At the beginning of the year I was feeling fairly depressed and definitely tired all the time. I was frustrated by all my stay at home mom responsibilities. I yelled at the kids and was just super negative. I decided to start doing what I could to try and change that. I started small. I started taking vitamin D. Then I started changing my diet so that I was eating more healthy foods and less sugar. I needed to get off of that sugar high and crash that I had every day. A few weeks later I started exercising. I wanted to take care of my health and most of all - I was really hoping the endorphins would help my mood and my energy levels. For the first little while it didn't seem to be helping. I was just falling asleep on the couch even earlier than before. I was still grouchy all the time and had that deflated feeling. I certainly attribute some of that to winter; the season that I have a lot of difficulty likely at all.
Then I went away for four days. I was at the end of my rope - feeling a bit of a breakdown coming on. And now on top of the regular stuff I was frustrated that what I had done so far didn't seem to be getting me where I wanted to be (I'm not a very patient person - in case you don't know me AT ALL :) ).
I went to ladies retreat at Kenosee Inn and I went a couple of days early. It was fantastic. I was able to spend time with good friends and be around super people. Probably what I needed the most though was time. Quiet time. Uninterrupted me time. I worked out without interruption. I was able to have a shower without someone needing me. I stayed sitting down through entire meals. It was heavenly. Once I got it out of my system that I needed to rush through everything - I started feeling relaxed and refreshed.
I am reading a book (again - had time to do that there!) that I believe was an answer to my prayers about wanting to be more positive and to find God's joy in my life. It was one of those things were it came to me at just the exact right time. I started a prayer journal and a thankfulness journal. I thought about what I wanted my life to look like when I got back and started organizing how that would work. I know that 'organizing' isn't on everyone's list of how to get relaxed but it is for me. So very!!
And after being home for a week I still feel fantastic. I've yelled at my kids but not as much! It's getting better. I'm practicing changing my thoughts. I know that 'attitude is everything' and 'your life is what you believe it is'. What I tell myself about my day is what will come true.
So - all I needed to do was exercise, eat right, make time for myself, be disciplined about prayer time and journaling and go to bed at a decent time. Not much at all :) And what do you know it's working!
Now the real question is... can I really make this how I live my life and keep it from being a nice idea that fizzled out and just became a 'phase'. I hope not.
Then I went away for four days. I was at the end of my rope - feeling a bit of a breakdown coming on. And now on top of the regular stuff I was frustrated that what I had done so far didn't seem to be getting me where I wanted to be (I'm not a very patient person - in case you don't know me AT ALL :) ).
I went to ladies retreat at Kenosee Inn and I went a couple of days early. It was fantastic. I was able to spend time with good friends and be around super people. Probably what I needed the most though was time. Quiet time. Uninterrupted me time. I worked out without interruption. I was able to have a shower without someone needing me. I stayed sitting down through entire meals. It was heavenly. Once I got it out of my system that I needed to rush through everything - I started feeling relaxed and refreshed.
I am reading a book (again - had time to do that there!) that I believe was an answer to my prayers about wanting to be more positive and to find God's joy in my life. It was one of those things were it came to me at just the exact right time. I started a prayer journal and a thankfulness journal. I thought about what I wanted my life to look like when I got back and started organizing how that would work. I know that 'organizing' isn't on everyone's list of how to get relaxed but it is for me. So very!!
And after being home for a week I still feel fantastic. I've yelled at my kids but not as much! It's getting better. I'm practicing changing my thoughts. I know that 'attitude is everything' and 'your life is what you believe it is'. What I tell myself about my day is what will come true.
So - all I needed to do was exercise, eat right, make time for myself, be disciplined about prayer time and journaling and go to bed at a decent time. Not much at all :) And what do you know it's working!
Now the real question is... can I really make this how I live my life and keep it from being a nice idea that fizzled out and just became a 'phase'. I hope not.
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