Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Day 13: Fighting Fatigue

Zoey and I picking a flower while visiting
Granny and Pops last week.

Even though Zoey is now almost 2 (21 months), sometimes I still find it really hard to get motivated and stay rested. This makes me feel guilty because it isn't because a newborn is keeping me up or I go work long hours out of the house. I don't know what causes it really, but today's challenge does give me some insight on how to fix it.

It is a fine line that we walk between too much and not enough sleep and activity. Too little sleep or too much activity will cause us to be over-tired, easily stressed, non-coherent and for the most part useless. However, the opposite is also true. If we get too much sleep or too little activity our body goes into a sort of hibernation. So the challenge is to find the balance.

This over-tiredness is something I have been battling with recently. It is one of the motivators that got me to start doing yoga. Which I love by the way! I have also been eating better and more regularly. For a while I would hardly even eat lunch. I would get Zoey all set up with her food and then finish whatever chore I was working on to get it finished. Now I fix Zoey and I the same food (for the most part) and I sit down with her and we eat together. It has helped me to eat more consistently and I give myself the same balanced lunch as I give Zoey.

My mom was a superwoman when I was a kid. She would get up and take me to school, go work all day, come home and then play with me and help around the house. Now that I am a mom and a wife I asked her the secret to how she could do so much all the time. Her answer was simple: don't stop! It is so true. I now know exactly what she means. If I get up and keep moving (i.e. get breakfast ready, eat, wash dishes, play with Zoey, fold laundry...) If I bounce around from one thing to the other (playing with and giving attention to Zoey in between doing different chores) I not only get a lot done early in the day, I also have more energy to do it. But once I sit down, I lose all that energy. So I just keep moving.

How do you keep from getting worn out?


*Note: The challenge is associated with Joyful Mothering from the book 31 Days to Clean by Sarah Mae.

3 comments:

  1. I'm so glad you are still loving yoga! I've been slack on it recently! I have been struggling with over tiredness as well! Once I come home from work and get Brody fed, i'm done. I have to muster up the energy to get him bathed and in bed so I have zero left for exercise! But I agree, when I do have spurts of energy, I don't stop. I get so much accomplished if I just keep pushing myself.

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  2. I find that my diet plays a HUGE part in my energy levels. When I am eating right, I have a lot more energy and I sleep a lot better. Tons of fresh fruit and veggies are the key for me! Also, any kind of movement gives me a little burst of energy. ;)

    Yoga and pilates are my favorites!

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  3. Those are great ways to fight fatigue! I do agree that eating right helps me feel better. I love fresh fruit too! I'm so glad it's gardening season again.

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