It’s hard to admit it, but I have been a mess the last couple of months. I sometimes get really busy and little overwhelmed- but this is not the same. No- this has been a case of the blues- and I am not out of it yet. Being that this is not an entirely new sensation, I am sharing it so that I can share with you- my precious friends how I plan to get my groove back.
1. Eliminate some of the noise. I gotta get the balance back. Since May I have been baking on Fridays for the farmer’s market on Saturdays. This means up to 10 hours of baking- on my feet, in a hot kitchen, away from my children. Then, working the market itself for 5 hours. I love it and I hate it. I love the doing. I hate being away from my children for a whole day. I do not like ho much energy it depletes from the ones I love. I realize that sounds wimpy and very UNmodern. But it is the reality. I miss my babies. So, Duncan and I agreed that my time at the market is ending until next summer, when we will reevaluate. I feel a little sad about it, but I also feel very relieved.
2. I need to exercise. I will do this- for me, and for the children.
3. I need to take my vitamins. When I take my Supermom vitamins and my Bee Strong and Berry Well, life is just better. I feel better, I have more energy. I have more strength. It’s not that I do not want them, I just forget to take them, so now I am moving them to my upstairs bathroom next to my toothbrush. I know you should not store vitamins in a moist environment, but at least I will remember them there. That will be better than not taking them at all.
4. I need to cultivate my friendships. Working too much leads to a huge imbalance, and I have been REALLY missing my close friends. Monday morning, I am putting some dates on the calendar with some girlfriends. And I mean it.
5. I am starting a new in-depth inductive Bible study. My brain craves input and when I spend time reading fluff I can shrivel up and die mentally. Here is the one I started last Monday:
6. I am getting my house back in order. With all the hours I have been working, some of the basics have been neglected.
7. Get outside in the sunshine and fresh air daily. Not kidding, I really have to put this on a list or I will work myself to death in a cave and never see the light of day. My sickly pale fair complexion can attest to this.
8. I need to increase my water intake. In April I gave up sodas entirely. All kinds, all flavors, all colors. However, I still do not drink enough water. Lots of times I find myself going about my day THIRSTY because I do not take the time to grab a drink. This is goofy and can be easily fixed.
9. I am striking things off my to-do list and moving them to a “I am really never going to do this, but it might be nice if someone else will” list. Having open loops, especially ones I can never act upon is just a downer. This will leave more room in my list for those things the Lord is calling me to do.
Now, if you are in a serious depression or have chronic issues with depression or the blues- this is not medical advice. This is just one mom sharing with another the things I KNOW have helped me in the past. It is time I quit singing that song from Alice in Wonderland; “I give myself some very good advice, but I very seldom follow it.” Of course, I hope to do it before I find myself down another rabbit hole.
