Anyone Up for a Seven-Day Maintenance Reset?

Photo by Samuel Regan-Asante on Unsplash

Building Consistency Through a Seven-Day Maintenance Period

Last summer, while traveling in Morocco, I bought a calendar from a street vendor. Today, May 10th, or April 27th in the Amazigh calendar, marks what is known as the “Maintenance Period,” a seven-day stretch when people hope for good rainfall for a successful crop season.

That idea of maintenance stayed with me today, grounded in care for land and crops, and echoed in how I think about caring for myself.

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about health, consistency, and how easy it is to neglect ourselves while trying to keep up with everything else. So for the next seven days, I have decided to commit to two simple habits: walking 15,000 steps a day and journaling daily.

I chose walking because of its well-known benefits. It supports cardiovascular health, improves mood and sleep, strengthens the body, and helps manage stress and energy levels. What I appreciate most is its simplicity. Walking is accessible, but when done consistently, it becomes powerful.

Journaling feels different, but just as important.

During my PhD, one of my advisors once told me I was “not working enough.” At the time, the comment left me overwhelmed and discouraged. In response, for myself and for my own mental health, I began documenting my days carefully, hour by hour, sometimes minute by minute. What started as a way to defend myself gradually became something more: a record of effort, progress, and resilience.

Looking back at those journals now, I can clearly see how much I was actually doing, regardless of what anyone else thought. Writing things down gave me perspective and, over time, confidence.

So for this next week, this personal “maintenance period,” I want to return to these habits with intention. I want to see what happens when I give consistent attention to both my body and mind, even for a short time.

Maybe maintenance does not have to be dramatic. Sometimes, it begins with something as simple as walking, writing, and being present.