Like every mother I know, I come quite low down on my list of priorities and that is fine. That is, on the whole I think, how it should be.
Sometimes though you get a bit of a wake up call, or you just feel down and you think.....hmmmm, yes, I have needs too and they are so neglected they have either died and withered away or they are shrouded in cobwebs.
About six weeks ago I went to the doctors because I had, almost every single day, a headache. It was such a part of my life, such a background hum to my day that it was only on the rare occasion when I didn't have one that I would think wow, I feel good today! Oh yes! No headache!
The crunch came when I started to get migraines. While driving the car, while in charge of lots of children, I would get the flashing weird lights and wouldn't be able to see properly. Anyone who's ever experienced them will know how disorientating they can be. It got to the point where I started to worry about going out on my own in case I had the Weird Lights.
After being checked out, the doctor said something that made me feel so stupid. It was a simple thing yet I had completely neglected it. Was I drinking enough water? Doh. How often do I nag my children about that yet it had never occurred to me that, yep, I need hydrating too and my body was trying to, with increasing shrillness, tell me it needed water.
It got me thinking how I could and should look after myself better. I will endeavour to:
- Exercise. I don't. Which is really, really bad. I am not sure what I am waiting for but it is obviously something because so far nothing has moved me.
- Eat more healthily: I don't do too badly but I could do a lot better. I really need to concentrate more on wholefood, vegetarian cooking.
- Use little things (new nail polish, a book) for a treat. And a treat means occasionally. It also does not mean a fat-laden gingerbread latte every time you go into town (tsk).
- Get rid of the clutter. This is an ongoing thing and one that Hubby is much better at than me. In the last six months he reckons we must have rid ourselves of two skips' worth. And there's still lots to do. But this is, for me, a top stress buster.
- Get organised. Easier said than done. But it's helping that the house is finally getting completed. It means that I'm writing this at a desk and will soon have a shelf. For my stuff. Yay! Another way I feel less overwhelmed.
- Spirituality. This is a tricky one but I know, as I get older, it is something I want to tend to. I'm currently reading Buddhism for Mothers by Sarah Napthali and it's wonderful.
My list is so far pretty basic but I think it covers the fundamentals. I now need to get down to the details. There are also things that I've missed off, because I'm quite good at them such as making time for hobbies and saying no to stuff I really don't want to do.
How do you look after yourself? Or is it something you need to work on too?
