When Your Body Asks For A Break

There are some lessons that bear repeating.

1. The emotionally unavailable man will never change, not even for you.

2. It is impossible to open a package of Oreos and eat just one. You have to do an entire row or none at all.

3. Your body deserves better than you likely give it in an average day.

There are more but these are the big three.

I seem to swing between being ultra aware and responsive to what my body needs or I tune it out altogether. For the last couple of weeks, I have ignored my body as it has screamed for more rest, less stress, better food and much needed quiet.

I have this inner voice that’s constantly pushing me to keep going when I don’t want to, that tricks me into not hopping on the treadmill when I know exercise would be invigorating, and that tells me to eat the fries because that’s what I really want even though I know I’ll be sluggish tomorrow.

Meanwhile, my body is asking for a break, begging for good nutrition, movement and rest. And I ignore it.

I rely on my body to get me through the day. It takes me everywhere I need to go even when I’m mean to it. It has never failed me but I fail it all the time.

How to do better? That’s the $64,000 question.

This week has been stressful and tiring. Healthy eating, exercise and stress management are really just a pipe dream, something to be put off until the weekend when I undoubtedly will crash.

We all go through times like this and the best we can do is the best we can do. I’m trying hard to remember that good choices breed more good choices and that what I do to my body today will effect how I feel tomorrow.

I know that I’m approaching a breaking point when I simultaneously want to run away on a trip and also hide in my quiet house with a package of cookies.

A trip may be in my future but the cookies will not.

For today, I’ll just keep pushing forward and make the best decisions possible. And then tomorrow, I’ll wake up and do it again.

Things will be better soon.

Mental Health Day

 

The last few weeks have been challenging on a number of levels so I took a mental health day yesterday and pursued an adventure with a friend. I’ll tell you that story soon. Meanwhile, here’s a picture from said adventure and a little giggle to start your day.

Mark Twain had a way with words but when you know the context you might consider it in bad taste. Stay tuned for the whole story.

The day off was a big help and I would recommend taking a break to anyone who is feeling stressed.

Roll Down The Window and Turn Up The Music

The last few months have been rough and have left me feeling worn out and cranky. Fortunately, the source of my stress has finally passed and life is returning to normal. I got some rest Friday and then went on a little adventure yesterday.

It wasn’t much of an adventure really but it felt amazing to just breathe fresh air and to do as I pleased without a nagging voice in the back of my mind insisting that things beyond my control could result in disaster.

No pressure, right?

You know how I found my happy place yesterday? I hit the road. More than that, I turned up my favorite playlist and rolled down the windows. There’s something freeing about listening to good tunes with the window rolled down on a sunny day.

I came home smiling and feeling truly happy.

It was a good day.

We spend too much time indoors. My (unsolicited) advice is that you breathe fresh air and soak in the sunshine every chance you get. And, if you’re in the car and the weather allows, roll down the window.

Trust me. It makes driving so much more fun. 

And don’t forget to turn up your favorite music. It’ll make you feel like a teenager again!