The best advice I’ve received on dealing with being in a funk is to practice radical self-care, whatever that looks like.
For me in the past (and sometimes still in the present if it really calls for it), that’s usually translated into mainlining a bag of chips. The more potato-y, the better. Oftentimes it’s been one, long, arduous exercise in grazing and binge eating, though I realize your mileage may vary on what constitutes “binge eating.” Mine typically has meant a handful of whatever is open, so it could be almonds or it could be M&Ms or wine or it could be cheese. If it’s in the house and not locked down, and not something I’m mindfully consuming, I call that a binge. I’ve done enough work, though, that I know the signs that lead me down that path, and so sometimes self-care means eating my feelings, but I try to be mindful and make it good food.
So anyway.
In addition to practicing a more mindful, less uptight, less raging-bitch-to-be-around way of operating right now, I’m also easing up on my workout schedule. My weeks look like this:
Sunday: 40-minute run/75-minute yoga
Monday: 45-minute spinning
Tuesday: 45-minute boot camp
Wednesday: rest
Thursday: 45-minute boot camp
Friday: rest
Saturday: 40-minute run (speed work)
I really love my training schedule, and it’s paying off in dividends – I feel awesome, current hormonal whoopsie-daises not withstanding. But it doesn’t leave much time for much else – I’m up by 4:45 a.m. every day. Classes are usually at 5:30 a.m., AG is up by 7 a.m. and I’m out the door 50 minutes late. I get home exactly at 5:45 p.m. every day and am taking care of AG with Scott until 7:30 p.m., which leaves exactly two hours to finish up work and relax with my husband before I have to get to bed by no later than 9:30 p.m. to start the cycle all over again.
I mean, it’s no wonder, really, that I’ve had a hard time shaking my mood. Exercise is a great stress reliever, but I need more of the following:
1) Longer walks with the dog
2) Writing
3) Mindless TV watching – I love you, Revenge!
4) Cooking – I made this recipe last night with whole-wheat orzo and grilled chicken and it was awesome.
5) Time with my husband
6) Bike riding – I miss my bike, and it needs a tune-up, and I’m taking it in this week
7) Sleep
So this week I’ve decided to loosen the reins on my generally tight work out schedule so I can make some room for some other joyful things. (Seriously. Have you watched Revenge? IT IS AWESOME. Holy smacks.) Don’t get me wrong – my day-to-day is a gift, and I’ve got an awesome kid who is hysterical and lovely and all the rest of it, but I think I would benefit from more of these things at the moment. I’m not cutting out boot camp or yoga but the rest of it? Yeah. It can wait until next week.
Taking Glinny down a few extra side streets cannot.
