myself for not being “present,” which spiraled into a whole self-sabotage thing. My yoga mat turned into a portable office, more multitasking at it’s finest. Classic.
So, here’s why I think this is important to face. We’ve bought into this idea that being busy = being important. If your calendar isn’t packed, you’re somehow invisible or lazy. (My husband likes to point out I can fit “10 pounds of sh*t into a 5-pound bag”… he’s not wrong. It’s my super power)
We convince ourselves that if we’re not busy all the time, we’re not doing enough. But I know my busyness isn’t always productive. Sometimes, it’s just a fancy way of avoiding real rest, feeling overwhelmed, or trying to prove I’m “important.”
But even though I keep telling myself I should be more enlightened, able to breathe, focus, and just enjoy the damn class, I’m human. Some days I do better than others. Some days it feels like it’s just another item I’m checking off my to-do list.
Clearly, I’m a work in progress.
Lately I’ve decided (or rather, been told very forcefully) that I need to take some time off. Not crazy stuff, just a couple of days here and there. (Dream big! Just TWO full days a week.) It was brought to my attention that I need to recharge, step back, “adjust my attitude,” and just exhale.
What I’m finding is that unwinding when your mind’s racing a million miles an hour is really HARD. Still, I’m trying.
Here’s what I am trying to remember: You don’t have to run yourself into the ground to be valuable. Sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is pause, breathe, and just be.
Pro tips to chill out:
🧘♀️ Pause and ask: “Am I doing this because I want to, or because I feel I should?”
🚫 Set boundaries – learn to say no without guilt
🗓️ Schedule nothing (what??? how?? yes, block out time for nothing)
🌬️ Take a few deep breaths – just five minutes can reset your brain
🎨 Do something relaxing – color, walk, read, or just laugh with friends
Start small today:
- Take five minutes to breathe deeply
- Say no to one thing that drains you
- Do something just for fun—no guilt
We’ve got this. 💙
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