Trying to listen

For those of you who know me and read my blog regularly, you'll know I'm a pretty busy person. You'll also know that last year I got hit by a pretty serious 'illness'. Chronic Fatique Syndrome. It was hideous and something I fought the whole time it was obviously present.

But I was lucky and got better pretty quickly in comparison to many other people. And have since been learning how to deal with it. How to take things easy. Yeah right!

The other day I was talking to some Mums at school and they asked what I was going to do when I got home and I said 'rest'. Then when I saw them later they said, so did you get some rest and I said 'sort of, I went to Titirangi, ordered some product for a class, designed a LO and this and this. Well it was rest, I was sitting down'. LOL.

But the point being that what I consider rest, isn't really. So I need to learn to listen to my body better and alter the way I think. And I need to do it soon. This last week or so I've been needing an afternoon sleep every day again.

And that's ok. I just need to learn how much is too much and prioritise. I don't think I realised how much our trip over Xmas took out of me. I really haven't caught up since then. And there are some things like my family, crafting and chickens, that are far too important not to spend time on. So they come first. But other things, I can easily live without.

It's an interesting and frustrating journey that I'm going on. And again, I find myself fighting it every step of the way. But at least now I'm a little wiser (I hope) and can deal with it better.

After all, every day is a new day and this is a new year.

Comments

[mandyb]

yes ive learnt with my joint issues to be STILL as much in the weekends/evenings (opp to you) otherwise work during the day is a no go!!!

our bodies are screaming out (PAIN) we must listen to them!!!
you and me both babe xxxxxxxx

[Hannah]

Agree with Mandy, your body is telling you to slow down! I know that can't be easy (as I am also a very busy person, and being FORCED to slow down when I broke my ankle was HORRIBLE and I was terrible at it). But I think you should try and "schedule" some time for just chilling out with a movie or having a nap or reading a book. Put it in your diary so you don't forgo it to do something else. Hard one, though. Us mums don't find it easy to do nothing ... even when it's the best thing for us!

[Karen]

I agree as well with Mandy & Hannah, when not well REST but I can't do it either as my mine is telling me what I should be doing instead of trying to REST, I am on the go the whole time as well I think all mum's are & it is in our genes to go go go....but I find men can relax so much easier than ladies..But like the idea of puttin it in your diary.maybe I should go to bed now instead of checking my fb, emails & reading my favourite blogs..

[topkatnz]

:) oh yeah! Believe me I know how hard it is to slow done and stop doing 'stuff'. In the end I had to really pare back on everything but the basics last year just to get thru, and I'm not sure I did that well on that front sometimes! You have to though - and you will find a new way, hopefully one you enjoy even more than the path you're on now. I think the reverse of the above, don't worry so much about 'forced' rest, think about limiting time on 'unnecessary' things(set time limits/get an egg timer) - don't do them unless you love them or absolutely have to. Rest can come in the form of doing things you love - and sitting down doing them!LOL

[Nancy]

Yes, make time to rest. We all 'make time' for the things we love so make rest something you love. Every day from 1 till 2 or 3. Those other 'terribly important' jobs will wait and you may find they are not so important after all. Family is a priority but do they want a tired grumpy Mum or do they want a refreshed Mum who can really enjoy their company?? Family won't care if everything is not done but they will care if everything is done and you are too tired to enjoy their company which means that those other things are more important than them. Now, put your feet up, watch some trash on tv, snore to your heart's content, read a Mills and Boon, whatever, enjoy your time on this earth and don't sweat the small stuff cos its all small stuff!

[Elizabeth]

agree with all the advice given... one of the hardest things i've had to come to terms with, with my back injury... pacing. but as you once loved to run think of your week like a race... you need to look after yourself first so that you can look after your family. i've found guided meditations help me relax too :)

[Lynn]

Gosh, I rarely get a chance to visit your blog but it seems every time I do I discover something else we have in common ;-)

I've had CFS for decades. (Actually one of the first people in NZ diagnosed with ME as they used to call it - a claim to fame I'd happily do without).

You are definitely on the right track with listening to your body, but I still struggle with that. There's always something that NEEDS to be done isn't there?